Australia v Wales - 29/9/19, RWC, k/o 8:45 GMT - Match Thread - Aus 25-29 Wales

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

Massive game this. Surely decides who wins Pool D and - at this stage - avoids both NZ and England in the knock-outs.

A real 50:50, too close to call game for me.



Wales : L Williams; North, Jonathan Davies, Parkes, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; Wyn Jones, Owens, Francis, Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Wainwright, Tipuric, Navidi.
Replacements: Smith, Dee, Lewis, Shingler, Moriarty, T Williams, Patchell, Watkin.


Australia : Haylett-Petty; Ashley-Cooper, O'Connor, Kerevi, Koroibete; Foley, Genia; Sio, Latu, Alaalatoa, Rodda, Arnold, Pocock, Hooper (capt), Naisarani.
Replacements: Uelese, Slipper, Kepu, Coleman, Salakaia-Loto, White, To'omua, Beale.

Officials: Referee, Romain Poite (France) GOOD LUCK EVERYONE; Assistant referees, Luke Pearce (England), Karl Dickson (England); TMO Ben Skeen (New Zealand).

[mikey_dragon]

Take then en Aus.

[tigertattie]

Gift wrapped that pass.

Even put a little bow on it.

[hugehandoff]

Superb intercept.....well played again Wales

[RiscaGame]

Poite very quick to penalise North for what Pocock and Hooper have been doing at every breakdown...

Agree.

[Heaf]

Wales looking good for the win now - been the better team so far and now have a big lead.

[Guest]

16-8 felt fair as Wales have been the better team, but great try. Shame about Biggar.

Have to keep playing second half. Can't rest on 23 points. Oz will just start throwing it around now, big carries, play loose, quick lineouts. Composure, control, and chipping away with 3 - and taking 5 when it's there - wins the game for Wales.

Looking good though. Not perfect, but good.

[RiscaGame]

The Australian attitude to what is the laws is disgusting. First the Hodge incident and then the reaction to the forearm penalty.

Great half Wales.

[kingelderfield]

He really went for it, maybe offside? Excellent anticipation though....brave Wales, bold play.
Oz look a real unit and appear to have all the size and game to power play to a comfortable win.....remember its only half time.....but talk about the size of fight in the dog....well played Wales.

[Collapse2005]

Well done Wales, great half. Cant say Im surprised. Dont mess it up now.

[Guest]

There’s now way, NO WAY, that I’m going to get ahead of myself! I’ve seen Wales blow plenty of leads like this. Oz are too good to be written off at half time. They’re making plenty of yards through their no.12. Wales need to keep up the attack in the 2nd half because if we just try to soak up the attack and defend for our lives we’ll leak a few tries and Oz will be away.

[Guest]

Poite very quick to penalise North for what Pocock and Hooper have been doing at every breakdown...

Agree.

Na, don't think so. North went off feet/beyond the ball. Like the penalty AAC gave away.

Also, the penalty for Hooper turning it over that Patchell kicked was a touch harsh. Not releasing in the end, but could have given it the other way.

Have to say there have been two yellow cards for Australia, neither given, directed by the TMO - particularly for the first one. Clearly forearm to the chin. Hope it doesn't hamper the rest of the game.

[Old Man]

The Australian attitude to what is the laws is disgusting. First the Hodge incident and then the reaction to the forearm penalty.

Great half Wales.

One eyed much?

[majesticimperialman]

Great start for Wales biggar getting a drop goal ion the first minute, some beauty full bit's of play. was not expecting this score line at half time, thought it would have been closer.

Wales well and truly deserve their lead at the moment.

Australia must step up their game plan if they are to stand any chance of pinching this at the death.

[Guest]

The worry is it looks very warm and sweaty. Lots of effort already made by Wales. Tired, heavy legs, in broken field - you'd back Australia. Can easily get 14-21 points in quick time. Wales have to keep going, but with control.

[RDW]

What a half from Wales. Surely no way back for Australia now?

[Old Man]

If they fix their breakdown and tactical kicking they can come back, question is can they fix it?

[Guest]

The Australian attitude to what is the laws is disgusting. First the Hodge incident and then the reaction to the forearm penalty.

Great half Wales.

One eyed much?

You could argue that you are the same the other way.

Michael Lynagh on the Hopper vs Biggar shoulder drop ‘a silly, reckless play’. A non-one eyed Ozzie there.

[Collapse2005]

God for their own sakes Hooper really should stop whinging over every decision.

[Taylorman]

Looks a bridge too far from Oz, gonna need their bench to perform a couple of miracles.

[Guest]

God for their own sakes Hooper really should stop whinging over every decision.

Like coach, like captain. There's still a loa of dog in Australia, and it's not over, but their passing has been atroious. Still a threat at set piece, weirdly, and in the loose with their two Fijians. Just need the white Lomu to get some free space for Wales. He looks up for it.

[Heaf]

I'd be massively surprised if Oz come back from this - Wales would need to seriously drop off and they don't look like doing so - and they normally go up in the last quarter ...

[Guest]

White Lomu! Maybe ‘Lomu Lite’!

[RiscaGame]

Won’t be responding to Biltong.

[Taylorman]

God for their own sakes Hooper really should stop whinging over every decision.

Yes he’s terrible for that. Does it through the entire Bledisloe every year.

[Heaf]

Oz are toast ...

[Old Man]

Wales playing this smartly. Building scoreboard pressure at every opportunity.

[majesticimperialman]

Wales at the moment running away with the game. 

Australia look totaly hope less at the minute.

[Heaf]

OK maybe lightly toasted at this point ...

[hugehandoff]

Wonderful rugby by Aus. Great match. Love the toast comment!

[mikey_dragon]

Another forward pass missed for goodness sake. The first Aus try they benefited from taking out Tips.

[Scottrf]

Definite forward pass in the lead up there.

Wales looking great so far.

[majesticimperialman]

Nice try by Australia. is this the fight back from Australia or are Wales too far in front for them to catch up.

[hugehandoff]

Makes the decision to recall Foley look a poor one

[Taylorman]

Bench make an immediate impact as they’d hoped for.

[Guest]

Our scrum is now weakened. Not the best bench options for Wales

[mikey_dragon]

Wonder what Old Man thinks of this head clash?

[tigertattie]

Was barely a penalty that one. Common sense not to use a card

[Guest]

We’re gunna throw this away.

[Old Man]

Wonder what Old Man thinks of this head clash?

Poor call. This is a contact sport. They are taking this high tackle issue to far

[George Carlin]

Come on Wales - keep calm and put the game away

[RiscaGame]

Difference in class, with the Welsh reaction to the pen though.

[mikey_dragon]

Aus haven’t lost a lineout because some of them aren’t straight.

[Engine#4]

H'up Wales. I wouldn't be too harsh on Hooper for chatting to the ref. He plays Brand NZ 3xtimes a year so must be used to having to fight his own teams corner to try and get any semblance of fair treatment from officials

[tigertattie]

Wales are lucky that Oz scored there as a card was going to be coming for repeated penalties

[mikey_dragon]

I think Aus can pinch this. They’re sniffing a 4th try. And they’ve had help from Poite, their first 2 tries could have been disallowed.

[hugehandoff]

Well played Aus - great patience. This will be a cliffhanger!

[majesticimperialman]

If Australia do go on to win Wales only have them selves to blame.

[Heaf]

My toast is getting cold ...

[Guest]

Wales are toast!

We’ll lose this game convincingly if we don’t try to keep possession and play in the Oz half.

[Heaf]

Need to put it back under the grill ...

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