Australia claimed third place at the Rugby World Cup on Friday, thanks to a 21-18 win over Wales at Auckland’s Eden Park.
An early try from Berrick Barnes and a late one from Ben McCalman helped the Wallabies to the bronze medal presentation, with the kicking of James O’Connor also a factor. Shane Williams bagged a second half try that had briefly had the Welsh in front, but they were already out of it before Leigh Halfpenny’s last-gasp consolation effort.
A bruising encounter began with a succession of knocks as Aussie lock Nathan Sharpe – playing in his 100th Test – fell hard at a line-out. He soldiered on but a hamstring injury soon robbed Robbie Deans’ side of Kurtley Beale, whose previous injury meant he was so badly missed in the semi-final loss to New Zealand last Sunday.
Rob Horne replaced Beale and Deans' side then got a big boost as they outfoxed Wales to cross the line and take the lead. A scrum led to Australia taking possession in a soft manner and Quade Cooper bounded clear before laying off cleverly to man-of-the-match Barnes, who powered the ball over. O'Connor duly added the extras.
A James Slipper misdemeanour allowed James Hook to kick over a penalty and reduce Welsh arrears, but his kicking would come into more focus later in the game as those three points proved to be his last. Australia then received a further setback – and a major one – as Cooper suffered apparent knee ligament damage and was forced to hobble off.
Saia Fainga'a replaced Cooper, whose up-and-down World Cup ended in such a sad manner. His team-mates kept going, however, soon winning another penalty. They failed to convert though, O’Connor gritting his teeth as his kick came back off the upright and was cleared by the men in red.
The Welsh would also suffer a missed placed ball before the break. Halfpenny was asked to take one on 38 minutes, unusually from nearer in than the long-range expert would normally kick from. He dragged it wide and his side remained 7-3 behind as half-time came and went.
Hook then followed suit with another miss early in the second period after another Slipper offence. It was a bad one from near in, but it did not bring his confidence to its knees as he played a part in the try that soon saw Warren Gatland’s men take the lead.
Australia lost the veteran Sharpe before the try, with Rob Simmons taking his place. He was but a pup to the game by the time his side trailed, Wales turning their opponents over before Mike Phillips’ kick forward was collected by Hook. The out-half then passed left for Williams, with the Wallabies crying for a forward pass. Williams took no notice, twice using his foot to get the ball clear before touching down close to the left corner.
Again Hook was off target with the conversion attempt, and crucially that meant that O’Connor’s next penalty was enough to put the Wallabies back in front.
The shock at conceding that Williams try was enough to solidify the Australian effort and not enough to stop Wales making mistakes. They soon gave O’Connor another penalty to put his side five clear, while also becoming frustrated in their own attacking efforts as Williams kicked a drop goal attempt wide in the face of stern Australian defending.
A long-range penalty from O’Connor dropped just short as he failed to put his side more than a converted try clear, but a subsequent drop goal effort from Barnes was brilliant and did give the Wallabies the 16-8 lead that looked like it should be enough for the win.
Stephen Jones took up kicking duties for Wales’ next penalty and he made no mistake to bring it back to five, but almost immediately it was nearly finished off by Adam Ashley-Cooper. James O’Connor kick-started a lightning-fast break that saw Ashley-Cooper bound for the line and leap to go over, only for George North to dislodged the ball from his grasp and keep the contest alive – just.
But it was finished just two minutes later. Luke Burgess’ pass allowed Slipper to make ten yards before Fainga’a took over. He survived almost dropping the ball and got it left to number eight McCalman who broke free unchallenged to seal the win.
O’Connor’s missed conversion was not that important, even though there was still time for Stephen Jones, Scott Williams, Andy Powell and Shane Williams to all play their part in getting the ball to Halfpenny on the left. He raced over the line and touched down by the posts to get Wales as close as they deserved to be.
Stephen Jones then got them a further two points nearer to leave the final gap at three as Gatland’s men just came up short.