Wallabies return to haunt Welsh
Australia 42 Wales 3
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Like a recurring nightmare, the deficiencies which haunted Wales in the first rugby union Test against Australia a fortnight ago returned yesterday to leave them stumbling again. Though there was no denying their resolution, particularly in defence, Wales were let down at critical moments by basic errors in both attack and defence.
Wales simply could not play with any assurance at the high pace demanded in southern hemisphere rugby, and though they headed the line-out count for a second Test running, they had more than enough weaknesses in other areas. The Wallabies scored six tries, most of them from mistakes by the Welsh.
Australia have rattled up nearly 100 points in the two-Test series - they won the first 56-25 - but by their own admission have hardly played like world-beaters. In the post-mortem which will take place on the flight home, this fact should be the most unpalatable for Kevin Bowring and his Welsh coaching team. Going back to the drawing board only disguises the truth: the game in Wales is not producing the quality of individual player nor has it yet devised a method of keeping pace with the southern hemisphere game.
For half an hour Wales held the Wallabies to 3-3. Derwyn Jones and Gareth Llewellyn commanded the line-out and Robert Howley looked assured, but apart from some surging runs by Nigel Davies there was an ominous lack of threat. Once the breach inevitably arrived - two minutes from half- time - the floodgates opened. Stand-off Neil Jenkins failed to find touch, Matthew Burke regathered, shrugged off Wayne Proctor and put in Owen Finegan.
Suddenly Wales's hopes were in tatters, and though they mounted an occasional attack of their own, the scoreboard thereafter was lit up only by Australian tries. The epitaph for this particular touring team was, simply: they were not good enough.
AUSTRALIA: Tries Finegan, Burke, Roth, Foley, Morgan, Horan. Conversions Burke 2, Eales 1. Penalties Burke 2.
WALES: Penalties Jenkins 1.
Australia: M Burke; D Campese, J Roff, T Horan, B Tune; P Howard, S Payne; R Harry, M Caputo, E McKenzie, G Morgan, J Eales (capt), O Finegan, M Brial, D Wilson. Replacements: D Crowley for McKenzie 11, M Foley for Caputo 42, S Larkham for Burke 59, D Manu for Foley 71.
Wales: W Proctor (Llanelli); I Evans (Llanelli), G Thomas (Pontypridd), N Davies (Llanelli), S Hill (Cardiff); N Jenkins (Pontypridd), R Howley (Bridgend); C Loader (Swansea), J Humphreys (Cardiff, capt), L Mustoe (Cardiff), G Llewellyn (Harlequins), D Jones (Cardiff), A Gibbs (Newbridge), H Taylor (Cardiff), S Williams (Neath). Replacements: A Lewis (Cardiff) for Loader 18-25; D James (Bridgend) for N Davies 76.
Referee: C Hawke (New Zealand).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments