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Wallabies out-muscle Wales
Story by Sportal for the ARU
Sunday, September 16, 2007 - 01:21 AM (AEST)
Australia has taken a huge step towards topping their pool at the Rugby World Cup with a 32-20 victory over Wales at Millennium Stadium on Saturday night.
Australia's pre-match preparation was thrown into disarray when flyhalf Stephen Larkham was a late withdrawal after injuring his right knee at training on the eve of the game.
But Berrick Barnes, who stepped at the last minute at pivot, starred in the crucial win, setting up the first try, slotting a drop goal and showing great composure to direct the attack given the enormity of the clash.
The second-round win now puts Australia in the box seat for a prime quarter-finals berth while Wales will need to beat Fiji and Japan to secure a spot in the next stage of the tournament.
Wales Number 10 Stephen Jones scored the first points with a penalty kick to give the home side a 3-0 lead early, much to the delight of the sold-out Cardiff crowd.
But the Wallabies responded in the best way possible when Barnes cracked open the Red Dragons defence in the middle of the park before setting up Matt Giteau to dive over under the posts for the first try of the match.
A penalty goal from Stirling Mortlock and a cool drop goal from Barnes pushed the Wallabies out to a 13-3 lead before the skipper vaulted Australia further in front after an opportune try in the 35th minute.
The Welsh spilled the ball inside their 22 and veteran scrumhalf George Gregan was quick to pounce, grabbing possession and weighting a deft grubber kick for Mortlock to dive over for a try.
The Wallabies extended their lead on the stroke of half-time when a Wycliff Palu run from the base of a ruck put the Aussies on the attack. Barnes spread it wide to left flank where Drew Mitchell turned the ball back inside for Chris Latham to muscle his way over in the corner. Mortlock steered the conversion through from out wide to make it 25-3 at half-time.
But that was the last action the Wallabies skipper played in the match after an injury forced his from returning for the second half, with Scott Staniforth running out in the centres after break.
Wales started the second half with more gusto and were rewarded when number eight Johnathan Thomas wrangled his way over for a try just five minutes the after the resumption following a series of rucks on the Wallabies line. James Hook, who replaced Jones, added the extras to bring Wales within 15 points at 25-10.
Hook kicked a penalty eight minutes later after Matt Dunning was pinged for coming into the side of a ruck, and the home side had all the momentum.
But Australia wrestled back control of the match when Hook turned villain just moments later after he misjudged a high kick 30 out from his own line. The ball bounced straight into the arms of flying Chris Latham, who steamed away for his second try of the night. Giteau converted to give Australia a convincing 32-13 lead.
Australia was reduced to 13 men when Drew Mitchell went off injured and Nathan Sharpe was sin-binned in the 75th minute when he failed to roll away from a ruck. Just a minute later Wales played the numerical advantage for Shane Williams to dive over in the corner. Hook threaded his conversion from the sideline to make it 32-20.
But that was as close as the home side got as Mitchell returned to the field to help Australia repel the Wales attack and register an important bonus-point victory.
Australia 32
Tries: Latham 2, Giteau, Mortlock
Conversions: Mortlock 2, Giteau 1
Penalties: Mortlock 2
Wales 20
Tries: J Thomas, Williams
Conversions: Hook 2
Penalties: Jones, Hook
MOM: Chris Latham