Harris breaks Welsh hearts
16 Jun 2012
GARETH DUNCAN watched Wallabies reserve flyhalf Mike Harris kick a last-second penalty to secure a 25-23 win over Wales in Melbourne.
Wales were set for their first victory over the Wallabies on Australian soil since 1969. However, the 43-year drought will continue thanks to an accurate goal kick from Harris under immense pressure.
The player came off the bench in the 72nd minute, and was asked to convert his first and only attempt at posts from a difficult angle (a few metres inside the left touchline) during overtime. A solid strike saw the ball sail over the crossbar, and victory was sealed.
Heartbreak for Wales – jubilation for the Wallabies.
While Harris nailed the decider, No 10 Berrick Barnes deserves most of the praise as his all-round contribution kept the hosts within reach throughout the match. It was his break that created the try for outside centre Rob Horne, while he slotted six of his seven goal attempts before being substituted because of a hamstring injury. With Wallabies coach Robbie Deans still unsure on a permanent candidate for the No 10 jersey, with the absent Quade Cooper, James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale in mind, Barnes made a big statement in this Test.
Meanwhile, spare a thought for the Welsh. They played really well and deserved a late 23-22 lead. They contested tirelessly at the breakdowns and scrummed well for most parts of the match. Fullback Leigh Halfpenny was also carried out a big role from the kicking tee – adding all possible 13 points.
While their ascendancy among the heavies up front gave the Dragons a great chance for victory, it also secured them a strong start to game.
Shortly after the kick-off, a string of eight phases put wing George North through for an early score with only two minutes played. Halfpenny booted the conversion. Wales came out blazing, but the Wallabies showed great composure thereafter and slowly won control of the match, mainly thanks to Barnes’s influence.
He spearheaded the backline well and made smart decisions on attack. One of his highlights in the opening 40 saw him expose the Welsh static defence with a run following a dummy pass, and he broke their guard in centre field. A swift pass to the supporting Horne was his final touch on a crucial score. With his two penalties earlier in the first stanza, the Wallabies led 13-7 at half-time.
In the second stanza, Wales grabbed another early try. Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia’s no-look pass in the midfield failed to find any hands, and Wales inside centre Ashley Beck hacked the loose ball into the Australian 22m area. Beck was taken out off the ball during the chase, but outside centre Jonathan Davies had the pace and skill to finish off the try.
The lead jumped hands several times thereafter as Barnes and Halfpenny traded penalties. It was Halfpenny’s 66th-minute three-pointer that looked like the game-clincher as Wales held on bravely during the closing stages of the match. They also played against 14 men in the final quarter, with wing Cooper Vuna getting a yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
However, Wales conceded a penalty while defending a driving maul, allowing Harris to clinch the win and the Test series in the Wallabies’ favour.
149 Comments
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16 Jun 2012, 14:01 pm
@cane(cane)-96: Too right, some of the Bok supporters are puzzling, to say the least. Especially on this site! Thing is that there are many good supporters too, who are passionate about the Boks in SA. Many of them never go near a rugby Blog though…
16 Jun 2012, 14:01 pm
Interesting in these two tests that a scrum was awarded at about exactly the same time in the game (around 75th mim) that went through the 90 degrees. The results were very different but in both occurances the dominant team got screwed. The law is clear: if the scrum goes through 90 degrees the other team get the put in. Anything else is the ref “reading” something into the situation.
16 Jun 2012, 14:02 pm
@cane(cane)-98: He he, think I just might…
16 Jun 2012, 14:02 pm
@cane(cane)-98:
Maybe mako needs only 2 beers to get wasted
16 Jun 2012, 14:03 pm
@cane(cane)-96: Come on cane, you shouldn’t generalise like that. There are hundreds of us here, and only a few will not be happy. You can’t make them speak for us.
You lot, on the other hand, are represented by only 5 or 6. And these are the handful of internet literate Kiwis out there, which frighteningly enough, includes the likes of Poppa and Blackpantie.
16 Jun 2012, 14:04 pm
damn i see a pattern developing here … therefore boks to win by plenty !!!
Nothern hamisphere is putting up a fight this week
16 Jun 2012, 14:05 pm
The last two penalties in favour of the Wallabies looked dubious to me
16 Jun 2012, 14:06 pm
Wales lost this game
16 Jun 2012, 14:06 pm
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-104: I will sip slowly, would hate to miss the game by peaking too early!
16 Jun 2012, 14:07 pm
@at beertjie: incorrect. A team is not allowed to unweight one side of the scrum, in order to wheel the 90. That is what Nigel owens ruled happened. Was he right? I would have to watch the replay, and even then it probobaly wont be obvious. But it is a legitimate reason to give a penalty to the team with the put in.
16 Jun 2012, 14:10 pm
If the NH sides are going to keep the standard of their rugby up where it is it will make for a very interesting World Cup next time around. Something to look forward to!
16 Jun 2012, 14:10 pm
I must say that these convicts and the ABs are looking average. The rugby they are playibg is kuk! Deans is a fake and Hansen a mamparra of note.
People get some perpective, the Dragons and the Irish were both 79 minutes away from glory – no way they should be one desperate drop kick or one penlty away from losing a match.
Bring on the 4N, Heineken is going to moer them and so will the Argies.
16 Jun 2012, 14:10 pm
setlle down. sh sides took it too easy. next week the ab’s will get 50 and the wannabees 40. Go Bokke. Pumas and Fiji. Another clean sweep please!
16 Jun 2012, 14:13 pm
@boktillzero(boktillzero)-106: first game could have been a draw, 2nd game wales was ahead by one so third game…. O_O. Also maybe boks gets a red card.
16 Jun 2012, 14:14 pm
@RL(RL)-112: I think you are making a big mistake if you think that RL. AB’s didn’t have their best day at the office, but still pulled off a win, Hansen is no Mamparra. I think the Aussies are weaker than they have been in the past, but the 4N is going nto be a very interesting challenge for all teams.
16 Jun 2012, 14:17 pm
@RL(RL)-112: come on, why do SH have to be **** for the NH to look good.
It’s about time the gap genuinely decreases really and no I’m not from up north.
16 Jun 2012, 14:23 pm
@GoodGame(GoodGame)-116: @mako(mako)-115:
I expect the Boks to set the example and trample the Poms into the ground – it is going to be a blood bath. Hansen and Deans will leanrn a thing or two.
16 Jun 2012, 14:23 pm
@goodgame
check out irb do t c om
16 Jun 2012, 14:24 pm
@GoodGame(GoodGame)-114:
I have no doubt that the boks will be carded at some point in the game
16 Jun 2012, 14:26 pm
what time is the game?
16 Jun 2012, 14:27 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-88: well said – maye last weeks win also had a lot to do with Ireland simply not pitching on the day? New Zealanders had to struggle to win that one.
Credit to Wales and Ireland – some awesome rugger and good to see that things are evening out a bit and becoming more competitive – the constant struggle between us, Oz and Nz was getting a bit stale.
Like that time when Schumacher was winning every GP.
Be interesting to see what happens tonight. Go Bokke!!!!
16 Jun 2012, 14:33 pm
@AiDoc(AiDoc)-120: 17:00
16 Jun 2012, 14:34 pm
@RL(RL)-112:
If you had any brains you would wait until the 79th minute of the Boks/Poms Game before you started your bragging.
8)
16 Jun 2012, 14:35 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-121: Ja, there really isn’t much to choose between the four teams we saw in action so far today. And let’s not forget that some key players are still missing – particularly Cooper for the Aussies and Roberts for Wales.
16 Jun 2012, 14:35 pm
@cane(cane)-123: That cuts into a lot of bragging time though.
16 Jun 2012, 14:36 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-124: yep I also fear the Poms will be inspired by this mornings games. Going to be another hard day at the office but reckon the Boks will still take it comfortably. (I hope lol)
16 Jun 2012, 14:38 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-125:
lol
16 Jun 2012, 14:44 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-108: astute observation
16 Jun 2012, 14:45 pm
@cane(cane)-123: I will wait for min 79 citizen Cane to begin the party
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
Not.
16 Jun 2012, 14:56 pm
@mako(mako)-115: He is correct, NZ are very average and Australia are too incomplete and have a shoddy coach.
16 Jun 2012, 14:58 pm
@RL(RL)-129:
beating England at home is reason to party?
16 Jun 2012, 15:00 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-130:
is that the same Australia that has beaten you 6 from the last 8 tests?
16 Jun 2012, 15:01 pm
Must go. I put furniture polish on the slide and the kids are coming off the jungle gym faster than a Habana line break. This could end badly.
16 Jun 2012, 15:08 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-133: hahah classic
16 Jun 2012, 15:14 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-85:
only lucky that it was down to the wire…otherwise Wales benefitted from wallabies mistakes…glaring mistakes. look at the next game you tidy up the mistakes and see where wales is.
16 Jun 2012, 15:15 pm
I almost feel sorry for the welsh…they are hard players but absolute gentlemen. Good for pocock that he recognised this….warburton is a great player and person.
16 Jun 2012, 15:17 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-130:
have you smoked something a little strong this afternoon.
16 Jun 2012, 15:27 pm
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-131: apparently beating Ireland at home is now…
16 Jun 2012, 16:00 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-138:
Been a while since England have been that close to beat the ABs.
I remember when we won at Twickers, the English team were celebrating cos they got really close…. You remember cos i bought it up a while back and you said some stupid excuse for it.
16 Jun 2012, 16:01 pm
Was at the game…what a downer…only excitement was the last kick…. Dunno why the wallabies slowed the game, that is not their typical style…
16 Jun 2012, 16:08 pm
Wales played well, but kicking the ball away with 1 min to go, effectively handed the game to Australia.
16 Jun 2012, 16:20 pm
@ossewa(ossewa)-140:
from where I watched it was wales slowing the game most of the time…yes Genia delivered at little later in some instances but most other times wales had their hands in and disrupted the game.
stats show that the only close part of this game was the scoreboard…otherwise wales were outplayed….only let in by wallaby mistakes.
16 Jun 2012, 16:29 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-139:
in 97′ they did a lap of honour after losing a test match, maybe we’ll see another lap of honour at Ellis tonight if they lose
16 Jun 2012, 16:55 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-142:
I have not seen the stats but i agree with you. The mistakes ruined the flow massively…
Win is a win though….
What is o’connor’s issue….he was on the sideline but does not seemed phased by the team…on his phone while barnes was kicking at goal and did not congratulate the boys after the game???? He seriously seems to think he is bigger than the game….
16 Jun 2012, 19:45 pm
It’s going to be a great afternoon test in Sydney. Weather permitting, then again, the welsh will not mind torrential rain. I think Palu has run his race, reckon Dave Dennis is the go at six and Higginbotham in at eight.
Only concern for Deans will be depth for the backs. If Genia goes down, there isn’t much choice or quality to over the little general. Cooper, JOC, Beale, Mitchell is serious horse power MIA.
17 Jun 2012, 05:28 am
@ossewa(ossewa)-144:
There are a few senior players in the wallabies who are enough of the rock star attitude of o connor,beale and cooper. I think oconnor needs a big wake up call….too much money too young.
17 Jun 2012, 05:40 am
Was a great test to watch… sucks watching it at an AFL venue though… they should have played it at the world’s most iconic stadium the Rebel’s AAMI park…
Wallabies will only improve with their injured star backs coming back soon… but… Deans needs to play his young specialist locks like Pyle, Douglas and co… Dennis is no lock…
17 Jun 2012, 06:59 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-147:
Agree with that …AAMI would have been packed and electric….all about money though, AAMI cant offer the corp hospitality AAMI can…
17 Jun 2012, 11:46 am
Sorry i meant etihad offers better corp hospitality…
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