- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
LYON – Eddie Jones’ brazen move to shaft some of Australia’s most experienced internationals and take a team of youngsters to the World Cup was brutally exposed as folly by Wales.
Compounding the misery is the fact the Wallabies aren’t able to climb aboard a Qantas jet home to Australia – they’re still a mathematical chance if Fiji lose to Georgia and Portugal in the next two weeks. They won’t, of course, but the Australians will have to stick around to wallow in their misery.
“I want to apologise to Australian supporters,” Jones said. “A lot of people have travelled here, a lot of people stayed up late at night. I apologise and take full responsibility.”
He said he was 100 percent committed to the Wallabies, despite reports he had met with Japan officials about their vacant head coach role.
“I came back to Australia to try to help. At the moment I’m not giving much help. I’m a proud Australian – I hate to see Australian rugby do as poorly as we’ve been doing, especially under my reign.”
He added: “Whilst it looks at the moment like a shambles, I can guarantee you it’s not.”
Sonny Bill Williams had said the two key areas for the Wallabies to focus on where discipline and defence before the game. Both were not up to Test standard again.
Ben Donaldson of Australia makes a break during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Wales and Australia at Parc Olympique on September 24, 2023 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Dave Porecki gave away a penalty in 30 seconds and Wales got their first try on two minutes. The Welsh lost their star player Dan Biggar in just 11 minutes but didn’t miss a beat.
Gareth Anscombe was gifted a kick in front when Tom Hooper was caught out in a ruck.
“That’s unforgiveable from the Wallabies defensive line,” fumed Morgan Turinui.
“That’s the lesson that needed to be learnt. That’s a ruck that had been lost, they had a good defensive line. They need to make smarter decisions.”
Still, Australia were in touch at 10-6 when a baffling on field call ended up being a coach killer for Eddie Jones’ team.
Instead of a kick at goal from in front for a one point deficit, Australia opted to go to the sideline. The lineout was absurd, two Wallabies fell into each other and Porecki’s throw was snaffled by Wales who sent a 50-22 down field and push the margin to seven soon after. Australia never got close to them again.
Michael Hooper, back in the Stan Sport studio instead of here with the team he was named co-captain of in the Rugby Championship, couldn’t believe it.
“Tell me why we wouldn’t take the kick?” asked Hooper. “If you’re on the field at that moment and making that decision why are you not taking the kick there? I don’t see too many reasons why you wouldn’t. Maybe the team on the field felt momentum was in our favour, we could go big and get a seven.
“But if you look at the outcomes, if we score a try he’s a genius but it doesn’t happen and Wales get an absolute lift from it.”
(Photo by Getty Images)
Tim Horan added: “That was their moment, that lineout”.
Wales were buoyed by the sharp change in fortunes while Australia’s flyhalf Ben Donaldson was having a nightmare night. An early slip, an intercept thrown after a decent break, a kick out on the full – again Jones takes most of the blame.
Rob Valetini, who should know better, dived on a ball deemed still within one metre in the ruck and not open play.
Australia got a lucky escape just before the half as Louis Rees-Zammit was held up. But it was a mere stay of execution.
“All that comes with youth is poor decision-making and poor options,” said former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles at halftime. “We’ve looked good at times but made some key errors. Defensively the start, they worked hard to get back into it then made some big mistakes near the end of it.”
Wales’ lead came despite Australia having nearly 70 percent possession in the opening half. With more ball in the second they devastated the Wallabies.
“The second half has been the complete dismantling of the Wallabies’ game,” said Turinui. “Set piece at scrum at line-out and defensively in terms of structure and space in the Wallabies have been outclassed by a Welsh team growing in confidence and putting them to the sword.
“There been some quality intent to put their hand up and run the ball but it’s been individual. No coherent little three, four man plays.
“The simple matter is that their destiny is now well out of their hands. They would need Fiji to lose probably twice against Georgia and Portugal. And that is unlikely. Even then it might not be enough in terms of bonus points and the fact that Fiji beat Australia.
“At the end of this match, you can say that this will be it for the Wallabies.”