Try-scorers: Scott Higginbotham and Will Genia both touched down
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Australia bounced back from their shock loss to Scotland with a morale-boosting 27-19 win over Wales at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.
What a difference four days makes, as the hosts dug deep to prove their doubters wrong and take a 1-0 lead in the series against this year's Six Nations Grand Slam champions.
Wales, who at one stage trailed by fourteen points (20-6), managed to claw their way back into the match and cut the deficit to one (20-19) in an absorbing encounter.
But a try by centre Pat McCabe in the 67th minute proved to be the killer blow as the Welsh slumped to their fifth straight defeat to Australia.
The Wallabies' win takes the heat off under-pressure coach Robbie Deans, whose side rebounded impressively from Tuesday's Scottish disaster with an enterprising ball-in-hand game plan at their Brisbane fortress.
Wales - desperate to end a 43-year drought Down Under - were forced to play catch-up rugby throughout, and it all started when Berrick Barnes opened the scoring with a straightforward penalty kick in the ninth minute.
Australia looked to have created a certain try when Rob Horne darted to the left, but Alex Cuthbert - outstanding for the visitors - prevented the scoring pass with a crucial tackle.
However, just moments later the Wallabies crossed following a series of drives from their forwards that ended with number eight Scott Higginbotham crashing over for his first Test try.
Barnes added the extras and Australia led 10-0 after 16 minutes.
Wales finally got themselves on the scoreboard courtesy of a Leigh Halfpenny, but the men in red were struggling to find any momentum against a Wallabies outfit playing with their tails up.
The tourists then suffered a major blow on the half-hour mark when destructive winger George North was replaced with a quad injury to put him in doubt for next week's second Test in Melbourne.
Trailing 10-3 at half-time, any thoughts of a second-half respite by Australia was extinguished immediately by Will Genia who needed less than a minute after the break to grab his team's second try.
The Wallaby scrum-half exploited space expertly and then effected an outrageous side-step to negotiate the last line of defence. The finish was a moment of individual brilliance and highlighted Genia's running threat as he dived over for the converted try to extend Australia's lead even further (17-3).
Another Halfpenny penalty was then cancelled out by a Barnes drop-goal, but Halfpenny again nudged Wales closer with a third penalty (20-9).
As the game went on, it was evident that the hosts began to tire in the second half and were not as effective at controlling the ball at close quarters. And as the game grew looser, Wales came into their own.
Ashley Beck replaced centre Scott Williams and with his first touch of the ball, put Cuthbert over for his fourth Test try. Halfpenny converted and added an excellent penalty from out wide to cut the deficit to 20-19 on 63 minutes.
Wales were eying a remarkable turnaround, but Australia showed their clinical edge when they needed it most. Genia was again the creator, picking his pass to McCabe who crashed over with thirteen minutes remaining.
Barnes converted and Australia were once again eight points ahead.
Twice Cuthbert threatened to break clear for a second try that Wales desperately needed, but was denied as Australia recovered to hold out for victory.
Man of the match: Alex Cuthbert was Wales' standout player,, while David Pocock, Scott Higginbotham, Berrick Barnes and Adam Ashley-Cooper all made significant contributions for Australia. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who gets our vote - Will Genia take a bow. Apart from his try, Genia looked every bit the general in the number nine position.
Moment of the match: Genia's try... pure magic.
Villain of the match: No malice to report!
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Higginbotham, Genia, McCabe
Cons: Barnes 3
Pens: Barnes
Drop: Barnes
For Wales:
Try: Cuthbert
Con: Halfpenny
Pen: Halfpenny 4
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Cooper Vuna, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu , 7 David Pocock (c), 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Rob Simmons , 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Ben Alexander, Dave Dennis, 18 Michael Hooper, 19 Nic White, 20 Anthony Fainga'a, 21 Mike Harris.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Paul James, 18 Alun Wyn Jones, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Ashley Beck.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Comments
isthatrightref says...
Further evidence if it were needed of the gulf between oz at as close to full strength as anyone can be these days c.f. what happens when injury & insanity on the part of the scheduling dept conspire as they did Tuesday night.
Further evidence also that it's Genia not the laptop retriever who sparks the backs - his try, a carbon-copy of the one that broke the AB last year at the same venue - was pure class, I doubt Going or Edwards could have done better. Wobblies will be hoping no-one from any of the soon-to-be-cashed up NRL clubs (next TV rights deal may be worth $1Bn over 5 years, salary cap predicted to be $5Mn per club per year) were watching...
Pocock may now have overtaken McCaw as the premier 7 in the game - have to wait 'til August 18 to know for sure - Higginbotham was also impressive, Palu not so much. The scrum was rubbish as usual, fortunate for them that Joubert seemed reluctant to penalise them for dropping the bind etc. maybe he's under orders from the IRB?
Finally, evidence that SH players seem to do everything just that tiny bit quicker than the NH, almost a case of NH player thinking "OK, I've got the ball, what now?" vs "OK, I'm going to get the ball, what then?"
Posted 01:37 10th June 2012
Trinats2 says...
Good bounce back, and lucky to close the game out. Thought at one stage Aus looked dead on their feet (3 games in 7 days) but they showed courage. Willy G, awesome. Pocock, well he is Pocock !! and Higgers outstanding, not sure 6 is his position ? would like him at 8.
Tri nations Champions 1 Six Nation Champions 0 (game on)
Damo, agree Ref let Aus away with a lot more than Wales (not at last feet on D). Warburton perfect steal and blew him up? But Aus looked comfortable with the scrum, you read too much media, still hung up on 4 years ago.
Good game and great fans.
Ramage:
"The Irish on the NZ report" everyone hates a whinging Kiwi, but more so a gloating one. Keep the NZ report on the NZ report !!!
Posted 00:28 10th June 2012
eejbm says...
Wales constantly kicked the ball away, and then failed to chase. NH teams seem content to try to win without the ball. Someone mentioned that it was the Wallabies attacking ability that separated them from Wales, that's without Beale and JOC and Cooper. Wallabies forwards were monumental, and their midfield defense was superb.
Really looking forward to games two and three!!
Posted 23:45 09th June 2012
whizz52 says...
Lets all blame the ref. Simple fact is that SH sides have to adapt to NH refs and do it fine and still win most of the time. Big difference between NH and SH rugby is the pace. Irish really noticed it against the ABs who really lift the pace of the game. This game was Wales for the taking with Aussie missing a heap of stars the ABs would have beaten that Aussie team by 20 because Aussie have no real backups.
Posted 23:39 09th June 2012
ABlack says...
This result says two things loud and clear.
1. Wales over rate themselves and uses the media to say so constantly, this to their own ridicule and detriment. 5-0 to Australia in the last 5 games.And we arent even counting NZ and Bok game results
2. Aussie are good when they put their best 15 to 22 out on the paddock. Outside of that 22 they are very average at Test level. The Scotland result was proof of that.
Posted 22:54 09th June 2012
Mayhem says...
No complaints, Wales talked but failed to walk. Next week a good chance to put things write and learn from mistakes. Congrats to oz for bouncing back from midweek, I expect about 5 changes and maybe Wales in with shout
Posted 22:50 09th June 2012
damo says...
@anotherfarce says...
I am Irish and totally neutral I am still angry Wales robbed us in the 6 nations but you are 100% right Joubert is a cod, terrible ref who was scared $hittless of reffing the worst scrum in the top 10 nations OZ so he free kicked everything in the 1st half bar 1 pen each :) funny thing is Wales scrum would and has killed OZ scrum but there was not 1 fair scrum and Joubes did a lucky dip, he missed a knock on in the ruck before OZ's first try and he left Poco k off with murder, he had hands in every ruck and when the ref said to release the ball he continued to have hands on and won 2 turnovers in that circumstance, Oz are rubbish at moment Horne at 13???????? Waratahs front row ??????? with a proper ref they would have had 14 men for 30 minutes and Wales would have spanked them
Posted 22:42 09th June 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Mmm few sour grapes going around. Joubert is the best there is at the moment, I challenge anybody to nominate a better. Southern hemisphere uigby does allow more fringing but you have to play the reff. Bit of savvy needed I think. Wales just didn't front up.
Posted 20:37 09th June 2012
Bazilldon says...
@Ramage. What a sad pathetic person you are. Grow a set.
Posted 20:19 09th June 2012
Ramage says...
@ anotherfarce here we go a poor sad sad LOSER blaming the ref for his teams loss. interesting you claim the Wallabies were never onside. well I can think of a number of times and they were at least at the kickoffs. Funny how you have this idea that the referee was favouring the Australians what a deluded and demented person you are. Still I suppose National fervour does things to people we see the rants on here every week by people venting their spleen because of these cheating biased referees. Or could it be just possibly you are just a very sore LOSER who has to find someone to blame because you r team would never dive in on the ball and play it while on the ground, would never throw a forward pass never drop the scrum illegally or never get offside themselves. Your post was pathetic and shows how twisted you are when you write such crap. Don't insult our intelligence with your views which are those of a sore LOSER. Sorry but your team LOST fair and square because they bombed it and weren't up to the task, unlike the Scots who didn't Lose when they played Australia. Unfortunately you had high expectations for your team but put simply they didn't deliver. Not because of the referee but because of they made too many mistakes. Your hope is they go away and work on their play and correct what they did wrong. By the way Joubert is not reffing the next game it will be Chris Pollock from NZ. So I suppose if you lose that game too we can expect the same diatribe and if you win shall we hear absolute praise from you we await with interest.
Posted 18:58 09th June 2012
Mayhem says...
Sextons on fire, and Wales beat you, 4 times, so........
Posted 18:14 09th June 2012
Bazilldon says...
Totally agree with 'anotherfarce' to lose is one thing but a trigger happy ref does the game no good.
Still, I don't want to sound bitter, overall I'd say Oz were the better team and Genia was outstanding. Hope to see the Welsh team get their tactics right for the remaining test games.
Posted 18:13 09th June 2012
Bazilldon says...
@sexton_on_fire. Was that the same world cup Wales beat you in to progress? Now go back to your corner and keep on colouring in with your non sharp crayons.....idiot
Posted 18:08 09th June 2012
melkdave says...
@Rugbydaft
Wales where rubbish apart from what i posted earlier ,their kicking was woeful and the chase ,how they expected to win any match playing like that is beyond me .Very very poor performance ,by the whole team ,but espically from A.Jones,M.Phillips and R,Preistland,they where just CRAP not anywhere near Lions material today by a long long way .and even though i support England i have alot of welsh heritage ,and always support them against other teams.That was a very very bad performance Rugbydaft
Posted 17:30 09th June 2012
johnthebean says...
Wales dire record against SH opposition continues...
Posted 15:39 09th June 2012
DaveJ says...
Don't get too cocky wallabies fans, take genus out of that game and had another bounce or catch favoured Wales and they could have beaten you. But they didn't so enjoy it but dont get too cocky
Posted 15:36 09th June 2012
davodiablo says...
@Swiwi....I'm Kiwi and I echo your feelings on Will Genius. He's the best no 9 I've ever seen . That solo try was similar to one he scored a few weeks back . Just incredible skills and vision .
Posted 15:28 09th June 2012
Trader2 says...
After Tuesday a good win by the Wannabies but gee they rely on Genia and Poocock a lot, Genia was simply brilliant I am not sure if I am on the mark here but he reminds me very much of Sid Going. As for Wales well really disappointing if they ever had a chance to beat Oz in Australia tonight was it but they blew really, they had it all going for them but just could not cope. If @anotherfarce is looking in that "another 59 years" before they beat the AB's may not be too much off the mark, still Wales should have "Kiwi" Gatland back next week, maybe he can turn things around. Although on the evidence dished up tonight by Wales I doubt it.
Posted 14:58 09th June 2012
sextons_on_fire says...
WOW it's gone all quiet in the principality of Wales hahahaaa...pembs, makemehappy, where art thou hahahahahaaa
ireland beat this wallaby team comfortably at the world cup...and australia beat wales comfortably today, so.........LOL
Posted 14:54 09th June 2012
Mayhem says...
Could PR also please stop printing FISHs constantly racist vitriol as well please. Getting a little tired of all the unconstructive crap he spouts
Posted 14:25 09th June 2012