Wallabies resist late Welsh surge
9 Jun 2012
JON CARDINELLI reports on Australia’s 27-19 victory over Wales in Brisbane on Saturday.
Following the embarrassing loss to Scotland on Tuesday, the Wallabies would have been looking to make a statement via a powerful performance against Wales. They got it right in patches in Saturday’s series opener, dominating the first half and then finishing strongly in the final 15 minutes.
It was not the typical razzle-dazzle that produced the desired result, but rather a more combative attitude at the collisions and smarter tactical game. While the Wallabies still managed to finish two of their three tries in spectacular fashion, they were mindful of the abrasive Welsh defence and that it would take patience as well as physicality to break down the red and white wall.
The visitors were outplayed at the collisions, and this allowed Wallabies fetcher David Pocock to edge opposite number Sam Warburton at the breakdown. Pocock weighed in with some important breakdown steals, and it was his omnipresence at the rucks that slowed the recycle when the Welsh were in possession. This blunted the Welsh attack, and made it easier for the Wallabies to defend.
The Suncorp Stadium track is conducive to running rugby, and Wales seemed mindful of the Wallabies’ strengths out wide. They attempted to keep the hosts honest in the wider channels but neglected to mark the area around the ruck. And it was here where the Wallabies punished them, a series of pick-and-goes resulting in a try for Scott Higginbotham in the 16th minute.
Wales would fight back at the end of the first half, if only to ensure the scoreline remained at a respectable 10-3. But they lapsed badly at the start of the second stanza, their focus on wide defence once again compromising their defence around the ruck.
Will Genia exploited this space expertly and then effected an outrageous side-step to negotiate the last line of defence. The finish was a moment of individual brilliance and highlighted Genia’s running threat, but again the Wallabies had done well to work themselves into a good field position before launching an assault.
Apart from his try, Genia looked every bit the general in the No 9 position. When the Wallabies built some momentum through the forwards, his delivery from the base served to quicken the tempo and further stretch the Welsh defence.
His tactical kicking also put the Welsh under pressure, as did that of flyhalf Berrick Barnes. Barnes showed good composure and execution in this fixture, placing rolling probes and high-hanging kicks in positions where team-mates could contest and in some instances regain possession. It was a massive improvement on Tuesday’s performance against Scotland.
The game looked to be the Wallabies’ to lose after Genia’s try had extended the lead to 17-3. But the cool goal-kicking of Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny and the fighting spirit of the Welsh pack allowed the visitors to narrow the deficit.
It served to show just how important Genia’s strike was in the context of the game. The Wallabies had played a draining Test against Scotland four days previously, and it was evident that a few players began to tire in the second half against Wales. The Wallabies were not as effective at controlling the ball at close quarters, and as the game grew looser, Wales came into their own.
Wing Alex Cuthbert had been outstanding for the visitors and it was his try that really brought the Dragons in sight of an upset. The ball went loose at a ruck and was subsequently hacked behind the Aussie defence. Cuthbert eventually got his hands on the ball to finish, and another great conversion by Halfpenny took the score to 20-16.
Wales butchered a try-scoring opportunity moments later. They had the Wallabies’ defence stretched but just couldn’t get the ball through the hands. They were then awarded a penalty which Halfpenny duly slotted, but looking back, that missed try was costly. Five or seven points would have taken them into the lead. As it was, three points saw them still trailing at 20-19.
In the final minutes, the Wallabies rediscovered their composure. The forwards controlled the ball well, and the halfbacks kicked the team into good field positions.
The hosts kept it close, hammering away at the Welsh defence until Pat McCabe ran a great angle to score under the posts. At 27-19, the game was over as a contest.
The result sees Australia taking a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series. Wales will need to produce a more consistent defensive effort and indeed a stronger showing at the collisions if they are going to bounce back in next week’s match.
161 Comments
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9 Jun 2012, 13:50 pm
So that makes it 2-0 to the South.
Final score today 2-1?
Possible, very possible…
9 Jun 2012, 13:51 pm
Well done Aus. What time is the Bok game and does anyone have a link to stream it on a relatively average net connection??
9 Jun 2012, 13:51 pm
The way rugby is played at the mo one needs a fetcher.
I think wales has too much to play as the welsh great said pre game….wales has to win the first game otherwise it will be too much.
9 Jun 2012, 13:52 pm
@BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-51: Surely you wouldn’t imply that the Boks would lose on a South African-based blog? Surely not.
9 Jun 2012, 13:53 pm
@RL(RL)-48: Where did he mention Kolisi?
9 Jun 2012, 13:56 pm
@Todd W(Todd W)-54: there are more than enough locally based doomsayers in here at the moment, to be perfectly honest
9 Jun 2012, 13:59 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell)-56: I was actually just being a bit of a cheeky smartarse, so don’t take my comment seriously
9 Jun 2012, 14:01 pm
@Todd W(Todd W)-57: i wasn’t being serious either sorry if it came off that way, just find the whole situation rather amusing
9 Jun 2012, 14:02 pm
@Todd W(Todd W)-54: U right I would!!!
9 Jun 2012, 14:06 pm
@nama1(nama1)-55: I can read between the line
besides he not mention either that the top two SA teams in Superrugby do not play with fetchers?
9 Jun 2012, 14:10 pm
@RL(RL)-59:
Unless the fetcher is exceptional it is a waste to play one.
Pocock, Hooper, Richie, Gill are exceptional
Heinrich is average.
Stegman is uberkak.
9 Jun 2012, 14:10 pm
That was the Welsh’s best chance at a win… not going to happen now… kudos Wallabies!
9 Jun 2012, 14:11 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell)-56:
People questioning the squad selection does not equate to doomsaying or non support for the Boks.
I’m sure you had your fair share of head scratching during PdV’s reign as coach or am I wrong?
9 Jun 2012, 14:15 pm
Thunder and Lightning over the tank at present
9 Jun 2012, 14:16 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-60:
Really… you’re entitled to your opinion… but on The RugbyClub the Aussies rated Brussouw (2012) as one of the top 3 in the world still…
FWIW the term ‘fetcher’ is such a dumb Japie pigeon-hole… it’s ‘open-sider’… and their job is so much more than simply contesting for the ball at the break-down…
9 Jun 2012, 14:16 pm
Thise watching the supersport 1 channel with live schools rugby will see the weather building
Eish
9 Jun 2012, 14:17 pm
@RL(RL)-59:
I see.
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-61:
You think?
Wales probably left about three tries on the park today. Next time they might just take the right options and score them. Genia might not have as good a game as he had today. There’s lots of room for improvement afa the Welsch side is concern. Don’t know how much the Wallabies can improve on their very good performance today.
Don’t be over confident, mate.
9 Jun 2012, 14:21 pm
@nama1(nama1)-63: true true of course, no doubt… i’m just referring to the more…extreme elements on this blog
9 Jun 2012, 14:22 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-63:
You think it will rain later today?
9 Jun 2012, 14:29 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_shagger)-66:
Don’t you just love it,
when the weather gets personality.
8)
9 Jun 2012, 14:29 pm
@RL(RL)-60:
Maybe he was talking about the absence of Brussow.
That’s also a possibility, isn’t it?
9 Jun 2012, 14:29 pm
Who knows Nama, it had been warm with sunshine all morning and now thunder and lightning
Durban weather can change in an instant
It will be warm , will it keep raining?? time will tell lol
If you watch the Glenwood/college match thats on supersport 1 right now you will get an indication of the weather mate
9 Jun 2012, 14:29 pm
@nama1(nama1)-67:
How about that the wallabies will be fresher next week after half the squad played 3 games in 7 days.
Wales put a lot into this game and did not win against an exhausted wallaby outfit.
9 Jun 2012, 14:31 pm
@cane(cane)-70: lol yup
9 Jun 2012, 14:34 pm
@nama1(nama1)-71: no implied that Heineken could have selected two fetchers, like Deans did – one being Brussow and the other Kolisi.
9 Jun 2012, 14:37 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-73:
True that. Let’s wait and see.
In any case, I think it’s going to be a great series Down Under.
Two good teams going up against each other. My two early favourites for the next RWC, 3 years out.
9 Jun 2012, 14:41 pm
Anyway fetchers are overrated in SA – small guys lose out to monsters like Coetzee who at 1.91m and 107kg’s dwarf. 1.82 midgets like Brussow and Hooper.
Heineken will have big guys dominating the collison points driving right over the midgets.
9 Jun 2012, 14:41 pm
@RL(RL)-75:
I did not read it that way but then again…that’s just me.
I just thought he was taking a swipe at His Meyerness for not selecting a fetcher.
But OK then…you’re the one who can read between the lines after all.
9 Jun 2012, 14:44 pm
@schalla(schalla)-52: 5pm SA time and vipbox for the streaming.
9 Jun 2012, 14:46 pm
@RL(RL)-77:
The Boks have been playing with big guys in the back row for years now. SB/JS/Spies or SB/Danie/Spies and I really cannot remember when we ever “dominated the collision points” with those guys playing.
The only time when we “dominated the collision points” in the recent past was when that “midget” Brussow, played for the Boks at 6.
Think 2009.
9 Jun 2012, 14:48 pm
Plenty thunder about now, with plenty dark clouds about. Not much rain has come from it though, thought this would be more like a thunderstorm, but just a bit of rain here. Came past the Tank about a hour back and no rain there then. Could be rain there now though. Still early so this could pass or who knows could stay for a few hours. Could have a wet field though. Jeez was a brilliant morning and thought we may not get any rain.
GO OUR BOKKE..
9 Jun 2012, 14:48 pm
@nama1(nama1)-80: Right. Then they had to deal with a multi-faceted threat.
9 Jun 2012, 14:49 pm
@nama1(nama1)-80: with Pocock having the game he had today, i’m started to get even more distressed about not having Brussow in the team for this series…
9 Jun 2012, 14:50 pm
@RL(RL)-77:
“Anyway fetchers are overrated in SA…”
You were not one of those guys who blasted PdV for not selecting Brussow ahead of Schalk for that 1st test against the B&I Lions in 2009?
9 Jun 2012, 14:52 pm
@nama1(nama1)-76:
I think in the welsh minds they will think…we got this game out of the way and we have a feel of the wallabies game and come out more settled next test. if they don’t it will be a long series for them. I hope it is a close series.
9 Jun 2012, 14:53 pm
Northern Hemisphere teams are ****. History speaks for this, as well as contemporary results.
Wales could not put away an average, rusty, Wallabie outfit, 4 days after the Wallabies get beaten by Scotland, and with serious ‘prep’ time for the Test.
6 Nations champs? More like chumps …. and I am now waiting to hear ‘how close Wales got to beating the Boks at the World Cup’ … BLAH BLAH.
Not interested.
9 Jun 2012, 14:55 pm
@nama1(nama1)-80:
The King of Midgets ,
Ruben Kruger, (The Silent Assassin).
9 Jun 2012, 14:58 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-85: Well done to your Wallabies mate. Only saw the first half and had to go out.
My feeling the English will be a tougher customer. They were building good momentum in the 6Nations this year and will get better imo. Though today think the Boks will beat them. Weather for now not looking great right now, more thunder about. Jeez if it turns in a real thunderstorm we will be playing on a almight wet field. Hope he just drifts away as the wind has picked up now so it could.
9 Jun 2012, 15:01 pm
@cane(cane)-87: So he was Cane.
Congrats to your Abs Cane. Hope Boks take the English too, then it is 3 sh and zip nh…hehe.
9 Jun 2012, 15:01 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-85:
I don’t think so. Wallabies far to classy …
9 Jun 2012, 15:02 pm
@nama1(nama1)-84: yes I did. In 2009 the laws favoured the Brussow he was red hot. Burger and will always be a bonehead and I will pick anyone ahead of him even Stegmann.
9 Jun 2012, 15:03 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-85:
I believe it will be a close series.
If Warburton plays his natural game to counter Pocock, it will be very, very close, I think.
Pocock definitely came out on top in the battle of the captains today.
@cane(cane)-87:
Great player, Ruben Kruger.
First saw him play for the Free State Craven Week side in 1989 and his quality was evident even then as an 17/18 year old.
9 Jun 2012, 15:07 pm
@RL(RL)-91:
You do know that Steggies is a “fetcher.”
The laws changed for Pocock, McCaw, Hooper, Warburton etc as well. It seems those players are still very effective.
9 Jun 2012, 15:10 pm
Not all of them are small. Richie’s a decent size, and he’s a good example of a felcher.
9 Jun 2012, 15:13 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-94:
If you compare Richie to Schalk, Alberts, Spies, Coetzee….would you say he is big or small?
9 Jun 2012, 15:13 pm
Rain coming down heavy here now. Jeez great weather all week to this? Could clear for the game, strong winds about now. Could clear it, really hope so. Though the field will be wet no doubt.
9 Jun 2012, 15:13 pm
Reuben Kruger, one of my all-time favourites. It was a valid try in ’95
9 Jun 2012, 15:14 pm
Nice one, Wobblies… The Welsh came and then got fckedup… Zimbo Pocock to the fore… Go Boy!
9 Jun 2012, 15:16 pm
@nama1(nama1)-95: Are you calling them felchers?
9 Jun 2012, 15:16 pm
@Michael(mikeybrass)-97: Well it would be great if you could spell the name of one of “your all time favourites” correctly, Mr Bauval Hancock bullshitartist… Its RUBEN… Legend
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