AUTUMN WEEK 2 MATCH REVIEW: WALES v AUSTRALIA

Wales 9 v Australia 6

Three penalties was enough for Wales to beat the Wallabies and break their 13 game hoodoo. Many times the Welsh fans have experienced last minute heartbreak against Australia, but this time, even though Oz spurned easy penalties by kicking for the corner, they failed to score the try needed, and Wales were not to be denied. Lee Halfpenny was in the thick of the action, missing two penalties (he never misses anything) and then being flattened by a careless kick follow through by Samuel Kerevi, who was not even penalised. Such is inconsistency of refereeing these days, on another day he may have been carded.

Lee Halfpenny in the thick of it

OATH follower, Tim Bradley, a real Australian rugby fan, who knows what he is talking about, gives his thoughts on the game and the players Cheika should promote over the next few weeks:

In what was a dull game for high-scoring rugby fans, there were some positives to be taken from the Wallabies disappointing loss to Wales.

In defense, the team stood up superbly, conceding just 9 points and no tries. In fact, Wales never looked like getting near bagging a meat pie, which is a credit to the focus of the collective.

History will remember that night for some poor attacking decisions from the Captain Michael Hooper not to take points on offer when Foley was kicking well and some ill-discipline from certain substitutes off the bench as what cost the Wallabies their 10-year winning run against the Welsh; however, their problems are far more deep-rooted.

Going forward the backline continuously ran sideways, in particular Kurtley Beale, who cannot continue in the 12 shirt any more. While he tackles well, he has played like a rugby league Five-Eighth this season drifting sideways and is in capable of straightening up. His kicking was awful as well and made it too easy for the Welsh back three.  

For the Wallabies to match it against the English on the hallowed turf of Twickenham, the Wallabies will need shuffle their back line. Toomua deserves to get his chance in the 10 shirt, with Samu Kerevi shifting to 12 and Israel Folau to 13, where he found himself against the All Blacks in Tokyo a month or so back and played well. Sefa Naivalu deserves to keep his spot on the Wing and Dane Haylett-Petty should continue his good form at full back. However, Cheika may looke to move Beale back to 15 as a second ball player. I’d promote young Jack Maddocks or Marika Korobete to the other wing as they’ll have the leg speed to match it with the likes of Jonny May and Elliot Daly.

Jack Maddocks the Wallabies U20 wing deserves a run

Up front, in the forwards Melbourne-born and Canberra-bound Pete Samu should be promoted ahead of Ned Hannigan to the bench as the reserve loose forward. Hannigan gave away a careless penalty against Wales for not rolling away in what has been the story of his season. Cheika should keep a back three of Hooper, Pocock and Dempsey, and I’d bring Rob Simmons back into the starting XV in the row to sure up the set piece.

Taniela Tupou will be key in the front three. He’s got to start to sure up the scrum and give the Wallabies a solid platform.