AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS FAMOUS WIN HIGHLIGHTS KEY ROLE EDWARDS HAS PLAYED
SUPERSUB Dan Biggar kicked the winning penalty as Wales ended their losing run of 13 matches against Australia. He nailed it with just four minutes remaining to give Warren Gatland’s charges a 9-6 triumph and extend their winning streak to seven.
Who came out of the error-strewn, arm wrestle with their reputations enhanced or damaged? Andy Howell takes a look...
But Jones calmly defused the situation by quipping Tipuric was his club captain at the Ospreys and was barking orders at him and not O’Keeffe.
With that little matter sorted, Tipuric, who was official man of the match for the second week in a row, and Jones concentrated on disrupting the flow of the Australians.
Jones was a nuisance and a thorn in their side as he got among them and slowed ball, while Tipuric made some vital steals and has the knack of being in the right place at the right time because he reads the game so well.
WARREN GATLAND WALES had beaten Australia just once on Gatland’s watch and South Africa four times in 40 Tests against the Southern Hemisphere big three since he took command in 2008.
He’s done an outstanding job during his reign with three Six Nations titles, two with Grand Slams, a World Cup semi-final and quarterfinal. But finding the code to crack the big three on a consistent basis proved elusive for him until they began beating the Springboks.
With Wales having got the monkey off their back against Australia they won’t face a mental block at next year’s World Cup in Pool D.
Gatland will drive that home with his players and the day when Wales beat New Zealand for the first time since 1953 must be moving ever closer.
SURPRISE PICKS NICKY SMITH AND JOSH ADAMS
THE inclusion of prop Smith ahead of Rob Evans at loosehead and Adams in front of Liam Williams surprised most Welsh supporters.
But the selections proved to be correct with Wales being in the ascendancy at the scrum when Smith was in situ.
He also won a vital turnover steal when the Wallabies were pressing early with his renowned work in the loose being a bonus and offering a real alternative to the accomplished Evans.
Adams had a terrific tour of Argentina in the summer and gave Australia all manner of problems when Wales managed to get him on the ball.
DAVID POCOCK
THE Australian is in the same mould as Tipuric in he’s a great rugby player because he has a natural feel for the game.
Pocock rarely enters a breakdown if there’s no chance of winning the ball. He hangs around like a big cat hunting its prey and only strikes when he knows the ‘kill’ is there for him.
Pocock gorged on Wales when players became isolated because, when he gets his paws on the ball, he is virtually an immovable object and is almost guaranteed to win a turnover or a penalty.