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The Wallabies so courageous in Wales victory

10th October, 2015
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Bernard Foley has cemented himself as the first-choice flyhalf for the Aussies. (Image. Tim Anger)
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10th October, 2015
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How the Wallabies beat Wales 15-6 in a try-less epic at Twickenham this morning defied description, best summed up by Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore. “That’s one of the best wins I’ve ever been involved in, the way we turned up for each other.”

Seeing that Moore has played in 99 internationals, that’s a long list of memories to draw on.

Looking at the 80 minutes of pure tension in front of a packed and raucous house, Wales won everything but the game.

But how the Wallabies won can be put into a capsule of 12 extraordinary minutes as the Welsh constantly bombarded the Wallabies’ line with the score 12-6 in Australia’s favour.

Yet for eight of those 12 minutes, Will Genia and Dean Mumm were in the bin, leaving just 13 men in gold to withstand unbelievable pressure.

But that’s exactly what they did with around 20 minutes left on the clock.

Just when it seemed impossible for the Wallabues to keep Wales at bay any longer, referee Craig Joubert awarded Australia a penalty inside their own quarter where they had been camped without possession.

Bernard Foley cleared, and as if they flicked the switch, suddenly it was Wales on the defensive as the relieved Wallabies ran the ball,

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At the 72nd minute mark, Foley landed his fifth penalty from as many attempts, and the Wallabies were in clear space leading 15-6 and back to 15 men on duty.

The gallant Wallabies were home, and as knackered as they were all 23 in the squad had raised their personal bars.

It would be impossible to single out one player, but David Pocock, Scott Fardy and Sean McMahon stood out in the pack, while the backs were a bit quiet in attack, but superb in defence.

There was a worrying time for coach Michael Cheika after Pocock limped from the field with a calf injury and although Israel Folau (ankle) and Matt Giteau (ribs) lasted for most of the game, they weren’t anywhere near fully fit.

But the Wallabies coaching staff deserve a lot of praise for this win.

Cheika is a master tactician, Mario Ledesma has the scrum working a treat, Nathan Grey as defence coach can rate it as his finest hour, and even though the backs were quiet, attack coach Stephen Larkham has plenty of talent to work with for the quarter-final against Scotland at Twickenham early Monday morning (AEDT).

But I’ve left Foley until last. His boot is priceless.

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So far he’s landed 18 goals from 20 attempts in the tournament, with his boot-on-ball timing just perfection.

Of the others, Pocock must be fit for the knockouts, so too must Folau and Giteau, while space has to be found for Kurtley Beale, if not in the starting line-up then definitely earlier than the 66th minute.

Beale and Folau are the Wallaby x-factor backs. Cut them loose and the tries will come.

In the meantime, if Foley’s string of penalty goals keep coming, so be it.

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