Hooper: Wallabies ‘hurt’ by late loss
The Wallabies succumbed to Wales for the first time in 10 years, ending their 13-game unbeaten streak against the Welsh after a tense 9-6 loss yesterday.
Wales’ replacement playmaker Dan Biggar slotted a penalty to put his side ahead by three points with just over three minutes left after a Rob Simmons knock-on and Ned Hanigan infringement. Australia had a chance after the siren to sneak a win but looked out of ideas as they slumped to their first defeat to Wales since 2008.
Australia have had only three wins from their last 13 games stretching back to last November.
‘‘It hurts,’’ said Wallabies captain Michael Hooper. ‘‘Our preparation was really solid this week and I thought our defence was great tonight. We were able to repel a lot of what the Welsh threw at us but credit to them they stuck at it really strong.
‘‘It has been a long-time jinx playing us and you could see how happy they were to get on top of us. It was a real grudge match and a real test match. Congratulations to Wales, but it really hurts.’’
In Paris, France cracked right at the end once again as South Africa scored a try deep into injury time to win 29-26 at Stade de France on Saturday.
France thought it had the Springboks beaten for the first time since 2009 after losing their past six meetings — including four last year — but poor composure again cost Les Tricolores.
With the match petering out, France winger Damian Penaud stepped out of bounds taking a high catch with about 10 seconds left of regulation time. South Africa used the mistake to set up a lineout near the French line. When Springboks winger Aphiwe Dyantyi scored the French looked terrified, then relieved when it was ruled out by referee Nigel Owens for a forward pass.
But the Springboks had time for another lineout, and replacement hooker Bongi Mbonambi bundled through in the 85th minute after France’s forwards were too easily rolled over.
Italy 28 (Michele Campagnaro, Mattia Bellini, Dean Budd, Tommaso Allan tries; Allan con, 2 pen) Georgia 17 (Tamaz Mchedlidze try; penalty try; Soso Matiashvili 2 con, pen). HT: 18-7.
Scotland 54 (Tommy Seymour 3, Allan Dell, Fraser Brown, Sean Maitland, Jamie Ritchie, Adam Hastings tries; Greig Laidlaw 5 con, Finn Russell 2 con) Fiji 17 (Viliame Mata, Semi Radradra tries; Ben Volavola 2 con, pen). HT: 21-17.
New Zealand 16 (Damian McKenzie try; Beauden Barrett con, 2 pen, dg) England 15 (Chris Ashton, Dylan Hartley tries; Owen Farrell con, dg). HT: 10-15.
Wales 9 (Leigh Halfpenny 2 pen, Dan Biggar pen) Australia 6 (Bernard Foley pen, Matt Toomua pen). HT: 3-3.
United States 30 (Cam Dolan 2, Joe Taufete’e, Will Hooley, Hanco Germishuys tries; Hooley con, pen) Samoa 29 (Logovii Mulipola, Ed Fidow, Melani Matavao, JJ Taulagi tries; Tusi Pisi 3 con, D’Angelo Leuila pen). HT: 20-21.
Ireland 28 (Kieran Marmion, Bundee Aki, Luke McGrath tries; Jonathan Sexton 2 con, 3 pen) Argentina 17 (Bautista Delguy try; Nicolas Sanchez 4 pen). HT: 15-14.
South Africa 29 (Sbu Nkosi, Mbongeni Mbonami tries; Handre Pollard 2 con, 5 pen) France 26 (Guilhem Guirado, Mathieu Bastareaud tries; Baptiste Serin 2 con, 3 pen, Camille Lopez dg). HT: 9-16.
Black Ferns 14 (Eloise Blackwell, Renee Wickcliffe tries; Kemdra Cocksedge 2 con) France 0. HT: 0-0.
In Florence:
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