Stephen Jones’s boot provided 14 points while a penalty try and a brilliant effort from Shane Williams set the Millennium Stadium alight. And after the disappointments of New Zealand and South Africa, Wales now go on to the defence of their Six Nations crown buoyed by only their second win over a Tri Nations side in 18 years.
Playing in their commemorative change strip, Mike Ruddock’s side had vowed to try and end their Autumn blues for their proud fans. And, roared on by yet another packed out Millennium Stadium, the men in black wasted little time in getting stuck into the Wallabies and at last recapturing some of the dazzling running rugby that brought Grand Slam glory earlier this year.
After Stephen Jones had put the hosts ahead with an early penalty, Shane Williams began a breathtaking and brilliant Welsh move on ten minutes which saw sidesteps and slick passes leave the Aussies shocked. But having failed to find the crucial breakthrough, Wales were shown why Australia are still one of the game’s greatest as Lote Tuqiri grabbed his 20th test try on 13 minutes following a simple loop move to silence the crowd, Matt Rogers converting from under the posts.
Undeterred, Wales stuck to their guns and several times had their opponents panicking as Martyn Williams and the whole of the Welsh pack came close to making the try-line while Dafydd James produced four big hits on opposite number Drew Mitchell to keep Australia in check. Jones added a second penalty a minute before the break to put Wales within a point and after a nervy last few moments, the whistle blew with the Dragons still very much in the contest.
But the hopes of a vocal Cardiff crowd of a first win this Autumn seemed to be dashed just 84 seconds after the restart, missed tackles close to the Welsh line allowing lock Nathan Sharpe to dive over while Rogers once again improved the score. Yet, just like in the sensational Six Nations success, Wales never gave up and some continued pressure saw Sharpe turn from hero to villain as his knock on from a line out inside the Australian five metres gave the Welsh scrum the platform they needed.
And after being illegally denied on separate occasions, referee Tony Spreadbury eventually handed the hosts a deserved penalty try on 48 minutes which Jones eagerly added to from the boot. Wales were not finished yet and on 54 minutes the Millennium Stadium erupted when a break from skipper Gareth Thomas saw Shane Williams blaze over the line in a classic counter attack.
Jones conversion attempt hit the post but he was back on form when he landed a huge penalty minutes later to put Wales seven points ahead. Matt Rogers cut the deficit with his first penalty of the game after the hour mark but opposite number Jones equalled his effort on 65 minutes.
That man Tuqiri looked to have helped break Welsh hearts though when his break and kick-ahead allowed Latham to cross but Rogers missed the vital kick to leave Wales two points ahead. And as the clock ticked away, Wales dug in for one last effort to finally bring home the win they’ve been craving for and a first victory over a Tri-Nation side since 1999.
Scoring Sequence
AUS Try: Chris Latham (71 mins)
WAL Pen: Stephen Jones (65 mins)
AUS Pen: Mat Rogers (62 mins)
WAL Pen: Stephen Jones (57 mins)
WAL Try: Shane Williams (52 mins)
WAL Con: Stephen Jones (49 mins)
WAL Try: Penalty try (48 mins)
AUS Con: Rogers (43 mins)
AUS Try: Nathan Sharpe (42 mins)
WAL Pen: Stephen Jones (39 mins)
AUS Con: Mat Rogers (13 mins)
AUS Try: Lote Tuqiri (12 mins)
WAL Pen: Stephen Jones (4 mins)
Wales:
G Thomas (Toulouse, capt)
D James (Llanelli Scarlets)
M Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets)
S Parker (Ospreys)
S Williams (Ospreys)
S Jones (Clermont Auvergne)
G Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons)
D Jones (Ospreys)
R Thomas (Cardiff Blues)
C Horsman (Worcester)
I Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons)
R Sidoli (Cardiff Blues)
C Charvis (Newcastle)
M Williams (Cardiff Blues)
M Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Replacements:
M Davies (Gloucester)
A Jones (Ospreys)
I Evans (Ospreys)
J Thomas (Ospreys)
M Phillips (Cardiff Blues)
C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Lee Byrne (Llanelli Scarlets)
Australia:
Chris Latham (Queensland)
Mark Gerrard (ACT)
Lote Tuqiri (New South Wales)
Morgan Turinui (NSW)
Drew Mitchell (QLD)
Mat Rogers (NSW)
George Gregan (ACT, capt)
Matt Dunning (NSW)
Brendan Cannon (WA)
David Fitter (WA)
Hugh McMeniman (QLD)
Nathan Sharpe (Western Australia)
Phil Waugh (NSW)
John Roe (QLD)
George Smith (ACT)
Replacements:
Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW)
Al Baxter (NSW)
Mark Chisholm (ACT)
Scott Fava (WA)
Chris Whitaker (NSW)
Lloyd Johansson (QLD)
Wendell Sailor (NSW)
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
