CHEIKA’S BRAVES DEFY DRAGONS

Wallabies withstand epic siege and condemn Wales to showdown with Boks AUSTRALIA 15 WALES 6

THEY came to Twickenham to play England a fortnight ago and recorded one of the most memorable victories in their proud rugby history but, in a visceral, unforgiving, unyielding clash against Australia, Wales could not repeat the magic.

The match turned on a hypnotic, inspiring 10-minute spell deep into the second half when Australia were temporarily reduced to 13 men and Wales pounded into their defence with wave after wave of attacks.

Twickenham turned into the Millennium Stadium in those moments as the Welsh fans roared their team on. The noise was deafening and it seemed certain that the defensive line would be breached.

But Australia would not yield and when the siege was lifted, they pulled away to record an emphatic victory. As Pool A winners, they have the easier route to the latter stages now, facing Scotland in the quarter-finals here next Sunday. Many are beginning to believe they have a real chance of winning this World Cup.

Wales, who have not beaten Australia since 2008, will have to do things the hard way. The defeat means they will face the resurgent South Africans here on Saturday. If they win that, they will probably find New Zealand standing between them and the final.

This was a match that brought together the sides that consigned England to an early grave in the ‘pool of death’. Australia destroyed Stuart Lancaster’s side last weekend in a match that pitted men against boys. A week earlier, Wales won an epic struggle against all the odds.

That game had ended, as former Wales great Jonathan Davies recalled yesterday, with the St John Ambulance playing on the wing for his country. There were times in the second half where every drive seemed to end with a Welshman being ferried to the touchline on the stretcher or limping forlornly to the side.

No wonder that Australia coach Michael Cheika, who has been credited with revitalising his team since he was appointed a year ago, chose to characterise the pool as an intense struggle last week. ‘We are still right in the middle of what is pretty much a war zone,’ he said.

‘Saturday will, I feel, be the most brutal game we are going to encounter in the pool. It has been physical so far, but my knowledge of tournament play tells me that the further on it goes, the more brutal it gets because the stakes get higher and everyone wants to win more.’

Much of the build-up to the game had centred on the duel between Cheika and Wales coach Warren Gatland, whose reputation has been further burnished by the nature of the victory over the English. Both men are tactically astute. Both can also be intimidating presences.

Earlier this week, Jonny Sexton, who played under Cheika at Leinster, was asked why he had done so well with the Wallabies. ‘Because everyone’s probably scared ****less of him, if I was honest,’ the Ireland fly-half said.

Wales have already proved in this tournament, though, that they will not be intimidated and they dominated the early exchanges. George North, brought inside off the wing to play at centre by Gatland, forced his way over the try line but could not ground the ball. More pressure forced Australia to concede a penalty in the fifth minute and Dan Biggar gave Wales a 3-0 lead.

Wales also established early superiority in the scrum and at the breakdown, both areas where Australia were masterful against England. It seemed the Wallabies were already missing the influence of the suspended Michael Hooper although his replacement, Sean McMahon, delivered one of the most jolting tackles of the tournament, rocking Biggar back as he tried to sell him a dummy.

Gradually, though, Australia began to gain more possession and territory and as the game turned into an intense war of attrition, they forced Wales to concede a penalty at the scrum. Bernard Foley, Biggar’s equal in metronomic kicking at this World Cup, levelled the scores.

Australia were pressing Wales back now and after Liam Williams conceded a penalty, Foley kicked Australia ahead. But when McMahon obstructed Gareth Davies and Wallaby skipper Stephen Moore conceded a 10-metre penalty for dissent, Biggar put Wales back on equal terms.

As half-time approached, Australia’s pack began to get on top and Foley kicked another penalty to give Australia a 9-6 lead. It was an enthralling match but it was the opposite of the cavalier thriller between Scotland and Samoa.

A minute or two later, Biggar stepped up to try to level it again. To general amazement, he sliced his kick wide to the right of the posts. It was his first miss in 16 attempts at this World Cup. Wales’ indiscipline was starting to cost them now and when Sam Warburton conceded a penalty for offside on the stroke of half time, Matt Giteau tried to extend Australia’s advantage by kicking from inside his own half. His effort fell well short.

Australia started the second half strongly and when Taulupe Faletau was penalised for a high tackle, Foley doubled Australia’s lead to 12-6 with a penalty from under the posts. It was the 10th penalty Wales had conceded. It was the difference between the two sides.

Wales were given fresh hope midway through the half when Australia scrum-half Will Genia was yellowcarded for a cynical trip on Gareth Davies. The atmosphere in the stadium became febrile. The crowd roared Wales on. A minute later, Wales thought Faletau had scored but he had not grounded the ball. The din was incredible.

Dean Mumm was shown a yellow card for repeated infringement at the line-out and suddenly Australia were down to 13 men.

Wales pressed desperately. North barrelled over the line but could not ground the ball. Australia clung on. Wales pounded the Wallaby line over and over and over again but still the Australians would not yield. It was an incredible passage of play.

By now, Australia had made 115 tackles to Wales’s 46. Running rugby can be inspiring but so can defence like that. When Wales conceded a penalty and Australia kicked into touch, it felt as if the siege had been lifted and a great victory had been won.

Australia were the back to a full quota of players and as if to emphasise their great survival, they forced a penalty with their first attack for 15 minutes and Foley kicked them into a 15-6 lead. Desperately though they tried, Wales could not eat into that advantage.