Gareth aiming Biggar
GARETH ANSCOMBE wants Wales to scale new heights after ending their
10-year Australia hoodoo.
They put paid to a
13-Test losing sequence against the Wallabies when Dan Biggar struck the decisive blow with a late penalty.
Victories for Wales in their final two games of the autumn series – against Tonga and South Africa – would make it nine games unbeaten to represent their best run since 1999.
Fly-half Anscombe said: “We created a few opportunities and for us to go up a step we need to be a bit more clinical there.
“I’m a bit disappointed we couldn’t get over the whitewash.
“But we’re in the habit of winning, which is a nice place to be. We need to keep improving but we’re in a healthy place.
“Our squad is building pretty nicely.”
Defences reigned supreme but Leigh Halfpenny’s two simple penalty misses looked set to cost Wales when Matt To’omua’s boot drew Australia level after
75 minutes.
But just two minutes later replacement Biggar kept his cool to win it.
The next time Wales meet Australia will be in next year’s World Cup pool stage, when the winners will be installed as group favourites and potentially open up their side of the draw.
Anscombe added: “There’s a lot of water left to go under the bridge.
“But we are in a bit of a habit of winning and that’s a nice place to be.”
EDDIE JONES has warned Japan to be ready for an England backlash following this agonising defeat.
The Red Rose men will spend the week licking their wounds before aiming to inflict some pain on the Japanese in the third round of autumn internationals. England were devastated at the final whistle at Twickenham after coming within a whisker of shocking the World Cup holders. Ben Youngs admitted, “You could hear a pin drop” in the dressing room.
Jones wants England to take out their frustration on Japan and is on a mission to “smash them” after taking exception to comments from Jamie Joseph’s men.
The England coach reckons the Japanese will need some help from above to avoid an absolute drubbing
He said: “If I was Japan, I’d be worried. We want to smash them – physically smash them.
“I know they’re going to come full of confidence. I’ve heard some of the things they’ve said. They’ve been a bit cheeky, so look out.