Wallabies secure third place in bronze medal match against Wales - Rugby News
Wallabies have secured third position in Rugby World Cup 2011, while thumping Wales in the semi-final contest, on October 21, at Eden Park. Wallabies snubbed the opponents by a narrow margin of 21-18 as the Welsh side bounced back into the second-half in
superb fashion. Berrick Barnes and Ben McCalman scored one try each for Wallabies whereas James O’Connor remained the top scorer with two penalty and one conversion goal for his team.
The Welsh side, who were considered underdogs in the first half, were led by Gethin Jenkins in the absence of regular captain Sam Warburton. Burton was suspended by IRB for three matches for brutally tacking French player Vincent Clerc in the semi-final.
Alun Wyn Jones was rested from the match and Bradley Davies replaced him in the second row.
Meanwhile, Australia made eight changes in their side from their last outgoing of the global show. Kurtley Beale was the big name who made his comeback from a hamstring injury which deprived him from participating in second semi-final of Rugby World Cup
against All Blacks.
The match was started in a slow tone as the sides adopted a defending approach in the beginning. Berrick Barnes was the first man to bring some action to the game as he score first try of the match in the 11th minute. James O’Connor converted
it successfully and extended his teams’ lead to 7-0. James Hook scored the only penalty goal of his team in the first half saved his side from complete disaster. Wallabies ended up the first half with 7-3 after hectic efforts.
The sides played much better in the second part and amused the crowd to a great extent. Australia secured a comfortable but testing victory in the end with 21-8.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Toby Faletau, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Paul
James, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins (c).
Replacements: 16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Alun Wyn Jones, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Scott Williams.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill
(c), 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Anthony Faingaa, 22 Robert Horne.
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