Round-Up: Third place play-off

With this blog I have reached 1000 hits for the Tournament. But on to the more important stuff…

Wales 18-21 Australia

Had you offered Warren Gatland and his side a fourth place finish at the start of the tournament; you may well have very little left of your once useful arms. But as the Welsh depart New Zealand just outside the medals, you can’t help but feel a sense of disappointment.

Their third place play-off with Australia summed up the whole World Cup for Wales, close, but not close enough. When this group of players look back at the 2011 World Cup, they may rue the number of kicks at goal that were missed along the way.

Tries from Berrick Barnes and Ben McCalman, a Barnes drop-goal and eight points from the boot of James O’Connor were enough to earn Australia the bronze medal, in a game that wasn’t quite as close as the score line suggests.

Shane Williams scored a try early in the second half to give Wales the lead, but they failed to build upon this and were unable to replicate the potent attacking form that had been present throughout the tournament.

The game was scrappy, very short on quality and a bit of an anti-climax; with both sets of player’s still nursing semi-final heartbreak. But the match was somewhat marred by a sickening knee injury to Quade Cooper, which is likely to side-line him for around six months. As the Wallaby fly-half looked for a gap in the defence, his knee buckled beneath him and he fell awkwardly. He returned later to collect his medal with a brace around his knee and supported by crutches, it could be a while before we see him back on the rugby pitch.

With time running out and the Wallabies comfortably leading, Wales had the last say as a swift handling move led to Leigh Halfpenny scoring out wide. Stephen Jones converted but it was to be the final act of the game.

Wales can leave New Zealand with their heads held high, despite the obvious disappointment and dreams of what might have been. But once this feeling subsides, the players and staff will feel proud of their achievements and look forward to a new era of Welsh rugby. 

In many people’s minds, they are no doubts as to who will start the 2012 Six Nations as favourites.