A TORRENT of Welsh passion, fleshed out by 14 points from the elegant boot of Jonathan Davies, briefly threatened a rare triumph over one of the giants of world rugby in a turbulent contest at Cardiff Arms Park yesterday. Ultimately, though, Australia had sufficient skill and power in all departments to fashion three tries, two conversions and three penalty goals, more than enough to give the dragon's tail a severe tweaking.
At the end of his 101st and last international David Campese - who was crucially involved in the build-up to two tries - stood in the centre of the pitch, gave the 45,000 crowd a wistful two-handed wave, and seconds later was gone. It was a poignant finale to a glittering career that Campese's team-mates were unable to embellish by giving him chances to add to his record total of 64 Test tries.
Whether the 34-year-old Davies will play in Wales' forthcoming international against South Africa (December 15th) must be open to question, notwithstanding his faultless kicking. The wizard who brought magic to the number 10 shirt in the late 80s may still have abundant tactical nous given the right kind of ball, but the burst of pace that once carried him away from flankers hell bent on destruction has disappeared. Yesterday Davies never had the remotest chance of releasing his three quarters.
"I was disappointed with the result - Australia dominated thee game and we fought back but it wasn't enough," said Davies. "Still, I enjoyed playing against one of the best teams in the world - that's what the game is all about and I appreciated the challenge. Wales have improved a lot since last summer - we're going in the right direction."
Gareth Thomas, the paccy Bridgend centre, opened up a tantalising route to victory after 55 minutes with a splendid interception try that saw him sprint virtually the length of the field. However, that proved to be the only occasion on which the Australians allowed their defensive organisation to slip. The beleaguered Welsh spent most of the afternoon in their own half, relying heavily on the goal kicking of Davies to stay in touch.
Honest to a fault, Campese later admitted that he had knocked on seconds before Australia's opening try, an infringement that the Scottish official Ian Ramage missed. But overall that hardly mattered because the Wallabies showed they were always capable of finding fresh ways to breach the Welsh line with their complex patterns of play.
From the early stages Wales were compelled to play catch up rugby. The gifted Burke swiftly followed his long range penalty goal with an opportunist try in the left corner. Had Ieuan Evans played to the whistle, the Welsh wing could have touched down Howard's chipped kick but the referee either ignored or did not see Campese's knock-on and Burke took advantage of Evans's fatal hesitation.
Midway through the half Davies, who received few opportunities to dictate the pattern of the game, kicked a short range penalty goal for offside. However, almost immediately Campese found touch with a searching penalty kick just inside the corner flag and from the line-out the Wallabies drove to the line where the number eight, Brial, picked up and darted down the blind side to score in the corner.
Shortly before half-time Burke landed a towering penalty from 42 metres to put his side 18-6 in front. After Davies had kicked a long-range penalty goal Roff came within a whisker of increasing the Australian lead with a splendid diagonal run that was only halted in front of the posts.
Intense Australian pressure threatened to push Wales into deeper trouble, with their loose forwards forced to make desperate tackles to hold the line. However, a dramatic flurry of 10 points within a six minute period put fresh heart into Wales and gave them a precious one point lead. First, Thomas intercepted Gregan's pass to Horan close to the posts and sprinted 90 metres for the touchdown then Davies, having kicked the conversion, steered home a 30-metre penalty goal for stamping.
With 20 minutes left, Wales badly needed another score to put the Wallabies on the rack and perhaps induce further errors. Instead it was Australia who stepped up a gear with exciting exchanges among their forwards and backs that elicited further penalties within kicking range. Burke missed a 25-metre effort but in the 70th minute the full-back landed a 30-metre penalty goal for a 21-19 lead.
In a late throw of the dice Derwin Jones was substituted by Craig Quinnell but still the Welsh pack could not generate the momentum to threaten the Wallabies. In the last minute Burke spurned the chance to kick another penalty, opting instead to find touch close to the corner flag. From the line-out the Wallabies laid siege to the Welsh line and were duly awarded a penalty try when the hosts pulled down a scrum. Wales defended bravely but Australia simply had too much fire power.
