OK fuckers, prepare to be truthed.
Firstly - I'm surprised the Wallabies team bus didn't break down under the weight of their gigantic adamantium balls. Just. Fucking. Awesome.
Sure, Wales didn't exactly brim with attacking prowess, but they figured they could use beef to run over us, and it wasn't a bad plan. Problem is, when they couldn't crack that, they went wide a little ponderously, and our rush defenders picked it like a nose.
The continued decisions to go to the line was madness, though I could understand it somewhat - they get closer, but then have to start again, having just seen what the Wallaby defence was doing to their best stuff.
A few other things I noticed:
- Foley made some of the most important tackles in the game, grassing bigger men to give his team mates something to aim at, or in the case of North, preventing a try with McCalman's superb assistance. While the attack wasn't scintillating due to Wales' rush defence, he managed with what he had OK. What was funny is big blokes like North tried to run around him, which played into his hands on the cover tackle because he's so quick. Giteau was similar in that regard.
- Giteau stood at hooker on their lineout - usually Foley's gig. Protecting the ribs?
- 60th minute when Simmons came on, he went straight to TH lock. Tactically a good move to get the fresh legs into the power position. For a couple of scrums, Wales held, but then we started to test out young Francis and he was found a little wanting, but not as much as England.
- the really interesting bit about that period of scrums is Joubers let a LOT go. There were guys from both sides splintering up, or out, and changing angle and direction, and he just let it happen. A French ref would have found issues IMHO.
- When AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) made the tackle for Beale's turnover in the 69th minute, the tackle count was Wallabies made 117 / missed 9 to Wales 46/9. Wow
- Right after that, the lineout was a bit of a mess but the silky hands from all players nearly got us a try. Foley kicked his 5th from 5 (yea boi - where da haterz at?) to ice the cake. You could see from Gatland's face that he knew the game was over at that point, with nearly 8 minutes to go.
- Folau in the air was poo. Has been the last few games. That ankle is becoming an issue for the team because he can't land on it from height. Still, for him to push through that last 7 minutes was pretty solid.
- Lineout continues to creak.
- After absorbing all that weight from Wales, we played some of our best attacking rugby in the last 10 minutes. Magic. Testament to the fitness of our team and the quality of our bench.
That was fucking epic Test Rugby. If you don't think so, you're a fucking gormless pillock, and we can't be friends any more.