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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  • 101.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:29 am

    @stew(stew)-96: Hear, hear!

  • 102.Gunther: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:30 am

    @Bod(bod)-89:

    ol’ Joel with his fake aussie accent.

    he sounds like somebody removed his adenoids with a spoon.

  • 103.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:30 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-97: not at all, why you were spitting 4 nil long and loud until it was pointed out to you about the 8-0.. do you not remember? eish… :wink:

  • 104.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:30 am

    @stew(stew)-96:

    But in NZ football crowds are turning out to now be more fun than rugby crowds. I really want to go to a Phoenix game as the fans are great.

  • 105.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:32 am

    @poppa69(poppa69)-103: Pleas refrain from spitting, Kiwi… I asked you nicely…

    Last warning… Maori tossing next.

  • 106.Bod: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:32 am

    @Gunther(gunther)-88:

    Allow me to educate you about the world of mountain biking.

    XC (spit) heart rate monitor, full fitness, do gooders are the only breed in the game that idolise their budgie huggers and cannot wait to pull them over their shaven legs and then steam of some mountain at a rate of knots and then come down the easy route

    Conversely, us trail/freeride/DH genuine mountain bikers that rather love going as slowly as possible up a mountain and then hammer down via the hairiest descents do not care for budgiehuggers and rather prefer the ol Baggies form of riding shorts

    Do not ever liken me to a XC mountain biker again….. capiche?

  • 107.stew: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:32 am

    @chch(chch)-98: Now Bloem is another story – we were there for JW first game against the Irish – irish , bok supporters all had a great time – the bar even delivered shooters to us in the stands !!!! We all were made very welcome.

    Bulls supporters have issues – you have been warned !!

  • 108.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:33 am

    Hook has cost these guys the tournament really. Steven Jones would not have missed nearly as many kicks.

  • 109.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:33 am

    @chch(chch)-104: Its busy happening. Football is going to take over from rugby as the No.1 sport in New Zealand.

  • 110.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:33 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-90:

    Really like Millwall supporters?

    I got chased by some Pompey supporters once. Turned out really funny as the train station was so crowded it ended up a 2 kmph chase.

    I have shared many trains out of London Bridge with Millwall supporters. The idea is to hide your Crystal Palace short under your big coat till the forkers get off the train.

  • 111.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:34 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-105: so, you like to toss maori’s do you? thought you were quite the dirt track rider, thanks for confirmation though..

    Id guess you dont spit after all, more a swallow type of guy?

  • 112.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:34 am

    @stew(stew)-107: Bulls supporters – the closest thing to a Kiwi from SA… Positively Maori-esque

  • 113.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:35 am

    @Bod(bod)-106:

    hehe, was on a mountain biking trip last weekend. They have a van that goes to the top of one of the hills …. we didn’t take it :)

  • 114.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:36 am

    Heard some saffa boys singing on the bus in Auckland after the Wales France Semi and a Welshman thought he would be clever and say:

    “4 more years…”

    so without hesitation the group of saffa’s started singing:

    “1 time, in a 100 years!” to the tune of Go West … was brilliant.

  • 115.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:37 am

    @poppa69(poppa69)-111: Nope, keep your auto fellatio to yourself thankyouverymuch…

    Tossing Maoris is better fun than tossing dwarves…guaranfukkenteed. Maoris squeal more while airborne.

  • 116.Test: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:37 am

    @chch(chch)-62: I’ll second what you say about the Sydney crowd, terrible all those Waratahs supporters. Ellis Park has never had the best behaved crowd either when it comes to booing.

  • 117.Bod: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:37 am

    @Gunther(gunther)-102:

    I still cringe when I reflect on his commentating of the 2009 British Lions series.

    For some strange reason, he was adamant that that motley crew were the best side to ever put on a rugby jersey… ever…. and Mike Phillips was the greatest player to ever put on a rugby jersey… ever

    Strange one… I could never work it out

  • 118.Gunther: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:37 am

    @Bod(bod)-106:

    I don’t mind what you do on the mountain with your bisexual chums.

    As long as you hide your mangina behind a sensible pair of shorts.

    you aren’t 22 anymore and lycra can be so unkind.

  • 119.Guns: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:38 am

    HA HA Try Williams!

  • 120.Gunther: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:39 am

    @Bod(bod)-117:

    Joel has a fatal disconnect between brain and mouth.

    Much like extra testicular.

  • 121.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:39 am

    Guns – Wow that was way forward, good try, but htere was no way the JDVs pass to Lambie was that forward. The worst reffed RWC ever!!! Anyway good for Wales ccmooon the taffies!!

  • 122.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:40 am

    Where have we seen Wayne barnes missing a forward pass?!

  • 123.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:40 am

    Who scored?

  • 124.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:40 am

    mpundulu – Shocking reffing by the way, pass was way forward!!

  • 125.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:41 am

    So forward passes are okay, but Bryce wont allow normal passes to Lambie with an open tryline… Typical Kiwi.

  • 126.Bod: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:41 am

    @chch(chch)-113:

    No… not you chch…. please!

  • 127.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:42 am

    Remake of AB vs France 2007, Wayne barnes loves forward passes!!!

  • 128.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:42 am

    Aussies will be trying for non contested scrums next… You watch.

  • 129.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:42 am

    Heavens Game – It is sad to see the Boks were treated unfairly , no way was JDVs pass that flippin forward. Terrible reffing this RWC

  • 130.ET.: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:42 am

    @Transfornication-75:

    Foolish, stupid ‘Xhego’, still misses the HG point even, and by much.

    He was trying to get at me through being so far up yours and you up his. I s that why you are so mentally foggy so late in your morning. Should you not be mourning your lack of decency rather?

  • 131.Bod: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:42 am

    @Gunther(gunther)-120:

    and he is a XC mountain biker as well

    Kinda figures…

  • 132.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:43 am

    @race of tan(race of tan)-124: Too forward but that’s Wayne barnes signature!

  • 133.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:44 am

    @mpundulu(mpundulu)-127: It was marginal if anything… I actually thought Fred Michalak’s pass was sound. But Bryce makes Barnes look brilliant.

  • 134.chch: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:44 am

    @Bod(bod)-126:

    Mate I am riding slowly up hill and doing it in shorts.

  • 135.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:44 am

    Heavens Game – I would love to have seen an aerial picutre of JDVs pass, it couldnt have been that far forward

  • 136.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:46 am

    @ET.(ET.)-130: I think you need to be careful of your head creeping up your own backside… But I am sure you will find a nice warm place up a couple of Kiwis here… They seem to welcome Caped Crusaders…

  • 137.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:46 am

    Steve Jones is a wally!!

  • 138.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:47 am

    @race of tan(race of tan)-135: It wasn’t. Simple. Neither was Mossie’s to Habanero… But Bryce is a true oxymoron, an Honest Kiwi…

  • 139.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:48 am

    Kicking the difference this tournament for many teams.

    Wales should have had Jones on earlier and they’d still be leading.

    Now? Too late I fear.

  • 140.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:48 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-138: should be Honest Kiwi Ref… The ultimate oxymoron…

  • 141.mpundulu: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:50 am

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-133: Get over it.

  • 142.heboric: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:51 am

    That welsh try would have made an NFL quarterback proud

  • 143.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:53 am

    @mpundulu(mpundulu)-141: I know that its in your nature to condone corruption, but not me. Nadah.

  • 144.stew: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:54 am

    @heboric(heboric)-142: LOL classic

  • 145.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:56 am

    @race of tan(race of tan)-129: This RWC will be known as the Refs World Cup…

    And when the truth comes out, the Rigged World Cup, surely

  • 146.Oxy moron: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:56 am

    @race of tan(race of tan)-135:
    whether it went forward or not is inconsequential , it was NOT passed forward, momentum made it look forward.

    the kiwi’s had tv show after tv show about in the week before the QF’s

  • 147.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:57 am

    I;m sorry! Wales are clueless. Nee wat and Stephen Jones is plain rubbish.

  • 148.Gtown: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:57 am

    Is tht a fat lady singing somewhere, or just a the wind in the trees?

  • 149.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:58 am

    @race of tan(race of tan)-137: Amen! He looks so skittish, like it’s his first test or something.

  • 150.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    21 Oct 2011, 10:58 am

    Heavens game – so when do the refs take the rap for their ineptness at reffing? I thought Dickheadson was bad, Bryce looked like he was paid off!!

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