Sat, Oct 22, 2011 page20

• RUGBY WORLD CUP: Australia win bronze final

  GUTSY DISPLAYS: Both Wales and the Wallabies had an excellent game, picking themselves up from crushing defeats in the semis, but Australia’s defense won the day

  • AFP, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
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  Australia finished the World Cup on a high with a bruising 21-18 third-place playoff win over Wales at Eden Park yesterday.

  The Wallabies battled on after losing star backs Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale with first-half injuries to edge out Wales with magnificent defense after both teams scored two tries each.

  It was Australia’s first win at Eden Park since 1986, but not against their Bledisloe Cup rivals New Zealand, who take on France at their fortress in tomorrow’s final.

  Both teams managed a final effort after shattering semi-final defeats last weekend, the Wallabies going down 20-6 to the All Blacks, while Wales lost 9-8 to France after playing with 14 men for the last hour.

  This victory meant two-time champions Australia won their first bronze at the World Cup after losing 22-21 to Wales in the playoff for third place at the inaugural 1987 tournament in New Zealand.

  Australia’s Berrick Barnes, who shifted into the fly-half slot following Cooper’s injury in the 22nd minute, delivered a masterly performance and was named man-of-the-match.

  New Zealand-born Cooper, booed every time he touched the ball, was having one of his better games in an erratic tournament before he collapsed to the ground while running the ball inside the Wales quarter.

  Cooper, who had played every minute of Australia’s previous six games at the tournament, clutched his right knee and replays showed he’d suffered a hyper-extension while changing direction.

  The Wallaby fly-half was led from the ground, his tournament over, to applause from the crowd.

  Beale also limped out of the game after just nine minutes when he re-aggravated a hamstring injury that saw him miss the semi-final and was replaced by Rob Horne.

  Earlier, Cooper had set-up the opening try in the 12th minute, his pass splitting Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies, and allowing Barnes to stroll over untouched for a 7-0 lead.

  Prop James Slipper was penalized in the scrum for James Hook to kick a penalty for Wales.

  Hook then badly missed an easy penalty attempt five minutes after the restart.

  Australia lock Nathan Sharpe’s 100th Test match finished six minutes into the second half after he had bravely soldiered on from knee trouble in the opening five minutes and he made way for Rob Simmons.

  Wales hit the front with a try to wing Shane Williams in the 49th minute off what appeared to be a forward pass from Hook, but English referee Wayne Barnes waved play on.

  Hook’s pass was toed ahead by Williams who regathered to dot down in the left corner.

  However, the Wallabies hit back with two quick O’Connor penalties off ruck infringements to lead by five points as the Welsh found it difficult to breach the resolute Australian defense.

  Berrick Barnes, running the show for the Wallabies, potted a drop goal to put his team 16-8 ahead with 12 minutes left.

  Substitute fly-half Stephen Jones kept Wales alive with a 71st minute penalty.

  The Wallabies finished the better with No. 8 Ben McCalman surging over for their second try four minutes from time.

  Wales gave their supporters a rousing finish with a converted try to full-back Leigh Halfpenny in injury time after 32 phases on the Australian line, but all it did was reduce the Wallabies’ victory margin.
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