Wales in denial about their Australian results

 
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    The Second Test between the Wallabies and Wales is over. Wales lost it, but Australia didn’t win it.

    “We’ll be seeking clarification of the breakdown” says Edwards. Priestland shouldn’t have kicked the ball away. Warburton is underdone. Wales were the better team.

    For all of David Pocock’s humility, there is little sign of the same in the Welsh camp.

    I mean come on, that is six-straight wins for the Wallabies against Wales isn’t it? Three at Millenium Stadium, one in New Zealand.

    With the exception of a British Lions touring party, it is hard to imagine a touring team that has been better prepared for a three game series in the Southern Hemisphere.

    For starters, Wales sent their 16 front line players out two weeks in advance of the first test. Despite the fact that most of them know each other better than Mr Fevola and Miss Bingle, the Welsh rugby union still saw fit to excuse them from a Barbarians ‘test’ in Cardiff which was bizarrely given full Test status. Instead, they sent them to Brisbane early.

    Apart from Jamie Roberts, this is a full strength Welsh side. The Wallabies are without Horwill, Cooper, O’Connor and Beale. Coming off the disastrous loss to Scotland four days before the First Test, there was never a Wallabies side at a more vulnerable moment. Still Wales couldn’t finish Pocock’s men off.

    I guess someone will point out Wales outscored the Wallabies two tries to 1 in the Second Test. Maybe so, but the Wallabies scored 3 to 1 in the First. The other stats are more revealing: In the second test the Wallabies had 64% possessions, 66% territory and made half the tackles that the Welsh did.

    The Welsh lineout absolutely fell apart, despite them having their strongest combination on the field. Perhaps Edwards forgot that part of the game plan while he was fixing the defensive pattern that Genia and Higginbotham ridiculed at Suncorp Stadium.

    Right about now I expect Wayne Smith of The Australian to pop up and say that the Wallabies didn’t excite. Fair go, Wayne. Australia passed 148 times to 65. The great running rugby players in red ran the ball 54 times while Australia ran 125 times.

    Not bad for a team with a fourth choice fly-half who had a baby on the same day and has been copping flack all year for kicking too much. Just imagine what the likes of Cooper, O’Connor and Beale could have done with that sort of ball front foot ball.

    And what’s this “clarification of the breakdown” Edwards speaks of? I mean after 6 losses in 3 years he’s had plenty of time to seek it. David Pocock is no different to Warburton, just better. Besides, I wouldn’t mind a little clarification myself. How about the hairy Welsh front rower who lies all over the ball at every breakdown. How about Lydiate’s Bakkies Botha-esque shoulder charge on Pocock’s neck that went unpunished? I mean, 10 in the bin for Lydiate would have meant 14 on 14 for 70 minutes.

    I really wish Wales would give the excuses a rest. If any side has a right to feel ‘unlucky’ after the weekend it is Ireland. The Welsh weren’t unlucky, they weren’t robbed. And they weren’t the better team. Just look at the score board.

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