Wallabies edge sterile sideshow
21 Oct 2011
RYAN VREDE watched Australia stutter to an uninspiring 21-18 victory over Wales in the World Cup bronze medal match at Eden Park.
Naturally this contest lacked the intensity and compelling appeal of a match where the result was meaningful. Consequently it descended into a structureless, error-strewn and utterly unpalatable sideshow to Sunday’s final.
It would have been more bearable if either side had earned the right to play expansively by showing some appreciation for building a platform. Instead the strike runners in either pack were rarely deployed often enough to achieve this, with the showmen in the back division asked to enthral and entertain the 60 000 poor souls who paid to be punished.
Handling errors abound and Australia’s lethargy in sending cleaners into rucks often resulted in turnovers in the Welsh 22m. Their troubles were compounded and cause undermined when key play makers Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper were injured before 25 minutes had elapsed. The latter, did, however, craft a try for Berrick Barnes with a deft offload, before his exit.
Australia looked a better side than the impotent Welsh, whose struggles were rooted in their inability to impose themselves at the gainline. They also missed suspended captain Sam Warburton’s ability to stifle the opposition’s attacking flow through his breakdown work. Indeed Warren Gatland’s side played with the verve, accuracy and innovation that suggested they’d had spent their week working their way through Auckland’s pubs and nightclubs.
Wales missed three goalkicks but still trailed by just four points (7-3) with with 30 minutes to play, before scoring courtesy of a clear forward pass. On the evidence of that incorrect decision, it appeared referee Wayne Barnes and his assistant had been lulled into a slumber themselves.
James O’Connor kicked two penalties to regain the lead for the Wallabies before Barnes took the Wallabies eight points ahead with a drop goal. Stephen Jones set up a tense final 10 minutes with a three pointer.
Adam Ashley-Cooper should have sealed the result with six minutes to play, but he grassed the ball in a tackle a metre for the goal line. Ben McCalman, however, made no mistake shortly thereafter. Wales would score after the siren had sounded, but were undeserving of victory.
The Wallabies thus finish in third place, which is much like almost bagging the hottest girl at the party, then having to settle for her ugly friend.
649 Comments
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21 Oct 2011, 20:22 pm
Oh for barks sake you bunch of brawling babies
21 Oct 2011, 20:23 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-599: where have I demanded Saffas support the ABs? show me the post..
is your hatred that deep is it, now youre making up things to embellish you piss poor argument..
wonderful…. gees, it must be a looooooong way back there in 8th spot…
21 Oct 2011, 20:24 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-598: um, the last time i checked my post was directed at wooden spoon so i’m not sure why u’re even tryna figure what i’m saying
21 Oct 2011, 20:25 pm
What’s all this bryce about?
21 Oct 2011, 20:25 pm
Hef isthat Wayne?
21 Oct 2011, 20:26 pm
Have read the apology email 2 the get jarpy on Ruggaworld, and pissant/morne wouldnt put chit on his site, far 2 much integrity (sp). Dont know how 2 do spellchq on phone
21 Oct 2011, 20:26 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-603: really? its never stopped you jumping in on my posts… but your snide emoticon was there for all to see..
21 Oct 2011, 20:30 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-605:
Hef? As in the Playboy mansion?
21 Oct 2011, 20:30 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-606:
Have you started drinking you bad girl?
21 Oct 2011, 20:32 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-604:
It’s about the money I was paid for keeping the Boks away from the Blacks!
Maybe I shall buy one of the massive 20,000 seat stadiums here in Kiwiland, I’m rolling in it!
21 Oct 2011, 20:32 pm
Hef is trans new nickname.
He is going to 7′s in dressing gown.
21 Oct 2011, 20:33 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-607: i know you like the attention but just for a second, fallback
spooner, the all blacks are our SH brethren, the NZRU apologised profusely for keith lawrence’s writings in that email plus how far back was that email saga?
go all blacks!
21 Oct 2011, 20:34 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-605: yes, that the genius himself
21 Oct 2011, 20:36 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-612: lol, transie.
The way I see it, NZ and Aus are the enemy. Nothing brotherly about that.
And with the miles and miles of ocean between us there’s certainly nothing neighbourly.
It’s the underdog for me in RWCs, all the way.
Go France!
21 Oct 2011, 20:37 pm
Later all.
Oh and one more thing…
ALLEZ LES BLEUS!
21 Oct 2011, 20:38 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-615: enjoy the final mate…
21 Oct 2011, 20:38 pm
610.Bryce ******** Lawrence said:
21 Oct 2011, 20:32 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-604:
It’s about the money I was paid for keeping the Boks away from the Blacks!
Maybe I shall buy one of the massive 20,000 seat stadiums here in Kiwiland, I’m rolling in it!
I think you were more cunning than that. Somehow you got to SARU and bribed them (not hard) to hire duh Villiers, knowing he’d be a slow poison for the hopes and dreams of Bok rugby…you sly dog you.
21 Oct 2011, 20:41 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-617:
I am cunning, but not THAT cunning. De Villiers just made my job easier. If he wasn’t there, NZRU would have paid me even more!
21 Oct 2011, 20:48 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-615: cheers spoony g!
21 Oct 2011, 20:52 pm
If Bok rugby is lucky and gets the honour, they might just be blessed enough to be graced by His Royal Highness King Luke Watson of Eastern Cape.
He would have to be captain…nothing less for royalty.
Apparently he will one day be King of Bokistania….and all will be saved.
That former king Sir John Smit has been cast out and will serve his exile on a small island called Brittania. It’s where all captains go to serve time for failing to win two RWC’s. I think he will return one day enriched by his punishment.
21 Oct 2011, 20:53 pm
609@GWS lol no not yet, should have zimbali time coming up soon.
I have been in training though, cheap 5l box Rose wine 2 mix in2 a wine spritzer every sundowner, cept i am bad and occasionaly 4get 2 practise and go 4 the milk and cookies instead.
21 Oct 2011, 20:58 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-621:
Aah…the life of those that can drink when it pleases. I still have 6 weeks before my lips touch the sweet grapey nectar of a Richard Louw 2011…with Tab of course (I have to watch my weight).
21 Oct 2011, 21:00 pm
mmm smileys dont show on cel.
21 Oct 2011, 21:01 pm
Whatsthis
Al anon?
21 Oct 2011, 21:02 pm
what dreadful country r u in now ?
21 Oct 2011, 21:03 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-624:
In an alcohol free zone. Cruel and unusual punishment.
21 Oct 2011, 21:05 pm
Why?
21 Oct 2011, 21:07 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-625:
The one where men wear pyjamas and comfortable shoes and the goats are nervous.
21 Oct 2011, 21:08 pm
Sunday is sooooooo far away. The wait ing is killing me.Dont trust them Froggies,I remember 99.My bum will be puckered tighter than a snare drum till the final whistle.
21 Oct 2011, 21:08 pm
@dawn, lol no i have 2 practice my drinking, cos each time i go away i overdo it and get elegantly wasted very quicky, thats why i am practising loj
21 Oct 2011, 21:10 pm
Why is shark abstaining?
Isn’t there western hotel?
21 Oct 2011, 21:11 pm
629@litelock lolololololol and again lololololol
21 Oct 2011, 21:12 pm
Nought.
21 Oct 2011, 21:17 pm
628 same place u were at when u had 2 go 2 the Un compound cos of the attacks.
21 Oct 2011, 21:18 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-634:
No, back in our compound. Good memory though.
21 Oct 2011, 21:23 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-631: what happened to jockbok?
21 Oct 2011, 21:36 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-615:
Spooner, get your priorities right here..
You have chosen to live in ENGLAND, right in the middle of England…How can you support the farkin Frogs, you should be living in Paris.
Wake up and smell the ROSES !!
21 Oct 2011, 21:38 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-630:
“Elegantly Wasted”
What a marvelous description, I am going to practice !!
21 Oct 2011, 21:38 pm
I have had a tricky week!!
21 Oct 2011, 21:39 pm
Hef I don’t know was wondering same thing, hope he’s ok!
21 Oct 2011, 21:47 pm
Tricky aint the word.
Horrible week!
21 Oct 2011, 22:01 pm
jeez girls, sounds like we all had a yuk week, come round 4 a sundowner 2morrow, temp is going 2b 35 so we will do campari and soda or G and T.
21 Oct 2011, 22:06 pm
That sounds soooo good
21 Oct 2011, 23:49 pm
G & T would be great Hugs, Dawn let’s meet at the Firemans!!
Perhaps in March!! lol
22 Oct 2011, 00:58 am
Transie: uyi ncutshe kwezi mekho ezi lingane nama amabokoboko.
22 Oct 2011, 01:34 am
Well i have seen this site go from good ole banter site to a crying little kids show after one loss.
HG is the most childish person on a blog i have ever seen. He has taken the loss so hard.
I feel quite sad for him actually. He is now lying to get his views across.
When asked to prove anything he says, he wonders of in HG child land and continues his foolish way.
Someone should find him and cuddle the poor bloke.
22 Oct 2011, 03:26 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-646:
“Well i have seen this site go from good ole banter site to a crying little kids show after one loss”
Couldn’t agree more… for the duration of this site we’ve been used to you guys (Kiwi’s) being the biggest whingers… how the clock turns…
22 Oct 2011, 05:22 am
Poor old Frogs having to stay out in NZ for the duration only to go home with second place…..never mind could have been worse. Third>
22 Oct 2011, 08:38 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-645: masilinde aqeshwe kuqala then ke ndim naye.
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