Check out the Wales player ratings vs Australia following Warren Gatland’s side’s record win against the Wallabies.
Wales produced a brilliant display, beating an increasingly ragged Australia 40-6 to become the first team to guarantee a spot in the quarter-finals. In contrast, the Wallabies are facing a pool-stage exit for the very first time.
With both sides viewing it as a must-win clash in the tightly contested Pool C, it was Wales who came out firing. A penalty within 30 seconds was followed by a scorching break from captain Jac Morgan, who fed a rushing Gareth Davies to dot down under the posts.
Australia did respond, with dangermen Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete to the fore. And when Wales linchpin Dan Biggar was forced off in the 12th minute, with the men in red leading just 7-6, the Wallabies looked to be in the hunt. But almost nothing went right for the two-time World Cup winners from then on.
A succession of penalties enabled Biggar’s replacement Gareth Anscombe to pull Wales into a 16-6 half-time lead and another lightening start to the second 40 minutes saw centre Nick Tompkins gather Anscombe’s cute chip to touch down. With Australia bereft of ideas and the penalty count creeping up, Morgan scored off the back of a maul and Anscombe added a further three penalties and a drop goal to secure Wales’ biggest ever victory over Australia.Â
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Scroll down for Wales player ratings vs Australia
THE SCORERS:
Wales: 40
- Tries: Gareth Davies (3′), Nick Tompkins (48′), Jac Morgan (78′)
- Cons: Dan Biggar (4′), Gareth Anscombe (49′)
- Pens: Gareth Anscombe (21′, 29′, 39′, 43′, 52′, 60′)
- DGS Gareth Anscombe (70′)
Australia: 6
- Tries:
- Cons:
- Pens: Ben Donaldson (9′, 14′)
GAMES STATS:
Most points: Gareth Anscombe – 23
Metres: Taulupe Faletau – 36
Defenders beaten: Taulupe Faletau – 4
Tackles: Jac Morgan – 15
Tackles missed: Tomas Francis – 3
Turnovers won: Adam Beard – 1
Wales player ratings vs Australia:
1. Gareth Thomas: 6 – Struggled in the opening scrums against James Slipper, but took the scrum by the scuff once the Australian co-captain was withdrawn. Better around the park in the second half, worked hard to carry in the loose. (Replaced by Corey Domachowski 66 mins)
2. Ryan Elias: 7 – Greasy conditions made the early set-pieces not go to plan, but linked up well with the inter-playing backs. Involved well in the passing plays, and led up-front as Wales dominated the second half scrum in the absence of Slipper and a well-missed Taniela Tupou. (Replaced by Elliot Dee 66th mins)
3. Tomas Francis: 7.5 – Wales’ star man in the front row, Francis had emptied the tank and the reserve storage at his 66th minute with-drawl. An unbelievable work-rate, Francis took notice of referee Wayne Barnes orders to stop calling for ‘off-feet’, and turned his attention to bossing the rucks. Won a key scrum penalty against Angus Bell, with a great start to the second half. (Replaced by Henry Thomas 66 mins)
4 Will Rowlands: 6 – A slow start saw his jackal efforts penalized with a breakdown penalty, but the workhorse in Wales’ second row didn’t stop running for 70 minutes. Like Francis, Rowlands emptied the tank and made seven tackles in the effort. (Replaced by Dafydd Jenkins 70 mins)
5. Adam Beard: 7.5 – Showcased excellent set-piece prowess, and put on the afterburners to chase down every loose ball around the park. 14 tackles is the second best from the match, with Beard set to wake up with sore shoulders tomorrow. His intensity never faltered and he covered every square inch of grass.
6. Aaron Wainwright 6.5 – His starring moment came with a great showing of strength, to halt Marika Koroibete in his tracks, and stall the winger for an eventual turnover. Defended solidly against the Wallabies, and made eight tackles in the process. (Replaced by Taine Basham 71 mins)