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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  • 551.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:23 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-540:

    Yes the semis were reversed 1987.

    France can be a tricky proposotion on Sunday but I think Mccaw and his troopers will be prepared for any eventuality and not leave things for too late. They will eagerly want to put distance between them and France.

    If France play like they did for the first 10 mins. of the pool game and maintain and sustain it for about 50 mins. then there will be a titanic battle at hand.

    I, however, can only see the ABs prevailing in the end.

    But there is no such thing as a certainty. I have seen the next sure US Triple Crown winner start as odds on favourite in the 2nd leg and 10 metres out of the gate he broke his leg and died months afterwards as the public wanted him to live. The story of the great Barbaro.

  • 552.frunobulax: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:24 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-547: Good. Likewise to NZ etc. But see 550 above. You’re just adding fuel to his loony conspiracy fire.

  • 553.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:26 pm

    Frunobulax

    it’s called sarcasm.

  • 554.frunobulax: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:28 pm

    I know what it’s called. Are you sure he does?

  • 555.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:29 pm

    ET. – I’m very wary of the French, they have great respect for the ABs and as such usually lift accordingly. the pool game will not be anything like the French team we face on Sunday.

  • 556.frunobulax: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:30 pm

    And again, as per comments a few days ago, my nose is being rubbed again on his account. It’s like me insulting the AB’s and their supporters because Tackler’s a w@nker.

  • 557.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:31 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-549: where is that Clifton?

  • 558.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:31 pm

    Frunobulax. I’m not even going to attempt to answer that. :) .

  • 559.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:33 pm

    @frunobulax(frunobulax)-556: u’re rationalising…just take the ribbing, pilgrim :-)

  • 560.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:34 pm

    Naah hef.

    I don’t go that side. Hout bay. My fave.

    Although there is an allocated slegs cullart beach here called Monwabisi.

    Hectic!

  • 561.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:35 pm

    Damn clifton water is too cold.

  • 562.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:36 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-542:

    What rubbish now?

    He is the only S.African who could speak with an American accent after 6 weeks.

    After more than 10 years I speak only with my S. African accent.

    href=”#comment-2023887″>Transformation(Transformation)-545:

    The many people around will be a bad distraction.

    In PE my choice is watching the game in my cousin’s lounge( 2 or 3 of us) drinking some of his good wine with him.

    He gets all the invites and got one to see the 2007 game against Fiji at Twickers.

  • 563.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:37 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-560: monwabisi nogal.

  • 564.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:42 pm

    Nogal. That’s where all cullarts get pissed and dive head first into the sea.

    Notorious!

  • 565.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:47 pm

    Feck.

    Lotsa cigs and not one lighter.

  • 566.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:48 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-564: lifeguards?

    ET could volunteer there he does a good breastroke :-)

  • 567.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:50 pm

    Lifeguards are mostly teenage boys out for a good time.

    Shame their facilities aren’t that flash either.

  • 568.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 17:52 pm

    Besides by the time extraball finish lecturing they will rather drown anyway.

  • 569.Slumtown: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 18:11 pm

    This World Cup is descending into a miff pit of blandness. The only good that can possibly come from World frigging Cup 2011 is that New Zealand win it and they make some cash. As for the rest – Wallies coming 3rd pfft. Rubbish game played by a bunch of tossers who should have been in the 3rd place playoff.
    And whoopee do we get to see lame French losers who shouldnt have made it out their pool contest the final. Mediocrity is prized obviosuly. Miff Cup 2011.
    If the Kiwis dont annihilate France on Sunday i´ll be very dissapointed.

  • 570.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 19:13 pm

    Seems Laurie Mains also not impressed with rwc reffing and SA and Wales hard done by, and would rather be playing us or Wales in the final. Hohummmm brycing Bryce Lawrence

  • 571.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 19:45 pm

    E.T. = boring self righteousness.

    He talks like he is singing too.

  • 572.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 19:47 pm

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-570: good on Mains.

    He has put the resident bunch of kiwi whingers to shame.

  • 573.Bryce Dickhead Lawrence: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 19:55 pm

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-570:

    I only did what the NZRU paid me for. And some of us weren’t cannibals a mere 100 years ago. IN OUR HEART OF HEARTS WE STILL ARE!

    Good evening, all! I am now officially a RICH d i c k head.

  • 574.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:00 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-572:

    I won’t take much note of what old Laurie has to say, since he could not find suzie he has never been the same.

  • 575.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:00 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-572: the only whinging Im seeing is from SA supporters, and those who now support France…

    Kiwis are loving the whinge from Saffas…

  • 576.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:01 pm

    Viva La France!

  • 577.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:02 pm

    24 years was a long time to whinge. Guess it had to end some day.

  • 578.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:02 pm

    Allez les Bleus!

  • 579.Bryce Dickhead Lawrence: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:03 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-577:

    With a little help from me!

  • 580.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:03 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-577: lol supporting France I see, the pain still too much to bear is it..awww poor thing, there there, its alright…its only a game..

  • 581.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:04 pm

    Fancy that, a kiwi who actually admits he would have preferred to meet the Boks in the final.

    A rare commodity indeed here on Keo.

  • 582.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:05 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-580: always support the underdog in the RWCs.

    Lol it seems now the kiwi fans are demanding support from South Africans. As if.

  • 583.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:05 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-581: why, the French will be a much harder proposition then the team who came 8th…

  • 584.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:06 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-582: whose demanding anything? just laughing at the desperation of Saffas who have all fallen in behind the French…

    because of corruption at the World cup..

    hysterical stuff…

  • 585.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:08 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-584: whose demanding anything? just laughing at the desperation of Saffas who have all fallen in behind the French… because of corruption at the World cup.. hysterical stuff…

    Keep telling yourself that if it makes the hatred feel sweeter for you.

    Just behind the underdog, s’all.

  • 586.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:09 pm

    Come on France!

    Magnifique 1999!

    Glorious 2007!

    Sensational 2011!

  • 587.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:10 pm

    Up the Blues!

  • 588.Bryce Dickhead Lawrence: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:10 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-581:

    The NZRU paid me to keep the Boks out of the semis, never mind the finals. I had to stop them, and I did just that. WITHOUT ME THE ABs WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN IN THE FINALS. I’m now a rich cheat. Just like Richy.

  • 589.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:12 pm

    Bryce: Lol.

  • 590.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:12 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-585:

    “if it makes the hatred feel sweeter for you”

    hatred? what hatred? funny how 4 years of hatred from Saffas has made you all precious now you are suffering exactly the thing NZ suffered in 07..

    not so nice when it happens to your team is it? but you all loved the fact and rode it for four long years…

  • 591.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:14 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-590: of course Poppa, you’re just “returning serve.”

    :roll:

    Viva la France! Viva the Upset! Viva Gallic Flair!

  • 592.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:14 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-582: they’re our SANZAR partners mos so its only fitting that we shout for them ;)

  • 593.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:14 pm

    What a damp squib that already arranged ticker tape parade will be if the Blues win this…

  • 594.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:15 pm

    Bryce – true NZ hero..

    got the jarpies and didnt require payment..

    did it for the love of his country..

    viva le Brycie
    allez les Brycie

  • 595.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:15 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-592: the same “partners” who wrote that e-mail about “getting” someone or other?

    :-)

  • 596.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:16 pm

    “jarpies”

    That’s the word I was thinking of in #595.

    Straight from the horse’s mouth! Thanks!

    Get them.

  • 597.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:17 pm

    Come on France!

  • 598.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:18 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-592: dont know what youre going on about, I havent said anything about supporting the ABs, I honestly couldnt care less if upset Saffas feel they need to support the French..

    enjoy the final lads…

  • 599.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:19 pm

    Check this kiwis demanding South Africans support his team. As if.

  • 600.Bryce Dickhead Lawrence: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 20:21 pm

    @poppa69(poppa69)-594:

    Thanks, I am honoured, but payment was required. I can only be as one sided for lots of moola. I’m a d i ck head and a cheat, but also a prostitute, so I cheat for money, and the NZRU is my biggest client ever. I am a rich soon to be retired cheating Kiwi soon. Hallelujah! I’m rolling with it, and in it!

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