Wallabies take World Cup bronze

Australia finished the World Cup on a high with a bruising 21-18 third place playoff win over Wales at Eden Park here Friday.

The Wallabies battled on after losing star backs Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale with first-half injuries to edge out the Welsh with magnificent defence after both teams scored two tries each.

It was Australia’s first win at Eden Park since 1986, but not against their Bledisloe Cup rivals New Zealand, who take on France at their fortress in Sunday’s final.

Both teams managed a final effort after shattering semi-final defeats last weekend, the Wallabies going down 20-6 to the All Blacks, while the Welsh lost 9-8 to France after playing with 14 men for the last hour.

This victory meant two-time champions Australia won their first bronze at the World Cup after losing 22-21 to Wales in the playoff for third place at the inaugural 1987 tournament in New Zealand.

But, for the second match in a row, Wales also missed injured fly-half Rhys Priestland with wayward goalkicks, as they had against France, costing them dear.

Australia’s Berrick Barnes, who shifted into the fly-half slot following Cooper’s injury in the 22nd minute, delivered a masterly performance and was named man-of-the-match.

“We did it tough, it was last man standing there with all the injuries we had,” said Barnes, who added the team were delighted to have won for lock Nathan Sharpe, playing his 100th Test.

Just nine minutes into the match, Australia lost Beale after he re-aggravated a hamstring injury that saw him miss the semi-final.

But Cooper set up the opening try in the 12th minute, his pass splitting Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies and allowing Barnes to stroll over for what became a 7-0 lead when James O’Connor converted.

Prop James Slipper was penalised in the scrum for James Hook to kick a penalty for Wales.

Hook then badly missed an easy penalty attempt five minutes after the restart.

Sharpe’s 100th Test match finished six minutes into the second half after he had bravely soldiered on from knee trouble suffered early on.

Wales hit the front with a fortuitous Shane Williams try, the wing kicking ahead of what appeared to be a Hook forward pass in the 49th minute off what appeared to be a forward pass from Hook but English referee Wayne Barnes waved play on.

However, the Wallabies hit back with two O’Connor penalties off ruck infringements to lead by five points as the Welsh found it difficult to breach the resolute Australia defence.

Berrick Barnes, running the show for the Wallabies, potted a drop goal to put his team 16-8 ahead with 12 minutes left.

Substitute fly-half Stephen Jones kept Wales alive with a 71st minute penalty.

But the Wallabies finished the stronger with No 8 Ben McCalman surging over for their second try four minutes from time.

Wales managed a converted try to full-back Leigh Halfpenny in injury time but all it did was reduce the Wallabies’ victory margin. AFP