Unlucky 13 as the Welsh Wallaby jinx strikes again
THE CURSE continues. Wales may be calling for the witchdoctor as their Australian hoodoo refuses to disappear.
It is now 13 consecutive defeats by Australia. And still no win on the opening day of an autumn series since beating Romania in 2002. And to make matters worse, Jonathan Davies is now a major doubt for the remainder of the series after being taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury.
Thirteen of this Australian side beat the All Blacks last month, so the result is no disgrace. Wales also looked more fluid in attack and scored two tries, through Steff Evans and Hallam Amos.
Tries from Tatufu Polota-Nau, Adam Coleman, Michael Hooper and Kurtley Beale meant it was Australia’s night.
Wales were here to prove the search for a new attacking style, with dual-playmakers Dan Biggar and Owen Williams, was worth persevering with. The latter hoped his first pass was not a portent — looking for a wide ball to Taulupe Faletau he chucked it to the No 8’s shins. Faletau could only knock on.
Not to matter though, Leigh Halfpenny gave them an early lead, hitting a penalty when Australia were offside. But then the first real test for the Welsh defence, which they failed.
Bernard Foley dinked into Steff Evans’s corner, the Scarlet was out of position and, when he gathered, he was bundled into touch. From the lineout the Wallabies drove and the Welsh forwards splintered, Polota-Nau was at the bottom as the maul rolled over the line.
But after Foley’s conversion Evans showed why he was picked and Wales demonstrated the kind of attacking vigour all their fans crave. From a lineout on half-way, Gareth Davies stepped past lumbering forwards and was away, hauled down 15 metres short.
Then wonderful hands took the ball from one touchline to the other, through Owen Williams, Biggar, Davies and Halfpenny, who found Evans on the left. He would not miss the chance. Halfpenny converted.
But Australia targeted Evans’ wing again with a Foley grubber and again it brought a try. The ball was spilled on the flank but soon Will Genia found Adam Coleman, who only had to walk through a gap on the goal-line and score.
Their lead was then extended when Reece Hodge smashed a 51-metre penalty from the touchline after Josh Navidi had held on too long at the breakdown. Halfpenny quickly cancelled that out with a penalty of his own after Hooper strayed offside but, before the half was out, Australia had a third try.
It looked inevitable, the Wallabies making yards with every carry. Eventually the red wall fell and Hooper nipped between Gareth Davies and Evans to score. Foley missed the kick but Australia led by nine.
A further Halfpenny penalty though and Wales, up to now clinging on by their fingernails, were re-gaining their grip. But his next from half-way was missed.
Then the sickener. Evans was hobbling having injured his left knee and could hardly run. But when he was fed out wide adrenaline kicked in and he sped forward, but Beale picked his pocket, ripping the ball from him in the tackle.
Suddenly the former Wasp was sprinting clear from 50 metres out, with no one to stop him. No one was quite sure what had happened, so a gaze at the TMO was required. All was fair though and, with Foley’s conversion, the game looked up for Wales. Evans was quickly replaced by Amos.
Hope came in the form of a yellow card for Hooper and that handed Wales 10 minutes to score twice. Amos dived over but Halfpenny missed the conversion and the Australian jinx went on.