Post Match thoughts...? Wales 18-21 Australia...! Well done both teams. A well earned win for the Aussies..!

First topic message reminder :

A Welsh World Cup campaign that held so much promise a week ago ended in disappointment as Australia won the third-place play-off.

A try and drop-goal from Berrick Barnes and eight points from the boot of James O'Connor left Wales with fourth place despite a try from Shane Williams in possibly his last Test appearance.

In an error-ridden contest short on quality and atmosphere, Wales failed to replicate their devastating attacking form of earlier in the tournament.

A succession of handling errors gifted the Wallabies the initiative, and Leigh Halfpenny's try in the 83rd minute came too late to deny Robbie Deans' men.

While the result gives Australia revenge for Wales' victory in the corresponding game in the inaugural World Cup 24 years ago, a serious knee injury to fly-half Quade Cooper left their celebrations muted.

eirebilly wrote:Barnes has been superb. Gets the drop goal as well. I agree with the pundits that he has been the standout player on the field today

ryan jones likewise

Lloyd Williams really has introduced some speed to the delivery and Wales look immediately better for it

game on

Barnes v quick to whistle Iaone there? S Jones penalty 16-11

eirebilly wrote:Lloyd Williams really has introduced some speed to the delivery and Wales look immediately better for it

+1

Australia just brought on the 60 year old Samo

16-11 8mins to go hmmm?

oh, my. Wallabies let one get away. Sublime play - almost.

Ashley cooper butchers a try

He has dropped it.....

What last ditch defending that was.... Gearge North

He just got Northed

should have been game over what a miss

Butchered by Aus.

Great defence by North, but all Faingaa needed to do was go back to the outside to JOC and it was a walk in.

Barnes MoM

barnes the Ref?

It should still be the Aussies match but it has been very entertaining

Try Oz

done

Thats it then. Well done to the Aussies

Game over. Very deserved. Aussies the better team today. V disappointed with Wales.

Well, the Wallabies made fewer errors.
Barnes should be man of the match.
But Ryan Jones was terrific for Wales.

4th place it is.

Welsh fans would you have been happy with that going into the world cup?

Not a bad effort at least you played the game as it should be played.

McCalman over in the corner - Oz seemed to have upped the pace in the last 5 - fair reward - JOC misses conversion 21-11

Gutted for Wales, really hoped they could win this game, but ultimately they've not quite been good enough today.

Amongst the doom of todays defeat though, they need to remember they have plenty of positives to take away, and have a fantastic core of young talent to continue to build a side around.

Wales getting it handed to them, maybe they have been overrated this tournement.

Just as well they didnt beat france, Sunday could have been embarrassing!

I see the vultures are circling

Cant just blame our goal kicking when Aus missed 50% of theirs as well

JDandfries wrote:Wales getting it handed to them, maybe they have been overrated this tournement.

Just as well they didnt beat france, Sunday could have been embarrassing!

But you think France is going out and giving the All Blacks a challenge? This France team might even be worse than the England team from 4 years ago.

JDandfries wrote:Wales getting it handed to them, maybe they have been overrated this tournement.

Just as well they didnt beat france, Sunday could have been embarrassing!

Don't think so, JD - Wales first choice XV/XXII have been right up there - I think today's result is largely down to seeing a lack of depth outside that group - takes nothing away from the starters tho

I wish Stephen jones had retired.

scott williams made an immediate impression

JDandfries wrote:Wales getting it handed to them, maybe they have been overrated this tournement.

Just as well they didnt beat france, Sunday could have been embarrassing!

I hardly see that Wales are getting it 'handed to them'. They have been one of the best teams this tournement and have just come up against an Australian side playing incredibly well today. No shame in finishing a RWC 4th and loosing to the Aussies.

Wales have been an absolute credit to this World Cup.

PRIDE IN RED, NEVER DEAD

Halfpeny scores wel deserved 28 phases

Well done Wales

No complaints. Oz just much better than us on the day.

Good try for us. But obviously we should have played like that earlier in the game!

Yay, 1/2p in the corner at the death after loads of phases in the 82min Well done, Wales, loads to be proud of

So Williams in touch not called - so two tries should not have been allowed - Let the Welsh never say they do not get the rub of the green

doctor_grey wrote:

JDandfries wrote:Wales getting it handed to them, maybe they have been overrated this tournement.

Just as well they didnt beat france, Sunday could have been embarrassing!

But you think France is going out and giving the All Blacks a challenge? This France team might even be worse than the England team from 4 years ago.

France will win tomorrow!

JDandfries wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

JDandfries wrote:Wales getting it handed to them, maybe they have been overrated this tournement.

Just as well they didnt beat france, Sunday could have been embarrassing!

But you think France is going out and giving the All Blacks a challenge? This France team might even be worse than the England team from 4 years ago.

France will win tomorrow!

That's their only chance by turning up a day early

You drinking?

Well done Australia = a derserved win

Well done Australia.

Some fantastic players, great individuals and a united teamwork controlling a superb defence...!

Wales had very little creativity, especially with jones at ten.

Promising impact at the end from Lloyd and Scott Williams, great game by Ryan jones too.


But Berwick Barnes was exceptional for the bazzers...!

Well done wallabies. one game too many for most players on the pitch.



See you in Cardiff

Well i dont know about the rest of you all but i really enjoyed that match. Wales can certainly walk away with their heads held high and be proud of all that the have achieved this world cup.

Thanks alos to the usually good Wales fans on here, the banter has been great

Well it's good to have a second team coming back to the UK a credit to their nation.

eirebilly wrote:Well i dont know about the rest of you all but i really enjoyed that match. Wales can certainly walk away with their heads held high and be proud of all that the have achieved this world cup.

Thanks alos to the usually good Wales fans on here, the banter has been great

+1 (from another neutral)

offload wrote:Well it's good to have a second team coming back to the UK a credit to their nation.

Who is the first?

Do you get a medal for 4th?

HERSH wrote:Do you get a medal for 4th?

Or 5th to 8th?

Whilst Wales will want to compete year on year in the 6 Nations, they can now build towards 2015 in the knowledge that they have

15. Halfpenny
14. North
13.
12. Roberts
11.
10. Priestland
9. Williams

1.
2.
3.
4. Charteris
5. AW Jones
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Faletau

who will be still young enough to play but 4 years more experienced. If they can develop players in the other positions to take the mantle on from the likes of Gethin and Adam particularly, then they will be there or there or thereabouts again.