The Wallabies roared to life in their crucial World Cup clash, but were unable to reel in a big halftime deficit as Wales secured a crucial win. But the match was marred by a number of controversial decisions branded 'embarrassing and disgraceful'.
At a World Cup that’s been packed with shocks the biggest one of all would be if Australia can actually go on and win it from here but who would know after the sport’s showcase event has been reduced to a complete farce.
The Wallabies didn’t deserve to beat Wales because they made too many stupid mistakes and dropped the ball too often but nor did they deserve to be on the wrong end of so many terrible calls from the blundering match officials.
How Samu Kerevi could be the one penalised for his accidental head clash with Rhys Patchell when he was the one running with the ball in hand will remain one of the most baffling rulings the game’s ever had.
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LEFT CONFUSED
No wonder Australia’s exasperated skipper Michael Hooper told the referee Romain Poite: “That’s just terrible technique (from the Welsh defender). We can’t carry the ball if that’s going to be called all day.”
If that wasn’t bad enough, the officials failed to spot that Gareth Davies was a mile offside when he intercepted a pass from Will Genia to score on the stroke of halftime and give the Welsh a commanding 15-point lead that the Wallabies just couldn’t bridge.
“The whole refereeing display has been disgraceful, not only by Romain Poite but by (Television Match Official Ben) Skeen as well,” Australia’s two-time World Cup winner and Fox Sports commentator Phil Kearns said.
“Wales have played some smart rugby, Wallabies have made some dumb mistakes but it was just embarrassing that the referee hasn't gone back to look how far… he’s even two metres in front of his own defensive line that’s moving up. That’s an embarrassment.”
PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER
Stephen Hoiles said World Rugby was to blame for the refereeing disaster that this World Cup has become ever since Reece Hodge was banned for three weeks for a no arms tackle.
“This is what happens when World Rugby comes out and makes a weak statement after week one and say they’re not happy with the refereeing,” Hoiles said on Fox Sports.
“You make referees paranoid , TMOs become paranoid, they talk to each other all game.”
It was a cracker of a match that had a bit of everything but the signs were ominous that things weren’t going to go well for the Wallabies even before kick off when David Pocock was left bleeding after a collision in the warmup.
SLOPPY START
Then things only got worse when the match started with the Wallabies turning the ball over on the opening kick off and Dan Biggar calmly potted a drop goal inside the first minute.
After 12 minutes, the Welsh were 10-0 in front after engineering a try straight from Australia’s playbook when Biggar kicked for the corner and Parkes soared above Marika Koroibete and came down with the ball in his arms.
It was a terrible start but the Wallabies got themselves back into it when Adam
Ashley-Cooper from a crosskick from Bernard Foley then Biggar left the field after being flattened trying to tackle Kerevi, who was Australia’s most dangerous player, until those two awful decisions gifted the Welsh a 23-8 lead at the break.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
The introduction of Matt Toomua, Nic White and Kurtley Beale in the second half gave Australia some extra spark and they got to within a point with 13 minutes to go after Dane Haylett-Petty and Hooper scored, but a late Welsh penalty gave the Six Nations champions the breathing space they needed to hang on.
The loss is not terminal for the Wallabies because they will still make the quarterfinals as long as they win their remaining pool games against Uruguay and Georgia but it may as well be.
No team has ever gone on to win the World Cup after a losing a pool match and the consequence of losing is the Wallabies now face the likely prospect of having to beat England New Zealand just to get to the final.
Wallabies with the ball as the clock winds down towards the 80 minute mark.
But there's a huge turnover from Wales!
That will be enough. The Welsh take a huge victory here.
The last time they beat Australia at a World Cup was 1987 – this is an enormous victory that puts the Wallabies on an extremely difficult path from here….
Michael Hooper was enormous for the Wallabies but couldn't drag his team to victory.
Half of the lights have gone out at Tokyo stadium!
But there's enough light to keep playing.
Wales have the ball on their own line. They'll try to run the clock down, but any turnover is an enormous danger.
Multiple scrum resets here, and they're chewing some time off the clock.
Romain Poite has a word with the two replacement hookers and lets them know that he's unimpressed with what they've brought to the table since coming on.
But we have another scrum near the Wallabies line. Four minutes remaining.
And the Wallabies win a penalty! That's enormous. They have a little over three minutes to head downfield and score a try.
A big call going against Australia there – Beale called for a forward pass, but it looks flat at worst…
Beale seemed baffled. The call had come in from the touch judge.
It leaves Australia attempting to defend their line with six minutes remaining.
Tough times for the Wallabies.
What do you reckon? Flat or forward? 🤔 #AUSvWAL #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/6CmVO5dyvR
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) September 29, 2019
A big call going against Australia there – Beale called for a forward pass, but it looks flat at worst…
Beale seemed baffled. The call had come in from the touch judge.
It leaves Australia attempting to defend their line with six minutes remaining.
Tough times for the Wallabies.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWhat do you reckon? Flat or forward? 🤔 #AUSvWAL #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/6CmVO5dyvR
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) September 29, 2019
Another penalty to Wales!
With the advantage, they kick cross field and George North sails high above Kurtley Beale – but knocks on.
However Rhys Patchell will have a shot at goal to put Wales back up by four with eight minutes remaining.
He nails it. He's kicked 4-4 since coming on for Dan Biggar. ice in his veins.
Wales have a penalty after Sekope Kepu went early… Patchell opts against taking the three.
Wales kick downfield and are within sight of the tryline.
One more would seal this, you'd think.
Toomua converts the penalty and Wales are hanging on for dear life right now.
The Wallabies are on the march with 12 minutes to go.
The Wallabies have rotated their scrum out, bringing on the experienced pairing of James Slipper and Sekope Kepu.
Jordan Uelese also comes on for Tolu Latu.
The Australian scrum has reinforcements – and it has won a penalty in front of the sticks!
This will cut the lead to one.
Australia has had 80 per cent possession and field position this half. It's been one-way traffic.
The Wallabies have rotated their scrum out, bringing on the experienced pairing of James Slipper and Sekope Kepu.
Jordan Uelese also comes on for Tolu Latu.
The Australian scrum has reinforcements – and it has won a penalty in front of the sticks!
This will cut the lead to one.
Australia has had 80 per cent possession and field position this half. It's been one-way traffic.