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| Australia Captain David Pocock Looks On During His Sides Victory |
It was a game in which the lead changed ten times and Wales gained the early advantage winning their own kick off and exerting pressure on the Australians. Following a kick straight out on the full Wales exploited a lineout from the Wallabies 22 with George North barreling over for a try after only 4 minutes. Halfpenny converted giving Wales an early lead with Australia having hardly touched the ball. Wales' high tempo continued with Rhys Priestland kicking a penalty in his own 22 to touch in the Wallabies 22 before the Australian's could turn following its awarding.
The majority of the rest of the half, statistically belonged to Australia with the Wallabies dominating possession and territory. In reality it was a defensive battle focusing on the breakdown with little to no quick ball with either side to work with. The half quickly became somewhat of a damp squib with neither side particularly exerting any real dominance, despite a fantastic break from Mike Phillips and Rhys Priestland the match offered very little in attacking play. Berrick Barnes was able to score two penalties though, making the score 7-6 but other than that the only man to stand out was David Pocock for his work around the breakdown. In the final play of the half , the match exploded into life with Berrick Barnes making a break straight from a lineout and easily exploiting a 2on1 with Leigh Halfpenny putting Rob Horne in for a try. Barnes converted putting the Australians up by 13 points to 7 at half time.
The second half started slowly before a mix up at the lineout for Australia. The ball began to bobble around before Ashley Beck hacked up field, Beck was pulled over but Jonathan Davies continued with the chase hacking on again before collecting the ball and scoring an opportunistic try. Leigh Halfpenny made the try a seven pointer putting them up by a point at 14-13. Berrick Barnes and Leigh Halfpenny then traded long range penalties drawing the score to 17-16 after 50 minutes.
Approaching the 60 minute mark, Wales found themselves under a heap of Australian pressure. Barnes had made a glorious chip to Digby Ioane putting Australia into the Welsh 22. However, feverish Welsh defence kept the Wallabies out who had to settle for a Berrick Barnes penalty as reward for their pressure. Again Halfpenny responded with a massive penalty, this time given away by Cooper Vuna who took Halfpenny's legs away in the air leading to a dangerous fall onto the floor. Vuna received a yellow with commentator Ieuan Evans suggesting a red may have been more appropriate. Despite the penalty, the fall appeared to affect Halfpenny's head who dropped a high ball and kicked a ball directly into touch shortly after his fall. Indeed, both kickers appeared to have some form of niggle as Berrick Barnes momentarily pulled up after kicking the restart. Despite this injury Barnes again was able to equal Halfpenny by comfortably kicking a penalty to make the score 22-20.
Wales dominated a scrum to allow Halfpenny once again to slot a penalty appearing to have shake off the effects of Vuna's offence and effectively knock the ball back into Berrick Barnes' court with just over 10 minutes left in the game. Barnes had the chance to put Australia but missed before being subbed straight off the pitch due to his injury, a chance that the Australians lived to regret, especially when they managed to knock on twice, once after a sustained period of pressure in Wales' 22, giving Wales possession and a chance to kill off the game.
However, Australia gained a penalty in the 79th minute kicking into the Wales half and setting up and intense last minute. Australia set up a driving maul on the hooter and proceeded to drive towards the 22, the Welsh forwards doing everything to prevent a penalty, but failing. Far out to the left just outside the 22 Mike Harris was given the chance to win the game and the series with a tough kick. Harris had previously kicked 24 out of 24 kicks for the Reds and showed his worth by cooly slotting the kick and like Daniel Carter for New Zealand earlier in the day, he cruelly stole victory from the hands of the Welsh.
Harris' kick represented a victory in a see-saw match where Leigh Halfpenny and Berrick Barnes had traded kicks with each sides ill discipline being fully exploited. Wales could have won the game if they had held their nerve and composure around the maul perhaps it could have been won. Wales captain described his emotions as 'gutted and demoralised' following what was an intense battle.
Key Battle Verdicts
Kepu v Jenkins - Draw
Both scrums were as awkward as each other today, both players carried good ball and put in their all.
Pocock v Warburton - Pocock
Another monumental battle but one that Pocock won again. In the first half both stole ball and slowed down play. In the second half Pocock was perhaps more effective as well as being the more effective ball carrier.,
Genia v Phillips - Genia
Really not the battle at the heart of the game today. The scrum halves today really were playing second fiddle to the kickers, despite this Genia played the better game. His sniping around the ruck led to quick ball and he was better at controlling the game than Phillips whose passing again tended to put Wales on the back foot.
Man of The Match - Berrick Barnes
New father Barnes played a glorious game today, not void of mistakes but a glorious chip over the top of the defence in the second half showed his class. He set up Rob Horne's try and his kicking was glorious, unfortunately an injury meant he missed one kick and had to be subbed but his subsititute Rob Harris performed to Barnes' fantastic standard.
Approaching the 60 minute mark, Wales found themselves under a heap of Australian pressure. Barnes had made a glorious chip to Digby Ioane putting Australia into the Welsh 22. However, feverish Welsh defence kept the Wallabies out who had to settle for a Berrick Barnes penalty as reward for their pressure. Again Halfpenny responded with a massive penalty, this time given away by Cooper Vuna who took Halfpenny's legs away in the air leading to a dangerous fall onto the floor. Vuna received a yellow with commentator Ieuan Evans suggesting a red may have been more appropriate. Despite the penalty, the fall appeared to affect Halfpenny's head who dropped a high ball and kicked a ball directly into touch shortly after his fall. Indeed, both kickers appeared to have some form of niggle as Berrick Barnes momentarily pulled up after kicking the restart. Despite this injury Barnes again was able to equal Halfpenny by comfortably kicking a penalty to make the score 22-20.
Wales dominated a scrum to allow Halfpenny once again to slot a penalty appearing to have shake off the effects of Vuna's offence and effectively knock the ball back into Berrick Barnes' court with just over 10 minutes left in the game. Barnes had the chance to put Australia but missed before being subbed straight off the pitch due to his injury, a chance that the Australians lived to regret, especially when they managed to knock on twice, once after a sustained period of pressure in Wales' 22, giving Wales possession and a chance to kill off the game.
However, Australia gained a penalty in the 79th minute kicking into the Wales half and setting up and intense last minute. Australia set up a driving maul on the hooter and proceeded to drive towards the 22, the Welsh forwards doing everything to prevent a penalty, but failing. Far out to the left just outside the 22 Mike Harris was given the chance to win the game and the series with a tough kick. Harris had previously kicked 24 out of 24 kicks for the Reds and showed his worth by cooly slotting the kick and like Daniel Carter for New Zealand earlier in the day, he cruelly stole victory from the hands of the Welsh.
Harris' kick represented a victory in a see-saw match where Leigh Halfpenny and Berrick Barnes had traded kicks with each sides ill discipline being fully exploited. Wales could have won the game if they had held their nerve and composure around the maul perhaps it could have been won. Wales captain described his emotions as 'gutted and demoralised' following what was an intense battle.
Key Battle Verdicts
Kepu v Jenkins - Draw
Both scrums were as awkward as each other today, both players carried good ball and put in their all.
Pocock v Warburton - Pocock
Another monumental battle but one that Pocock won again. In the first half both stole ball and slowed down play. In the second half Pocock was perhaps more effective as well as being the more effective ball carrier.,
Genia v Phillips - Genia
Really not the battle at the heart of the game today. The scrum halves today really were playing second fiddle to the kickers, despite this Genia played the better game. His sniping around the ruck led to quick ball and he was better at controlling the game than Phillips whose passing again tended to put Wales on the back foot.
Man of The Match - Berrick Barnes
New father Barnes played a glorious game today, not void of mistakes but a glorious chip over the top of the defence in the second half showed his class. He set up Rob Horne's try and his kicking was glorious, unfortunately an injury meant he missed one kick and had to be subbed but his subsititute Rob Harris performed to Barnes' fantastic standard.
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