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Australia have topped the Pool of Death in the 2015 Rugby World Cup after recording a 15-6 win over Wales at Twickenham.
The Wallabies put in a mammoth defensive effort in the second half, despite being two men down for eight minutes, to book a quarter-final appointment with Scotland next week.
It was inspiring stuff in a tryless match, and keeps Australia’s recent record over Wales as well as their unbeaten streak on England soil in Rugby World Cup alive.
Wales were unable to score a point in the second half, with Australian players seemingly working double time when Dean Mumm and Will Genia were off the field.
Concerns from the game for Australia come in the forms of key players David Pocock and Israel Folau, both of whom are struggling with leg injuries.
Neither backline really struck a blow in an abrasive first half. Clean linebreaks were scarce, with Drew Mitchell making one of the few memorable runs.
Wales were content to boot the ball high whenever they had possession, and it found Australia wanting at the back of the field.
Israel Folau, in particular, was outjumped on a couple of occasions, struggling in an area he’s usually so proficient in.
The Welsh were warned by referee Craig Joubert for what appeared to be a trend of conceding penalties in the Wallabies’ attacking half, but did well to maintain discipline at crucial times.
With flyhalves Dan Biggar and Bernard Foley trading penalties, the two sides went to the sheds at 9-6. Sharpshooter Biggar missed his first kick of the tournament from 38 metres out.
The second half begun with more pressure on the Wallabies, with a few stray passes resulting in the Wallabies unwillingness to take the ball forward.
Some uncharacteristically impatient play was to blame from Australia. Tevita Kuridrani and Israel Folau did not feature in attack, with Matt Giteau and Bernard Foley the more frequent carriers of the ball.
David Pocock put a scare through Wallabies fans by feeling his calf on the 50-minute mark. He carried on briefly but was forced from the field with 20 minutes to play.
The pressure started to swing around, and Wales managed to get on the attack through some sloppy work at the back from Bernard Foley and Tevita Kuridrani.
Will Genia was sent to the sideline for not retreating ten metres after a penalty, and they lost another player in Dean Mumm after repeated driving mauls from Wales, this time for taking the jumper in the air.
Down to 13 men, the Wallabies put in an immense effort to hold the Welsh out from scoring.
Toby Faletau knocked the ball in over the line, then George North was miraculously held up by Ben McCalman, who put in a mountain of effort from the bench.
Two men down, and the Wallabies had to endure five-metre scrum after five-metre scrum. Somehow, they held their line until Nick Phipps replaced Will Genia.
Wales threw it wide, and Australia won a penalty through Adam Ashley-Cooper.
Somehow they had endured almost ten minutes of 13 men, holding Wales out for a scoreless period.
A couple of strong runs and a linebreak from Israel Folau later, Australia found themselves nine points ahead after a penalty from Bernard Foley.
It will go down as one of the most crucial periods in this Rugby World Cup.
What Australia didn’t need in the last ten minutes was Folau going down with the same ankle injury that he struggled with against England, but he finished the match.
Both teams tired notably, but Australia finished stronger, with Kurtley Beale injecting plenty of spark when he came on the field.
A couple of scrums, a yellow card to Alex Cuthbert and a Bernard Foley missed penalties, and Wallabies got to boot it out for an emotional victory to Australia, who will play Scotland next week, while Wales will face South Africa.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.