Australia: Steal win from Wales
Related links
Teams
Also see
Australia's replacement pivot Mike Harris killed off Wales' hopes of keeping their Test series alive after slotting a last-gasp penalty kick to steal a 25-23 win in Melbourne.
It was a sad case of close but no cigar for the Welsh who came within seconds of winning Down Under for the first time in 43 years and set up a series decider.
However, Harris - on for Berrick Barnes - was called upon to provide the killer blow for the Wallabies after a maul was ruled to have been dragged down and Australia's New Zealand-born super sub didn't disappoint.
The defeat left a devasted Wales outfit once again reflecting on a golden chance gone begging in a thrilling encounter that saw the lead change hands nine times as the match went down to the wire.
The visitors showed their trademark fighting spirit at Etihad Stadium but the loss meant a series victory for Australia, who took out the first Test in Brisbane last week.
Wales got off to a the perfect start, launching a sustained attack after just three minutes which ended when wing George North side-stepped past Wycliff Palu and Rob Simmons to touch down.
Leigh Halfpenny kicked the easy conversion but the hosts went on to have the better of the half and Barnes kicked a pair of penalties to reduce their deficit to 7-6.
The diminuitive fly-half then made a crucial break on the stroke of half-time after slicing through a large gap between Sam Warburton and Ashley Beck, before coolly finding Rob Horne on his shoulder and the centre cruised over the line.
Barnes added the extras to make it a seven-pointer and the Welsh trailed 13-7 at the break.
However, the tourists once again started the better of the two sides after Ashley Beck and Jonathan Davies combined to show off their soccer skills by hacking the ball downfield when Will Genia's pass went astray.
Beck hit the deck, but Davies got a favourable bounce and calmly collected the ball near the line to score. Halfpenny once again added the extras and Wales were back in front (13-14).
Barnes booted a pair of three-pointers either side of a Halfpenny penalty and Australia were clinging to a 19-17 lead, but they then lost wing Cooper Vuna to the sin-bin for tackling Halfpenny in the air.
The Welsh full-back kicked the resulting penalty to put his side up 20-19 but the Wallabies went straight onto the attack and Barnes made it 22-20 when Wales infringed at a ruck.
The see-saw battle continied when the reliable Halfpenny was on target once again when Ben Alexander was penalised at a scrum 13 minutes from time before Barnes - who had been struggling with a leg injury - then put a kick wide of the posts with six minutes left.
But the Wallabies got another chance when, with the 80 minutes having elapsed, Richard Hibbard infringed at a driving maul, and Harris calmly stepped up to drill a tricky penalty straight through the uprights.
Man of the match: For Wales, Leigh Halfpenny kept his side in the hunt thanks to a flawless kicking display and perhaps would've been awarded this gong had Wales won. However, the official man of the match award went to new dad Berrick Barnes and it's hard to argue against it. Australia's number ten set up the Wallabies' only try of the match and contributed 17 points before being replaced.
Moment of the match: We're pretty sure every pub in Wales now have a picture of Mike Harris on the bullseye of their dartboards following the replacement's match-winning kick in extra time.
Villain of the match: Mike Harris - we were looking forward to seeing the series head into a decider next weekend! But we won't hold it against you... too much.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Try: Horne
Con: Barnes
Pens: Barnes 5, Harris
For Wales:
Tries: North, Davies
Cons: Halfpenny 2
Pens: Halfpenny 3
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, 18 Dave Dennis, 19 Michael Hooper, 20 Nic White, 21 Anthony Fainga'a, 22 Mike Harris.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Paul James, 18 Luke Charteris, 19 Justin Tipuric, 20 Rhys Webb, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
By Dave Morris
Comments
new_j4a says...
@jontheref, Yes Mark Lawrence is one of the all time great refs. I really admire his man management ability.
Posted 15:56 22nd June 2012
jontheref says...
new_j4A
Last word, would prefer to see Mark Lawrence as the ref, thought he had a great game Tuesday.
A ref who did not get the plaudits he deserved.
Top ref at RWC 2003, yet he did not get the final.
This before the game, so not quite knocking CJ, just bemoaning a lack of using good talent.
cheers.
Posted 10:42 22nd June 2012
jontheref says...
new_j4A
Cheers,
going surfing down west, just hope I get a wifi signal to watch the game live.
6.00 am KO?
Posted 09:35 22nd June 2012
new_j4a says...
@jontheref , Got it. Good luck for the weekend. Should be great rugby!
Posted 06:53 22nd June 2012
jontheref says...
@new_j4A
I accept what you say.
What I am saying about the forum closing, (or possibility of it, when i returned to the UK in 2005, having been a member of the now defunct iRB form, it was a forum that had similar aims to the planet rugby one, though notarticle led.
Unfortunately, disagreements, for want of a polite word, became heated, with probably an increase in trolling.
This led to the moderators finally giving up on policing the forum, and it was closed.
If the level of abuse, (and I am not talking about school play ground name calling,) continues, I can see this forum going the same way.
If not closed, maybe all the sensible ones will just stop contributing.
I see many of us being partisan, and there is nothing wrong with that, but everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if someone else disagrees with it.
Some posts I ignore, as if I disagree, but know even if I am correct, the poster will never accept a different view, and it is pointless to even try to communicate with them
I understand how hard it is to referee these top games, never did it, but as has been mentioned, can see how a ref can miss something.
It is one thing to have a view to his performance, quite another to say he is deliberately biased.
A recent RWC winning coach said" It is difficult for a NH team to play in the SH with a SH ref, as the SH ref has the perception that the SH team will win".
I have seen this in NH club/province Rugby, where one team appears to have to be much better that the opposition to win.
Our Pro 12 legaue, has the disadvantage of not having nuetral refs for all games, (due to not trusting Scottish or Italian refs), and the Welsh or Irish teams travel away with their own ref!
Back to your point, we have to self regulate our comments, as if we do not, as Asterix said"The sky might fall in!"
At limit, so will finish!
Posted 00:03 22nd June 2012
new_j4a says...
@jontheref, first of all let me say that I am going to try and get along with you, especially if you are not making unfounded/vague claims of ref bias or cheating. And especially if you continue to do your bit to educate people on the Laws of the game. Not a word more from me on the topic.
I am however intrigued by this statement, "As I said, if it continues to deterioate, the forum may have to close, as the iRB forum did." What do you think would close the web site? Is there some statutory body (offweb perhaps?) that is empowered to impose standards of decency on a website? Or is it just that people would be offended and go elsewhere thus exerting commercial pressure? I am not having a go at you. I genuinely want to know what you think on this issue.
Posted 19:18 21st June 2012
jontheref says...
@new_j4A
"The only poster who has tried tomake a claim recently, is new_j4A"
This was in the run of threads, prior to Ramage and myself, informing the forum of our history.
Mine was in answer to his post.
Obviously, mine wouldthen have been more recent than yours!
"Mate, I don't think your problem is dyslexia. Your problem is pure and simple stupidity. And you can hardly expect me to apologize for that.....it wasn't me that should have rolled over and gone to sleep....at least not as far as I recollect."
Again, this was not aimed at you, I wsa saying, in a general sense about the petty comments and abuse that has been a common thread recently.
As I said, if it continues to deterioate, the forum may have to close, as the iRB forum did.
Posted 12:39 21st June 2012
Trader2 says...
Trinats there needs to be something in the pot to stir - all you have is hot air
Posted 00:33 20th June 2012
Trinats2 says...
Ramage:
We can agree to disagree. You claim "the standard of OZ refereeing has dropped to an all time low" I claim the standard of refereeing over the past 10 years has been low !!!.
Are they afraid of the performance review system that was introduced (financial benefits !!!) ? that they get too caught up and make "dodgy" decisions ? and then try to make amends the following week. Which could explain the strange results in the S15 !!!! Or is it that they do not fully understand the interpretations of the new rules/laws?
Joubes isn't that bad, he just favours a home team wherever he is. It would read as an interesting stat !!!!
How is your Bryce Lawrence going, from a professional referees prospective !!!
"Your logic is very hard to follow at times"
Here's a tip, if there is an !!!! after what I post, it's becasue i'm stirring !!!
Posted 15:11 19th June 2012
Trader2 says...
PS @anotherfarce by the way how did the Welsh U20's go again, haven't heard from you on that?
Posted 14:21 19th June 2012
Trader2 says...
Ahhh Trinats there you go making up stories again I never knew what PR was in 2007, come on stop with the little porkies nows theres a good boy.
Posted 14:13 19th June 2012
anotherfarce says...
@Ramage
You are an idiot plain & simple!!
Posted 10:12 19th June 2012
Ramage says...
@trinuts I am pleased you are surprised about me playing and so pleased to have again educated you. As for my comments about OZ referees there are two points you should have picked up. So here again a little education. As many on here know you are one of the loudest whingers on here on the ability of referees. Your Super15 posts are always full of criticism of Joubert because he has refereed many games between NZ and Oz which Oz have lost. Before Joubert it was Kaplan. Week after week you say Oz teams are hampered by the referees, never the poor play. What I have done is point out to you that unfortunately, and I mean this, the standard of OZ refereeing has dropped to an all time low. Many Oz refs have been tried in Super 15 only to get the boot and your top ref is a former NZ referee. You only have one other referee with any experience in Super 15 and he has only had a few games this year. The two new refs from Oz have only had 2 starts each so far. This has weakened the super 15 competition and as you point out people do bag referees and as their is a merit panel people criticise their impartiality. I have pleaded with you, as you have come on here week after week pointing out all the deficiencies that Saffa and Kiwi refs have. Alas you have not done anything to help raise the standard of OZ referees. I can remember when they had a very good panel of top referees. You claim the Saffas are inconsistent but show no proof. You use the word coincidence which really is a euphemism for the word conspiracy. Interesting that some saffas claim there is a conspiracy in IRB refereeing against them and for NZ and here you are saying the referees at the top of this conspiracy are all Saffas lol. People in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones. Your logic is very hard to follow at times. Never mind we all still love you and haven't quite put you into the troll basket yet.
Posted 09:30 19th June 2012
Ramage says...
@anotherfarce First your post claiming referees are on the take is one of the most outrageous statements you have made so far and is an insult to those who referee especially if, as you claim, you are a former referee. Therefore can you please name the international referees who are on the take and give the proof of your allegations. Or are you referring to knowledge of such actions in your home country. If you can't then can I respectfully ask you to close your mouth.
Secondly you go over the top on the Vuna case and claim it should have been a straight red card. Once again your over the top and interpretations have been dismissed by those who have looked calmly and logically at the incident and ruled on accordingly. Shows your interpretations are somewhat biased and show your views are less than rational. If you dont agree read the judicial report.
As for the collapsing of the scrum your argument lacks total credibility as much of your other arguments you see things through the red tinted spectacles of a rabid Welsh supporter and you need to chill out and read what other more sane Welsh supporters are saying. Pure and simple Wales failed, as Trader2 succinctly put it to close of the game with some basic errors
As with others on here you are being rated as a troll and I wont waste my time replying to any or your further posts. Ka kite ano
Posted 04:44 19th June 2012
Trinats2 says...
Trader2:
Forgetful in your old age old fart ??? Off the top of my head how about a certain Wayne Barnes !!! Whinge whinge forward pass etc etc. But that doesn't count because you're a Kiwi and rules don't apply to you, or you can bend them !!!!
Posted 23:10 18th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@jonthe___, read your last post "Like you I have been involved in many facets of the game, in many countries, refereeing, adminstrating, though never involved in the judiciary. Though I have friends who are.
****** and then 3 lines later....3 lines! *******
"The only poster who has tried tomake a claim recently, is new_j4A"
Mate, I don't think your problem is dyslexia. Your problem is pure and simple stupidity. And you can hardly expect me to apologize for that.....it wasn't me that should have rolled over and gone to sleep....at least not as far as I recollect.
Posted 21:15 18th June 2012
Trader2 says...
@anotherfarce my point remains the decisions that influenced the final result were the bad ones Wales took in the last two minutes - end of. Grow up and stop trying to blame someone else, it seems a common thread in Wales (see Edwards and the closed legs affair) take responsibility because until you (and Wales) do you will go nowhere.
Posted 15:37 18th June 2012
Trader2 says...
@Trinats there you are making up stories again, I for one have never come on PR and whinged about ref's. Stick to the facts old son.
Posted 15:25 18th June 2012
Trinats2 says...
cliffguy:
"Mike Phillips and Sam Warburton, look off the pace"
maybe because they were up against the best 9 and 7 in the world !
Ramage:
I am surprised to find out you played rugby for anyone, let alone "teams" !!!
Everyone comes on here for a whinge about Refs (you included "aus refs") It's not that ones blames a ref for a dodgy call or a few dodgy calls in a game. it's when they are inconsistent (are they told to make amends for their calls from one week to the next ?) or consistency (in the saffas case) 10 losses for Aus V NZ all with saffa refs, NH ref and they break their losing streak, another 2 Saffas and they lose again then NH ref and they win. Not that I think saffa refs favour NZ, just saying it's a coincidence !!!!
Posted 13:27 18th June 2012
Ramage says...
@ Wallaroo thanks for your kind words much appreciated. You make a good point and I'm not saying that referees are always right .I'll explain how I feel and you will see the point I'm making so forcibly.
My outrage is at people who sit behind the anonymity of a keyboard and pour scorn on International referees calling them incompetent and cheats. Many of those people have little or no knowledge of the laws of the games have never had any experience of controlling a game. The problem that many fail to recognise or accept is the ref has to interpret many of those laws and it is often the interpretation that is called into question. In the Australian Wales game the Australians were incensed at a call and either minutes before or after the Welsh were incensed. Many people sitting watching the game through the medium of TV dont realise how the referee can be blocked in seeing various offences when a player moves across his line of vision. No ref should ever guess because a crowd roars its disapproval. The ref can only rule on what he sees or is brought to his attention by his assistants. However these trolls still insist in besmirching these referees because their team has lost
I do not believe though that any ref is above criticism and must be responsible for their decisions. It seems this accountability is being introduced now. Quite a few have lost their right to referee top test matches. Included are Barnes Kaplan Lawrence and Pearson. Though Poite, Joubert, Owens, Clancy, Rolland and Walsh.have been bagged. In fact the only two who haven't been mauled so far are Peyper and Pollock two new boys on the block. There turn is yet to come.
Referees, like players, must be held accountable for too many bad decisions, but it is funny that when they are there is often an outpouring of outrage from the refs countrymen.seems contrary to law the referee is always wrong.
Posted 13:26 18th June 2012