Rugby World Cup: Australia sinks against Wales, the Leek XV goes to the quarterfinals


Earthquake in Ovalie. Australia, swept 40-6 by Wales, first qualified for the final stages of the 2023 World Cup, Sunday in Lyon, will not see, barring a miracle, the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in its history . For the Welsh, hardly more dashing than their opponents before the start of the competition, it is an unexpected breath of fresh air which could continue until the semi-finals. In the quarters, they will probably cross swords with England, whom they beat half the time in preparation matches, or Argentina, who have been unconvincing since the start of the tournament.

But all eyes are on the Wallabies this evening, giants of world rugby, double world champions in 1991 and 1999, whose ordeal is still not over since they still have one group match to play, next Sunday in Saint-Étienne against Portugal, before being able to return home.

Australians picked cold from the start

A week that will seem like a year to them, they who crossed this French World Cup like shadows, incredulous spectators of the incessant joust between the journalists of their country and their coach Eddie Jones, who returned to their side in January, but who will probably not survive their shipwreck punctuated at Groupama Stadium by a seventh defeat in eight games since he took over the reins of the team.

A week during which they will have plenty of time to indulge in apothecary calculations to dream of an improbable qualification, mathematically still possible. They will also be able to rehash this 26th minute of the first period which sounded the death knell for their meager hopes, and this collective, incomprehensible decision to attempt a penalty, rather than take three points which were offered to them. At this point in the game, caught cold in the 3rd minute by Wales and a try from scrum half Gareth Davies, trailing 10-6, but generally dominating the debates, the Australians had the opportunity to return to a point of their adversaries.

A long descent into hell

Instead, they lost their touch, found themselves in their own half after a Welsh clearance and were penalized in turn. Gareth Anscombe, who replaced Dan Biggar, who came off injured in the 13th minute, punished them: 13-6, instead of 10-9. From there, Australia drowned, not scoring a single point. The second period was a long descent into hell for Eddie Jones’ men, entangled the morning of the match in yet another controversy with the Australian press for having had a job interview with the Japanese federation even though he was committed to the Australian body until 2027.

Wales is coming back from hell. Before this World Cup, the Welsh have lost 15 times since 2022, including a humiliation against Georgia and an infamous penultimate place in the 2023 Tournament. A sporting crisis concomitant with a financial crisis within their federation that Warren Gatland, their coach, who returned to the aid of the XV du Poireau in 2023, after having been the project manager between 2007 and 2019, managed to curb it.

To do this, the New Zealander applied the same recipes of Welsh successes – four Six Nations, including three Grand Slams – during the previous decade. An airtight defense, a sovereign pack capable of advancing on carried balls, close-range offensives, without taking any risks, and a scorer, Anscombe, man of the match, gravedigger of the Australians, thanks to his 23 points scored. 40-6, the biggest victory in Welsh history over Australia. After their defeat against Fiji, it is a new historic setback for the Wallabies. Don’t throw any more away.





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