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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Pool A clash between Wales and Australia!
You can read the preview HERE
Wales XV: Gareth Anscombe, Alex Cuthbert, George North, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Talupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Paul James.
Australia XV: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Sean McMahon, Scott Fardy, Dean Mumm, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio.
Follow our man at the ground, Sam Bruce, who'll be providing us with his first hand insights straight from Twickenham.
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We're under way here at Twickenham and we've already got the first scrum of the afternoon with Australia to feed.
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| 2 |
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Well, that scrum didn't budge a tad! Gareth Davies steals it and runs a good five metres down the right flank before being chopped down. Nice idea, good start from Wales.
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| 3 |
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Ohhh! Nearly the first try! George North looks like he's made the first five points of the game but is held up on the line! Great defending. Scrum results in some more Welsh pressure but Biggar's eventual cross field kick doesn't pay. However, plays brought back and we've got the first penalty of the game.
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0 - 3 |
Biggar - penalty goal
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| 6 |
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Another scrum along the Welsh right flank, just inside their half. Davies to feed.
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| 7 |
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Penalty to Wales taken quickly after Australia are penalised for collapsing.
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| 9 |
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After some midfield stalemate with neither side breaking away, Wales are given another penalty after Australia fail to move away. Kicked for the lineout by Wales and they're five metres out...
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| 10 |
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Wales are deep within the Australian 22 now, try looming perhaps...
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| 11 |
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| 12 |
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Scrum eventually restarts play before it's stopped again for another one just two metres further along. Not the easiest viewing this.
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| 13 |
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Australia win the penalty as Wales are penalised for standing in the scrum. Time for the Wallabies to attack.
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| 16 |
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Australia lineout along their right flank which is stolen by Wales.
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| 17 |
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Both sides clattering into each other at full force but neither side grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck. Both clearly understand the consequence of a loss and look as if they're holding back a tad just in case of a mistake.
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| 19 |
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Australia finally have their first proper bit of Welsh territory as they've kicked the lineout into the corner. Driving maul time.
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| 20 |
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Nope, opted for a different tactic before working it back to Drew Ritchie incoming down the left flank. The men in red have done well and pushed him into touch however.
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| 21 |
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And we've now got another scrum along their right flank.
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| 23 |
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There we go! The Australian scrum romps through the Welsh pack for the first time but they can't make it pay in terms of the try but they've got the penalty and Foley is lining up for their first points of the game.
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3 - 3 |
Foley - penalty goal
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| 25 |
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Wales in possession but Australia are straight in their faces and Anscombe has to boot out from inside their 22 for a bit of rest bite. Anyone's game this.
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| 27 |
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Australia lineout, along their right flank, evolves into the rolling maul and as usual they've gained a few metres. But, Wales do manage to stop its path eventually on the edge of their 22.
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| 29 |
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And Australia have another kicking opportunity here to take the lead! Wales are penalised for tackling off their feet and Foley lines up his second kick just on the edge of 22. Easier than the first.
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| 30 |
6 - 3 |
Foley - penalty goal
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| 31 |
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Sublime little up and under from Gareth Anscombe before Australia penalised for not moving away and Wales have the chance for the penalty themselves here. Turning into the battle of the kickers?
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6 - 6 |
Bigger 6 - 6 Foley!
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| 34 |
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And we've got another pen!
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| 36 |
9 - 6 |
Foley makes it three from three as Australia go back into the lead just moments after Biggar equalised in similar fashion from the tee himself. Little separating either sides. Stalemate.
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| 37 |
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Welsh lineout along half way which is pumped along the line. The Wallabies are holding strong however, as they've done for majority of the match, and never side are managing to carry the ball into either sides territory.
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| 38 |
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Chance for Biggar again as they have the other penalty... but he's missed it! The easiest one of the lot and it's gone wide!
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| 40 |
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Another penalty! Matt Giteau this time tees up from 57 metres out. This is a looong way, can he do it and take his Australia's lead to six...?
Nope! And there we have it - half time!
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| 40+1 |
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HALF TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Sam Bruce had this to say:
"Australia have a worked their way to a 9-6 lead after a dour first half at Twickenham that was void of any free-flowing rugby and largely dominated by the whistle of referee Craig Joubert. Wales started the stronger and took a 3-0 lead after just four minutes, the Red Dragons winning the early battles at the breakdown and making a nuisance of themselves on the Wallabies' lineout ball. The Aussies slowly got themselves back into the contest as they began to secure the edge at scrum time, but there has been little of the crisp ball movement from last week. Three Bernard Foley penalties, and another from Biggar, mean the two sides are split by just three at the break but there has been no sign of a five-pointer since Wales were held up in virtually the first minute. An intriguing second half awaits."
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And we're back under way here at Twickenham. Foley kicks.
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| 41 |
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Good start from Australia, definitely looked to have upped their tempo. Folau breaks the line nicely before being chopped down - a sign of hopefully what's to come in this half. Attacking intent from the Wallabies.
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| 43 |
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Wales battling hard to keep the Wallabies out but they keep on coming. Cheika's men have the lineout down their left flank.
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| 44 |
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This time Wales attack with George Ford down their left flank - probably the first real time we've seen him this game - but Australia are saved on the edge of their 22 by Matt Giteau.
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| 46 |
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It's back in Australian hands to attack and this time they've taken the aerial route as Foley kicks high and long into the far corner. Much easier to watch so far this half.
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| 47 |
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Anscombe kicks downfield to release the mounting Australian pressure before Folau returns in similar style.
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| 49 |
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Australia back on the offense but Wales are still managing to keep them at bay. Some really good play at the breakdown from Gatland's men.
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12 - 6 |
Foley makes the first penalty of the second half count and now they've got a bit of a cushion - six points!
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Wales have switched the momentum and they seem to be on the front foot. Pocock being a real nuisance. Gatland's men have the scrum.
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| 53 |
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...and it's collapsed. We go again.
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| 54 |
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Jamie Roberts carries the ball into contact when Wales emerge from the scrum. Long spell in the Australian half for way but so far they're still struggling to get through to that try line.
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STAT
WALES TURNOVERS WON: 5
AUSTRALIAN TURNOVERS WON: 5
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Gareth Davies so involved as he closes down Foley's pressure releasing kick and the Wallabies are lucky to get away unscathed there!
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| 57 |
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And Genia has been binned for a cynical foul! Temperature rising in Twickenham as we approach the climax.
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| 58 |
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Wales are nudging forward here... The lineout results in a 15 man maul and Australia doing very, very well to keep it out but it's not over yet...
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| 59 |
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WALES TRY...NO!
TMO review to see if Faletau has grounded it properly as on first glance he may have dropped it...and it's not beein given!!! Wales still trail by six!
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AUSTRALIA SIN BIN FOR TAKING THE MAN OUT!
Dean Mumm joins Genia in the sin bin and Wales must make this pay. They're just five metres out with the scrum now.
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| 61 |
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And they just can't! Even with 13 men, the Australian defence is holding very tight. They've even managed to escape a bit as Wales have gone in searching of their backs and Australia have a few metres to regroup.
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| 62 |
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George North, so close! Fantastic hands from Roberts on the right hand side finds his centre partner and North is so close to a try but he's held up. All Wales here. We've now got another Welsh scrum on Austrlia five metre mark.
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| 63 |
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All the pressure is on Wales here to make this advantage pay. Couple minutes and Genia's back on!
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| 64 |
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Scrum is reset and we await Davies to refeed.
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| 65 |
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This is truly remarkable from Australia. How are they doing this. Two men down and they're keeping out this extreme Welsh pressure. Wales need to get it wide and they just can't find the gap. Statement from Australia.
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| 67 |
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Wales lineout now along the Australia five metre mark.
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| 68 |
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Results to nothing! Australia given the penalty and they can kick up field and finally have some rest bite from this Welsh onslaught!
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| 70 |
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Australia have somehow found some energy and are on the attack themselves! They're just a few metres out from the Welsh white line after some Folau and Foley interchanging. Great stuff!
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Australia penalty! Foley lines up.
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| 72 |
15 - 6 |
Foley - penalty goal
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| 73 |
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Australia don't look affected at all from that Wales onslaught with the extra men. Infact, Wales look the more hurt. Couldn't find a break with two extra men, will they find one now with 15 opponents rather than 13?
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| 74 |
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Game stopped briefly for Folau to have some treatment on his foot. Looks okay though and we have the scrum to restart play along the half way.
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| 77 |
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Foley's lining up another penalty kick from 12 metres out and it looks certain for a Wallabies win if he makes it.
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| 78 |
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Australia on the attack, the penalty opportunity is clearly not enough! They want to see the win out in style and top the group.
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But no, Wales are holding tight. Tackles flying in still just in their 22. Looks like it's not to be for Gatland's men.
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| 80 |
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And we've got an Australian scrum just inside half way to see it out. And they do, Foley kicks out! IT'S DONE!
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| 80+1 |
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FULL TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Sam Bruce had this to say:
"The Wallabies have produced one of the gutsiest wins in their proud history to set up a quarter-final date with Scotland next Sunday. Just who is available to play that game remains to be seen after a brutal victory over Wales at Twickenham on Saturday night. It wasn't the prettiest of victories but it will likely taste all the sweeter after they were forced to defend their own line with both Will Genia and Dean Mumm in the sin-bin. The Welsh suffered a bit of white-line fever during that period while Toby Faletau knocked on over the line before George North was held up. But it was the Wallabies' ability to scramble that saw them through, a brilliant tackle and turnover from Adam Ashley-Cooper eventually seeing them clear their line. Two Bernard Foley penalties were all they needed in the second half as they turned a 9-6 half-time lead into a memorable 15-6 victory."
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