Aussies made to fight all the way
The Rugby Paper|July 14, 2024
WALES captain Dewi Lake scored two tries from lineout drives but it wasn't enough to prevent his side crashing to their ninth consecutive defeat and give Australia their first win at a rainy Melbourne since 2017.
ROGER PANTING
Aussies made to fight all the way

Trailing 17-0 after only 24 minutes, Wales showed terrific heart to make the Wallabies fight to the end and probably deserved to finish in front, but that poor start and a few major errors proved crucial.

Lake said: "We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and losing is always a bitter blow to swallow.

Our driving lineout is a massive weapon for us but our little inaccuracies continue to cost us." Little inaccuracies would be an understatement as some of the errors were of seismic proportions. Liam Williams conceded a soft penalty before another morale-shatterer from him gave Australia their crucial fourth try.

A handling mistake from Cam Winnett gifted Australia their second and too often restarts were a problem with both Winnett and James Botham conceding penalties to allow the scoreboard to tick over against them.

Furthermore, with the game in the balance, Lake was replaced by young Evan Lloyd, with the result that Wales lost the next two lineouts.

Despite these errors, it was still an improvement from Wales. Lake led from the front and there were major contributions from Botham and Taine Plumtree, to ensure that the team weren't wholly incapacitated by the absence of their injured talisman, Aaron Wainwright.

Despite miserable conditions, there was still more movement from the Welsh backs with both wings getting on the score sheet although the centre partnership of Owen Watkin and Mason Grady still failed to convince.

Wales began brightly but they were soon stunned by a brilliant breakaway try to give the Wallabies an early lead. Australia were under real pressure in the own 22 with some scrambled passing creating havoc but a piece of magic from Andrew Kellaway brought the game to life in spectacular fashion.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 14, 2024 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 14, 2024 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE RUGBY PAPER مشاهدة الكل
England can find a little bit of cheer
The Rugby Paper

England can find a little bit of cheer

SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
The Rugby Paper

Stop messing with Marcus - Campese

DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
The Rugby Paper

Being a Lion was the highlight of my career

I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
The Rugby Paper

Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half

THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
The Rugby Paper

Forwards pack a punch for the Reds

OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
The Rugby Paper

Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley

SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
The Rugby Paper

Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon

FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
The Rugby Paper

It's a whole new ball game for Rigg

WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
The Rugby Paper

Scarratt leads the way for Lightning

LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
The Rugby Paper

Becconsall: We need to release pressure

WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024