With qualification to the Quarter Finals confirmed last week following an immense Australian effort that saw England crash out of their own World Cup, the winner of this game would secure a possibly easier route in the latter stages of the competition.
A strong start from Wales saw Paul James and Samson Lee make an obvious difference to the Welsh scrum, turning over the ball before releasing the ball to the backs. George North, playing in the Centre for this game crossed the white wash, but the ball was held up. However, Wales secured a penalty and Dan Biggar continued his impressive kicking form to give the Welshmen a 3 point to 0 lead.
Wales continued to keep a hold on the game for the first quarter, keeping Australia out of their 22, winning opposition line outs and basically showing a defence that England very much lacked last weekend.
An immense effort from the Australian forwards at the scrum offered Outside Half Bernard Foley a chance at goal. His successful kick equalised the score line at 3 points all.
Again the huge forward presence of the Aussies put Wales under pressure, using the rolling maul effectively. Turning down the offer of a possible 3 points, the men in green and gold decided to opt for a possible 5 pointer. Wales were very unlucky with the penalty decision, despite Tipuric turning the ball over. Foley was again successful with his kick to give Australia the lead for the first time – 6 points to 3 with just over half an hour played.
Captain Stephen Moore’s back chatting and failure to release the ball following a penalty saw Dan Biggar given an extra 10 metres for his kick which once again drew things level – 6 points all.
However, a silly penalty at the breakdown saw Foley again kick his team into the lead – 9 points to 6, as the half neared its end.
Dan Biggar was offered the chance to draw things level right at the end of the half, however, his first miss of the competition saw his kick sail to the right of the posts.
Yet another breakdown penalty as the half entered injury time saw Matt Giteau attempt a long range penalty, but the kick was beyond his range and the half ended with Australia boasting a narrow 3 point lead.
You could have been mistaken for thinking you were in the Millennium Stadium rather than Twickenham at the start of the second half as ‘Bread of Heaven’ rang through the stadium.
A powerful run from Faletau and a great off-load saw Wales again getting over the gain line, but once again a penalty at the breakdown saw the pressure relieved.
A penalty against Israel Folau on Liam Williams offered Wales the chance to attack back in the Australia half, however they failed to find touch and the Aussies were soon back in a good attacking position.
Great work at the breakdown from Sam Warburton was cancelled out by a high tackle from Faletau and Foley made no mistake in adding the 3 points to give his team a 6 point cushion – 12 points to 6.
Referee Craig Joubert finally lost patience with the breakdown penalty count which saw Australia down to 14 men and the Welshmen inching ever closer to the Australia try line with Liam Williams, Alun Wyn Jones and finally Faletau crossing the line, however he did not have control of the ball and play went back to the penalty for off-side.
Another yellow card for the Australians saw them down to 13 men and with Wales camped on the try line it offered their best chance for a try, however the men in red didn’t bank on the 13 man blitz defence.
Yet again George North crossed the line, only for the ball to be held up for the third time.
Huge performances from Wales saw them do everything but score, equalled only by the heroic defence from the Australians that has most certainly kept Wales from running away with this game.
Heartbreakingly for Wales, they were unable to turn all the pressure, plus their 2 man advantage into points. The celebrations from Australia when they secured a penalty mirrored the reaction if they’d won the Final.
Suddenly after a long period defending for their lives, Australia were on the attack. Foley continued his 100% kicking record to further increase the lead for his team, despite all the odds being stacked against them to almost secure the lead at 15 points to 6 with just over 8 minutes remaining in the game.
The sight of Liam Williams limping off made way for Rhys Priestland, however, it seemed that the dream of topping the group and subsequently missing South Africa in the quarter finals and New Zealand in the semis was slipping further and further from the men in red.
A blatant knock on from Alex Cuthbert saw him yellow carded resulting in Wales ending the game with 14 men and fortunate that referee Joubert only awarded Australia the penalty and not the penalty try.
In a game with no tries, Australia were offered the chance for their sixth successful penalty, however Foley was again wide with his effort. However, with a final score of 15 points to 6, Australia secured their spot at the top, with Wales finishing second in the group and facing South Africa in the Quarter Finals.
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