Wales
1 Gareth Thomas
2 Dewi Lake
3 Archie Griffin
4 Will Rowlands
5 Adam Beard
6 James Botham
7 Jac Morgan
8 Aaron Wainwright
9 Ellis Bevan
10 Gareth Anscombe
11 Blair Murray
12 Ben Thomas
13 Max Llewellyn
14 Tom Rogers
15 Cameron Winnett
Substitutes
16 Ryan Elias
17 Nicky Smith
18 Keiron Assiratti
19 Christ Tshiunza
20 Tommy Reffell
21 Rhodri Williams
22 Sam Costelow
23 Eddie James
Australia
1 Angus Bell
2 Matt Faessler
3 Allan Alaalatoa
4 Nick Frost
5 Will Skelton
6 Seru Uru
7 Fraser McReight
8 Rob Valetini
9 Nic White
10 Noah Lolesio
11 Max Jorgensen
12 Samu Kerevi
13 Len Ikitau
14 Andrew Kellaway
15 Tom Wright
Substitutes
16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa
17 James Slipper
18 Zane Nonggorr
19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
20 Langi Gleeson
21 Tate McDermott
22 Ben Donaldson
23 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
Match Officials: Referee: James Doleman (NZR) ARs: Karl Dickson (Eng) & Angus Mabey (NZR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA)
Prediction
We should have this on paper, we’re an improving outfit with a last up win against quality opposition, while Wales are looking down the barrel of a calendar year without a victory. As an Australian supporter I’m starting to feel that we are progressing, hopefully this game won’t be a false dawn.
Australia by 7.
The match
For the first 10 minutes both teams started the game with great adventure, with Kerevi getting held up and Australia dominating possession and territory.
Australia score the first try through Tom Wright after asking enough questions of the Welsh defence to finally get the answer they wanted.
From the restart Wales get a bit of good possession and after losing the ball in contact Australia transition the ball through three sets of hands and Nick Frost scores a fine try from 50 metres out showing real pace for a second rower.
Currently, Australia are dominating in all facets of the game with Matt F going over for a second try from an effective rolling maul.
From the restart, Wales finally get some possession in the Australian end of the field and after generating some scrum dominance they generate a penalty advantage leading to a try to their #8.
Wales generated possession parity through some set piece dominance and a bit of lazy defence and after two scrum penalties have brought the game back to 19 to 13.
Wales coming back into the game and after some admittedly minor head on head contact, Doleman does the most Doleman thing and calls no foul play.
First half score 19 to 13. The first 25 minutes were all Wallabies with great intent, pace and support lines. The last 15 minutes belonged to the Welsh generating set piece dominance with Angus Bell being penalised twice (and probably should have been a third) giving the Welsh access back into the game.
Australian standouts in the first half were Seru Uru, Tom Wright and Will Skelton.
Second half
Angus Bell was replaced at half-time as he was getting it handed to him at scrum time..
The second half begins with Sami Kerevi getting a yellow card for a good tackle with the Welsh player dipping into contact. My question with this is what are the protocols here?, Kerevi was bent at the waist and lining for a low hit.
The game is now a proper test match, with both teams looking to play.
After the Kerevi yellow, Australia returned to the maul game, generating a couple of penalties and scored another from a rolling maul.
Samu Kerevi’s slice of cheese is upgraded to an undeserved vino.
Australia again generate a couple of penalties and after another rolling maul, Matty F has a deserved hat trick. Score 33–13.
Changes being made with Skelton coming off after probably his best game in gold.
Wales manufacture a fine try with numbers from an unfortunate forward pass by the Wallabies. There was a great pick up from the Brady like pass.
Tom Wright scores a nice intercept try which was an all or nothing play as the overlap would have seen Wales in at the other end.
After the first 20 minutes of the second half, the Kerevi red has focussed the Australians with some excellent execution, which is a great sign of the team’s progress. Unusually for any international team, they score 21 unanswered points while they were down to 14 players on the paddock.
Wales score their first points of the second half after some sustained pressure, forcing some infringements from the Wallabies, scoring a deserved try off the top of a lineout and a crash ball mid field. Score 40 to 20.
With the game opening up Australia are going through he gears showing some good enterprise and scoring a nice try through Len Ikitau.
Tom Wright finishes it off with a man of the match performance, scoring a hat trick to hang a 50 piece on Wales. Final score 52 to 20.
It appears we can have nice things after all.
Summary and key moments.
The Samu Kerevi red card seemed to focus the Australians into playing some assured rugby. It came with the scores at 19 to 13. Australia kicked away, showing a ruthless edge which is the most gratifying thing on the day as we have seen it all fall apart over the years.
Final score Australia 52 Wales 20
Australia 52
Tries
Matt Faessler 3, Tom Wright 3, Nick Frost, Len Ikitau
Noah Lolesio 6 from 8
Wales 20
Tries
Ben Thomas, Aaron Wainwright
2 conversions, 2 penalties
Over to you G&GRs, it’s a great Monday already.
