Wales claim hard-fought win over Aussies
By Mark Stevens
29/9/19
Tomas Francis grabbed the bragging rights over Exeter Chiefs club-mate Nic White as Wales moved towards the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a memorable victory over Australia in Tokyo.
In a breathless start to this Pool D match, Wales burst out of the blocks to lead 10-0 thanks to Hadleigh Parkes' try and Dan Biggar's measured kicking.
Australia fought back with a try of their own from a cross-field kick as Adam Ashley-Cooper touched down, but then Gareth Davies intercepted a pass from Will Genia before sprinting clear to give Wales a 23-8 half-time lead.
Dane Haylett-Petty's try early in the second half renewed Australia hope and brought to Wales minds a foreboding sense of history repeating against a team who had beaten them agonisingly on so many occasions.
Those fears deepened as Michael Hooper drove over from close range and Matt Toomua kicked a penalty to reduce the Wallabies' deficit to 26-25, only for replacement Rhys Patchell to kick his third penalty to restore Wales' lead to four points.
Late on Warren Gatland's side effectively had to navigate the final few moments with 14 men as full-back Liam Williams soldiered on with an injury, but they dug in admirably to record a famous victory.
Post-game, Gatland was quick to hail his side’s display. “I would like to see them (Wales players) celebrate tonight,” he said. “They deserve to celebrate – it was a tough game and a great win.
“Australia were really good in the second half, put us under a lot of pressure and had a lot of ball. And it became a typical Wales-Australia clash, going right down to the wire. To win that is very pleasing, and that means the pool is our own destiny.
“Our game-management has improved significantly. It was good in the autumn last year, and particularly in the Six Nations. We’ve learnt a lot from those experiences. Even though we were under a lot of pressure in that second half, I thought our composure and fitness were really good and we soaked up a lot of pressure.”
Gatland added: “It was just about winning, really. It wasn’t about knockout stages. We won some key turnovers towards the end of the game. It was pleasing to handle the six-day turnaround from the Georgia game, which wasn’t an easy encounter.
“I want the guys to look after themselves tonight, but they deserve to pat each other on the back. It’s a big confidence boost for the next couple of games. It’s important we prepare the best we can and don’t take anything for granted. We’ve got to be as clinical as you possibly can.”
But whilst Gatland celebrated, Aussie coach Michael Cheika said he was “embarrassed” by the decision to penalise Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi following a tackle incident during the game.
French referee Romain Poite and the television match official punished Kerevi after a first-half collision with Wales replacement Patchell, who appeared to catch Kerevi high. A lengthy television match official review followed and it was decided that Kerevi had made contact with Patchell’s throat with his elbow, although it seemed unintentional.
Cheika could not mask his frustration at events after a game that was stopped several times to check the legality of tackles.
It followed Wallabies wing Reece Hodge being cited and banned for a dangerous tackle in Australia’s opening group game against Fiji last weekend.
Cheika had already hit out at World Rugby in the wake of that and his latest comments will undoubtedly attract further attention.
Asked for his view after the Patchell-Kerevi incident, Cheika sarcastically said: “It was pretty funny because I thought I had seen that tackle before. It could have been Reece Hodge, I’m not sure.Our guy makes that tackle and has the high-tackle framework in his head. He gets suspended, but this guy doesn’t think about the high-tackle framework and we get penalised.
“As a rugby player, as a former player, I am embarrassed about that. I don’t know the rules anymore You’ve got to take care, you’ve got to look after players, but not to an extreme where you are looking after players just for doctors and lawyers. You’ve got to look after players for players.
“Referees are worried about making wrong decisions and become ultra-cautious. With a crowd like that, there shouldn’t be booing, that shouldn’t be happening. I don’t understand anymore. They all seem spooked. Everybody seems worried, they are all worried about stuff so much. I am not sure why they are worried, the players aren’t worried. Then it’s affecting everything else on the field.”