 |
| ** Australia take home the bronze  |
James Horwill of the Wallabies charges forward during the 2011 IRB Rugby World
Cup bronze final match between Wales and Australia at Eden Park on October 21,
2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.
(
October 20, 2011 - Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images
AsiaPac)
**
Australia ended their World Cup campaign in third place after getting the better of Wales 21-18 in Friday's battle for bronze at Eden Park.
Both sides crossed the whitewash twice, with Wales bagging a consolation second try on full-time to end the match - but not the tournament - on a high note.
The two teams held nothing back, and went at it hammer and tongs from the kick-off in what was a fast and furious third place play-off encounter that left bodies battered and bruised.
Wing James O'Connor of the Wallabies is tackled by Toby Faletau of Wales during
the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup bronze final match between Wales and Australia at
Eden Park on October 21, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.
(October 20, 2011 - Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images
AsiaPac)
**
Man of the match: For Wales, number eight Ryan Jones was simply superb, whilst James O'Connor was a threat throughout for the Wallabies. But Berrick Barnes delivered a masterly performance after moving from inside centre to fly-half and is deservedly our man of the match.
***
Radike Samo of the Wallabies tackles George North of Wales during the 2011 IRB
Rugby World Cup bronze final match between Wales and Australia at Eden Park on
October 21, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.
(October 20, 2011 - Photo by Sandra Mu/Getty Images AsiaPac)
**
Barnes steps up as Australia claim bronze
A reshuffled Australia backline expertly overcame the shock of losing full back Kurtley Beale and fly half Quade Cooper to injury and led their team to a 21-18 win in the Bronze Final.
Taking centre stage in a composed effort at Eden Park on Friday was Berrick Barnes, who has spent most of Australia’s World Cup campaign on the bench.
With Cooper hobbling off with a serious knee injury in the 22nd minute, the inside centre suddenly found himself at the helm of the Wallabies back line and turned in a man-of-the-match performance that included a try, timely drop goal and an array of deft kicks for field position.
Despite the disruption, the Wallabies enjoyed a majority of field position courtesy of a thoughtful kicking game that constantly sent Wales scurrying back into their 22.
Most noticeable was the absence of the midfield high balls that undermined their efforts against New Zealand in last week’s semi-final.
However, the strategy of kicking deep meant the Wallabies were forced to spend 60 per cent of the match in defence and racked up 146 tackles to the 74 that were made by Wales.
Yet the Australians displayed the dogged determination without the ball that got them through their quarter-final against South Africa.
read the whole thing here with match video:
Taking centre stage in a composed effort at Eden Park on Friday was Berrick Barnes, who has spent most of Australia’s World Cup campaign on the bench.
With Cooper hobbling off with a serious knee injury in the 22nd minute, the inside centre suddenly found himself at the helm of the Wallabies back line and turned in a man-of-the-match performance that included a try, timely drop goal and an array of deft kicks for field position.
Despite the disruption, the Wallabies enjoyed a majority of field position courtesy of a thoughtful kicking game that constantly sent Wales scurrying back into their 22.
Most noticeable was the absence of the midfield high balls that undermined their efforts against New Zealand in last week’s semi-final.
However, the strategy of kicking deep meant the Wallabies were forced to spend 60 per cent of the match in defence and racked up 146 tackles to the 74 that were made by Wales.
Yet the Australians displayed the dogged determination without the ball that got them through their quarter-final against South Africa.
read the whole thing here with match video:
**
Jonathan Davies of Wales is tackled by David Pocock and Berrick Barnes of
Australia during the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup bronze final match between Wales
and Australia at Eden Park on October 21, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.
(October 20, 2011 - Photo by Gallo Images/Getty Images
AsiaPac)
****
