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The final game of the November internationals pits Wales against Australia in a game which both sides will be desperate to win. Wales have steadily improved over the past few weeks and turned in an encouraging display in last weekend's victory over Argentina. They appear to be coming into their own.
Australia, by stark contrast, are still reeling after last weekend's shock defeat by Scotland, a game the Wallabies dominated but somehow contrived to lose. It will be fascinating to see how they respond, not least fly-half Matt Giteau, who missed a last-gasp conversion attempt at Murrayfield.
Robbie Deans' men arrived in Europe hoping to record a first 'Grand Slam' of the home unions since 1984 but they are now merely hoping to end their tour on a confidence-boosting high. That will prove easier said than done, though, as the Aussies were beaten by the Welsh at the same venue 12 months ago. Can they reverse the result this evening? We shall soon find out as kick-off is just moments away....
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| 1 |
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Wayne Barnes blows his whistle and Australia's Matt Giteau gets us underway..... What a disastrous start by the Wallaby fly-half, who kicks the ball out on the full! He's clearly still thinking about last weekend's missed conversion against the Scots.
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| 2 |
0 - 3 |
That's more like it from Giteau, who lands a penalty from right on halfway with an impressively assured swing of his left boot. Tremendous stuff from the No.10. Paul James was the guilty party there incidentally, the Wales prop having been pinged for boring in at the scrum.
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| 4 |
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The Wallabies are looking very menacing early on in Cardiff. First Genia finds some space before Hynes bursts through the Welsh line, taking his side into the home side's 22. Roberts eventually produces a big hit which stunts the momentum of the Aussie attack but the visitors are still looking dangerous. Ominous for Wales.
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| 6 |
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Big blow for Wales, with star winger Shane Williams being forced off through injury. Tom James has come on in his place.
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| 7 |
0 - 8 |
Terrific try from the Wallabies! After a sustained spell of pressure, Giteau explodes onto the line before placing a grubber into the path of Iaone, who collects and then dives over. That's no more than the Aussies deserve after an incredibly enterprising opening to the game. The only down side for the visitors is that Giteau failed to add the extras.
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| 10 |
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Wales are finally enjoying some possession in Australia territory but the Wallaby defence is holding firm.
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| 12 |
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Davies pops the ball inside to Halfpenny, who is then levelled by a perfectly-executed tackle from the impressive Pocock which ultimately results in a turnover. Pocock just gets more impressive the more you watch him.
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| 14 |
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Wales are coming off second best in every aspect of the game thus far, and particularly in the collision. Indeed, the Wallabies' physicality in the tackle is stunning at times.
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| 17 |
3 - 8 |
Australia are perhaps harshly pinged for offside and Halfpenny takes advantage, getting Wales off the mark with a booming kick from some 45 metres out. The sweetest of strikes from the Blues fullback.
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| 19 |
3 - 13 |
More scintillating attacking play from the Wallabies! Genia feeds his back-line and the ball is superbly worked wide to Mitchell, who squares up to his marker before putting the supporting Horwill over in the left corner. Excellently-worked try and the two props, Robinson and Alexander, both played their part with well-executed off-loads in the build-up.
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| 21 |
6 - 13 |
A nicely timed score for Wales, with Jones landing a penalty to reduce the home side's arrears to nothing more than a converted try.
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| 23 |
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Genia produces a stunning catch in midfield before putting a grubber in behind the Wales defence. Giteau races after it but is beaten to it by Hook. However, the Wales fullback can only clumsily help it into touch. More pressure from the Wallabies.
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| 24 |
6 - 20 |
More misery for the Welsh, with Pocock crashing over from close range after a short, sharp pass from Moore. Giteau converts from right in front of the posts and the Wallabies finally have a lead which accurately reflects their dominance.
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| 27 |
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Wales are hanging on to respectability by a thread at the minute. The Aussies nearly bagged a fourth try seconds ago but Cooper's cross-field kick was just a little to heavy. A lucky escape for the Welsh because the Aussies had two unmarked men in pursuit.
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| 29 |
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The crowd are momentarily brought the life by some neat play in midfield by Jones. However, despite the best efforts of Powell and company, the move comes to nothing.
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| 30 |
9 - 20 |
Jones slots over his second penalty of the game to keep Wales in touch.
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| 31 |
9 - 23 |
Australia answer right back through Giteau, who is striking the ball much more confidently this evening.
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| 34 |
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Wales have finally managed to build up a head of steam and are now encamped in the Australian 22.... Their work, though, is eventually undone after an awesome show of power from the Wallabies in the set-piece.
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| 37 |
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Hook tries to find a way through but he's wrapped up by the Wallabies defence and he turns the ball over. Pocock played his part there but is now suffering as he dislocated his thumb in the process of winning that ball back and is now having it popped back into place.
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| 39 |
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Pocock off-loads to Mitchell, who takes it into contact. However, the winger, under immense pressure from Powell, is pinged for not releasing. Some respite for Wales.
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| 40+1 |
12 - 23 |
Jones punts the ball into Australia territory. Ashley-Cooper comes across to claim it cleanly but is then guilty of not releasing after being taken to the floor. Jones slots over the penalty and Wales, despite being thoroughly outplayed in the opening 40 minutes, only trail by 11 points at the interval. Still, such is Australia's confidence at the minute, it's going to take a radical reversal in fortunes for the hosts to turn this around in the second half.
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| 40 |
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Stephen Jones gets us back underway in Cardiff and Wales have it all to do if they are to turn this game around. Vital that the hosts strike first if they're to have a chance.
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| 41 |
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Bad news for Australia as it's just been confirmed that Pocock, who dislocated his thumb in the first half remember, has been replaced by George Smith. Not a bad replacement, eh?
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| 43 |
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Nervy moments in the Welsh 22 as a high ball is spilled but Powell is on hand to tidy up.
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| 45 |
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The Aussies are launching plenty of up-and-unders into the Wales 22 but the hosts are dealing quite impressively with the aerial bombardment, with Jones the latest to pluck one out of the sky.
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| 46 |
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Giteau puts the Wallabies into a decent attacking position with a fine kick out to the right wing. The bounce was slightly fortuitous, though, and left Bishop utterly bamboozled.
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| 48 |
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Mumm is guilty of not being ten metres away but Hook fails to convert the resulting penalty from just inside his own half. The Ospreys ace had the distance but not the accuracy crucially.
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| 49 |
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An excellent chip-and-chase from James takes Wales into Australian territory. The Aussies give away a penalty but they play on until Charteris spills the ball in midfield. Back we come for the earlier Australian infringement but Jones, quite surprisingly, fails to land the penalty. It was by no means a 'gimme' but that was a bad miss from the Wales fly-half.
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| 51 |
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Wales are enjoying a decent spell of possession and territory but they desperately need a score.
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| 52 |
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An incisive break and terrific off-load from Jones releases Roberts. A try looked a certainty but Roberts' pass to James was slightly behind the replacement and the chance went begging.
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| 55 |
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After a staggering 18 phases of play, Wales finally turn the ball over and Australia manage to clear to touch. You get the feeling that Wales simply had to score during that spell of pressure.
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| 56 |
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Australia finally get their hands on the ball and Giteau drives his side forward. However, the move eventually comes to nothing, with Hynes knocking on after a poor pass from Elsom.
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| 57 |
12 - 26 |
Wales are penalised after another awesome scrum from the Wallaby pack and Giteau splits the sticks with the resulting kick to extend Australia's advantage to 14 points. A long way back for the Welsh from here.
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| 62 |
12 - 31 |
Bishop tries to make something happen for the Welsh but the Smith forces a turnover, allowing Australia to clear. The chase is good and Australia steal possession back once again. The Wallabies work it wide and Giteau breaks the gain-line before putting Polota-Nau in for a simple finish.
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| 63 |
12 - 33 |
Giteau then nails the subsequent conversion attempt in some style to put Australia out of sight.
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| 66 |
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Wales haven't given up and Powell leads his side forward once more. However, almost inevitably, the No.8 is stripped of possession by Smith, who has had an incredible impact on the game since coming on for Pocock at the break.
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| 68 |
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Wales attack with some menace but after creating some space for themselves, Bishop brings the move to a grinding halt with a forward pass to Davies. That was unfortunate and also a little harsh.
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| 70 |
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Robinson passes the ball back to Giteau, who attempts a drop goal from some 35 metres out. However, the fly-half's kick drifts just to the left of the uprights.
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| 72 |
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Warburton produces a clean take at a lineout and exploits some lax Wallaby defending to charge into the Australian 22. However, the Aussie defence again holds firm and Wales are forced to start over.
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| 74 |
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Wales threaten again after another nice break from Warburton but they just cannot find a way through the Aussie defence. Wales have to be commended for their resilience but they are looking a tad one-dimensional and predictable in attack.
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| 76 |
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Giteau looks like he's going to make something happen every time he gets his hands on the ball. However, his efforts to create another try for his side come to nothing this time after failing to find Cooper with a deft off-load.
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| 78 |
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Hook breaks through in midfield and some soft hands from Jones and Williams take the Welsh into the Australian 22. However, the move again breaks down, much to the dismay and frustration of the Cardiff crowd. On a side issue, Giteau has just been named the man of the match - and deservedly so.
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| 79 |
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Wales continue to search for a consolation try and James is held up just short. The replacement has another go moments later but to no avail.
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| 80 |
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Wales keep the pressure on and Roberts tries to charge his way over. But, somewhat predictably and perhaps even fittingly, Australia turn the ball over at the breakdown and clear to touch. Game over and Australia have ended their tour of Great Britain and Ireland with a very impressive victory over Wales. Robbie Deans will take a lot from this game but Warren Gatland has plenty of thinking to do ahead of the 6 Nations.
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