ROAD TO GLORY
Welsh wonders seal first World Cup win over Aussies in 32 years to open up the...
WALES were so nearly plunged into darkness yesterday but instead Warren Gatland’s side hung on for a famous victory which illuminates a promising path through this World Cup.
Half of the floodlights failed in the closing stages of a pulsating encounter at Tokyo Stadium, just as the Welsh were trying to stave off a catastrophic collapse.
Having led by 18 points early in the second half, they were staring at a shattering defeat as Australia rallied superbly to close the deficit to a single point.
If the Wallabies had managed to complete their miracle revival, it would have been the biggest comeback in World Cup history. The gloom in the arena would have been matched in Welsh minds. Surrendering such a commanding position would have had a profound impact on squad morale.
Instead, the light dimmed but was not extinguished. Wales clung on. Rhys Patchell’s late penalty — their first points for the best part of half an hour — served to stabilise Gatland’s team and they finished the job.
This was only the second time the Dragons had beaten one of the three big Southern Hemisphere countries at a World Cup in 12 attempts — and the other was the third-place play- off against the Wallabies in 1987.
What had been a procession turned into a tense occasion and the implications of the outcome are profound. There is much work to do, but Wales are on course to finish top of Pool D. They have nine days to rest after this bruising contest before taking on Fiji in Oita. That game will resurrect past ghosts but also focus minds.
Provided Wales can avoid an upset, they will expect to thump Uruguay and qualify for the quarter-finals in first place. The likely scenario then is a quarterfinal against France, back in Oita.
That is based on an assumption that England will top Pool C, hardly an outlandish notion based on the evidence to date. While supporters would no doubt relish the prospect of an Anglo-Welsh collision here, it would be mutually beneficial if they can steer clear of each other at the last-eight stage.
Gatland’s team will believe they can beat the erratic French and their next hurdle wouldn’t feature either Red Rose or All Blacks. Based on form, England and New Zealand could meet in one semi, with South Africa facing Wales, who have beaten the Boks in five of their last six Tests, in the other.
It is all hypothetical for now but that is the hopeful outlook created by this narrow victory in the halflight. Wales were never behind and for a while it seemed they would eclipse the Wallabies after making the fastest of starts.
Aaron Wainwright, the new backrow sensation, won turnover ball from the kick-off and Dan Bigger landed a dropped goal after 36 seconds. No one had ever kicked one as early in a World Cup fixture.
Welsh tails were up and soon after, with advantage in the Australia 22, Biggar’s cross-kick was brilliantly claimed by Hadleigh Parkes, who twisted to touch down. The fly-half’s conversion made it 10-0.
The Wallabies were wobbling — and offending. Their captain, Michael Hooper, was fortunate to avoid a card for a late hit on Biggar. Later in the first half, Samu Kerevi was also reprieved when he slammed a forearm into the throat of Patchell, who came off the bench after Biggar went for a head injury assessment and failed it.
Adam Ashley-Cooper’s try and a Bernard Foley penalty revived Australia, but Patchell landed two shots of his own at the other end, then Wales surged clear two minutes before the break. Will Genia’s pass inside from the right was intercepted by opposite number Gareth Davies and the scrum-half raced away to score by the posts. Patchell converted and the Welsh went in 23-8 up.
Four minutes into the second half, another patient Wales attack created the platform for another drop goal — this time by Patchell. They were almost out of sight but Australia made some tactical changes and came again.
Matt Toomua was on in place of Foley and the ex-Leicester back made an immediate impact. He broke on the left and combined well with Marika Koroibete before being hauled down just short. With the Welsh defence desperately scrambling, David Pocock’s pass sent Dane Haylett-Petty over for a diving finish.
Toomua converted and the Wallabies kept pressing, smelling blood. Just after the hour, Michael Cheika’s side had a series of penalties in range of the Welsh posts and chose to repeatedly go to the corner. Their approach was eventually rewarded as waves of close-range drives led to Hooper crashing over for a try which Toomua converted.
Wales couldn’t re- establish a foothold and when they conceded a scrum penalty 12 minutes from time, Toomua’s successful kick reduced the deficit to just one point.
Tension was etched on Gatland’s face in the stand but once Patchell’s 72nd-minute penalty steadied his side, the lights dimmed — but they didn’t go out on Wales.