Wallabies edge sterile sideshow

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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  • 1.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:20 am

    Welsh Dragons…

    Aussie shackledraggers

  • 2.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:21 am

    Waaaales!
    Waaaales!
    Waaaales!

  • 3.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:22 am

    Let rugby win, even if it is a draw.

    Difficult to know where the mental attitude is for either team, but I suspect it is better for Wales than it is for Australia.

    Just give us a rip-roaring game then.

  • 4.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:23 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-2:

    Is jy vaal of is jy maar net ‘n vaaljapie?

  • 5.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:24 am

    @ET.(ExtraThuvi.)-3: How is the Grey today?

  • 6.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:26 am

    Going for the Southern Hemisphere and Robbie Deans here.

    So much whinning by the Welsh you would think that the referee dumped that player on his head.

  • 7.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:28 am

    What the fark is the point of supporting this “Southern Hemsiphere” amorphous bulldust designation…?

    Wales
    Wales
    Wales

  • 8.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:28 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-5:

    It is like when blue turns to gray then ‘cry’ as you may, you just
    may feel good and you may feel allright ….. .

    ANTHEMS call.

  • 9.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:30 am

    go wales!!!!!!!!

  • 10.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:30 am

    Wonder which 10 is more of a flake: Hook or Cooper… Difficult choice.

  • 11.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:31 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-5: lmao @ “ExtraThuvi” you know you’re wrong! :D

  • 12.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:33 am

    2 forward passes in the opening minutes that looked worse than JdV’s pass…not blown

  • 13.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:33 am

    Expect the normal beautiful flow of the Aussie game. Wide ,wid e, wide.

    But that is too the normal game of old from those distinctive Welshmen of
    Morgan, John, Bennett , JPR, JJ and MANY MORE.

  • 14.DocNZ: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:34 am

    Can someone please xplain how Berrick Barnes is considered an attacking player , when he just kicks the ball away . Much like Morne steyn is considered and attacking flyhalf i take it …

  • 15.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:35 am

    Why are they still giving Cooper a hard time?

  • 16.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:36 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-11: Watch out Neo Racist :lol:

    You gonna get one big SACOS bomb from up high…. ExtraThuvi gonna do the Big One soon…

    “War of the Flea” :wink:

  • 17.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:37 am

    Nathan Sharpe looks injured. Hard Luck chap on your 100th.

  • 18.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:37 am

    Anybody with a link of site where I can check out the game pease?

    Maybe one with low quality, i’m stuck with a drag of a connection.

  • 19.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:39 am

    @ET.(ET.)-15:
    Because of his behaviour in the Tri-Nations. Cheap shots on Richie.

  • 20.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:42 am

    Beale leaves the pitch. Shane Williams knocked down.

  • 21.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:43 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-16: how can i be “neo-racist” when i was NEVER racist at any point before?

  • 22.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:43 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-12: But that is Wayne Barnes’ forte

  • 23.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:43 am

    Pocock looked to have pushed his player into him.

    Try, nice

  • 24.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:44 am

    @chch(chch)-19: y’all are so precious about this “richie” of yours, it’s not tiddlywinks

    *hardenthefcukup*

  • 25.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:46 am

    Wales seem flat.

  • 26.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:47 am

    @DocNZ(DocNZ)-14: Theres your answer

  • 27.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:47 am

    That went forward over the try line … has to be a knock on

  • 28.Guns: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:47 am

    The minute the Wallabies play a game with less pressure QC actually plays..
    He’s obviously just **** scared of the Big kiwis and Safas..

  • 29.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:48 am

    @chch(chch)-19:

    But Churchy that is the TNs and it is long gone. And this is the RWC and it too is almost GONE.

    Forgive and move on or is exquisite Cooper such a threat to his fellow KIWIS?

  • 30.Guns: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:48 am

    Pity Sam Warburton is not playing for Wales.

  • 31.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:49 am

    How about arch-racist?

    That’s the latest one.

  • 32.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:49 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-24:

    Look here d head. Someone asked why the crowd was on his case and I stated why. If you can’t work out that I am not in the crowd then shut the fork up because you are a complete moron!

  • 33.Guns: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:49 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-25:
    Agree. They don’t have the same depth as the top 3 SH teams or England/Fra.. Not after a few injuries and suspensions. They missing Sam Warburton and a few fresh legs which Auz are making good use of.

  • 34.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:50 am

    Aus scrum gets fckedup, as usual.

    NH refs will give them no sympathy like they get from Kiwi refs.

  • 35.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:50 am

    @ET.(ET.)-29:

    Again why is this comment directed at me ….. I was just providing the explanation.

  • 36.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:52 am

    @Guns(Guns)-33: Its mainly Warburton they are missing, but he is as important to them as Pocock is to Aus.

  • 37.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:52 am

    Early morning brawl.

  • 38.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:52 am

    @chch(chch)-32: hahahahaha where’s NZinChina when i need him? :D

    settle down arsewipe i was just joshing, clearly you’re too wound up about something!

  • 39.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:53 am

    @Transfornication(Transfornication)-21:

    That is a distortion of something from the ET playbook that you so often steal from these days, Copycat.

    The point made then was that the ANC did not bring RACISM to AFRICA but the evil pinkish Euros.

    Learn your line better than that before you commit yourself to ‘ETisms’.

  • 40.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:54 am

    Cooper! Bwahahahahahahahahaha

  • 41.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:54 am

    How’s these Kiwicnts in the crowd booing with glee at Cooper going down…

    Good sportsmanship from Wales – Doctor Roberts refusing to smash him and calling the medics. Good to see.

  • 42.Guns: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:54 am

    Too much Rugga this year for QC not surprised with this injury.

  • 43.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:54 am

    Did QC just injure himself by side stepping?

  • 44.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:55 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-38:

    Just bored explaining the obvious.

    *hardenthefcukup*

  • 45.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:55 am

    Booing Kiwis are making a nice disgrace of themselves…

  • 46.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:56 am

    I said this before and will say it again, the wallabies are running out of steam and the conditioning of players aren’t good enough

  • 47.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:56 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-41:
    That is pretty shitt.

    By the way … how do you know they are Kiwis ?

  • 48.NoRugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:57 am

    Chch, I think because they playing in NZ

  • 49.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:58 am

    @chch(chch)-47: Because the commentator said so.

    And I know so, because I know the nature of Kiwis – Not the most sporting of people, quite vindictive :lol:

  • 50.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 09:58 am

    @ET.(ExtraThuvi.)-39: you didn’t invent the English language so nje, pipe down. same as with the struggle. :D

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