Wales 24 Australia 22: When Wales start their Six Nations title defence against England at Twickenham next February, it will be a thunderous confrontation.
Even when they won the Grand Slam last season, Wales had a relatively weak tight five but in muscling their way to victory in a richly entertaining match they showed they have an arsenal to return the fire of England's heavy artillery.
The introduction of the Worcester prop Chris Horsman and the development of the Cardiff Blues hooker Rhys Thomas have improved Wales's tight play but the victory on Saturday over an Australian side that is better than its record this year suggests revealed a weakness not easily discernible last season. Despite an abundance of possession and an attacking intent, Wales looked as devoid of ideas behind the scrum as England, and their midfield defence against a team that had to forage for scraps was alarmingly porous.
The Wales conditioning coach Andrew Hore, who is returning to New Zealand today after three years in the principality, said he believed Wales were good enough to win the 2007 World Cup but, strange as it might seem given their problems up front, the Wallabies look stronger contenders on Saturday's evidence.
Australia are virtually as good as New Zealand if the front fives are taken out of the equation. The invention they showed in midfield, where the axis of Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Chris Latham created problems for Wales's defence from the first minute, should see them prevail in tight matches when they sort out their scrummaging. They outscored Wales, who were too lateral, on tries and would have won but for a debatable penalty try awarded against them in the third quarter.
Referee Tony Spreadbury marched under the posts after the third successive scrum five yards from the Australian line ended in a heap as Wales exerted a straight shove. The first scrum, which ended in a pile-up, had seen the Wallabies penalised for bringing down a subsequent maul and the second was reset after the Wales frontrow had popped out, an offence for which Spreadbury could have penalised them.
Australia had improvised reasonably well in the scrums, twisting a few across field and making the Wales number eight Michael Owen pick up early, but the prop David Fitter had cost his team three points in the first half for using his hands in a scrum and he was adjudged to have been responsible for the collapse as Wales looked for the pushover.
"I am not going to comment on the referee," said Australia's coach Eddie Jones. "I have got an opinion but I am not prepared to reveal it publicly."
The decision could cost Jones his job, though he has two years left on his contract, as the Australian Rugby Union conduct a performance review after just four victories and eight defeats this year.
Australia will be a threat in 2007 if they do not panic: they have two years to get their scrum right but could find themselves in the wilderness if they make a knee-jerk reaction.
Jones smashed his radio set in frustration on 56 minutes as he watched his centre Morgan Turinui stop to break up a fight as Wales counterattacked after Rogers had lost possession.
Australia were one down in their defensive line and Gareth Thomas and Shane Williams made them pay with a kick, chase and deft pass.
"Wales only score tries from free-kicks and turnovers," said Jones. "Williams is not a fantastic player unless you make a defensive mistake. We cut their line any number of times but wrong options cost us."
Wales, who started the month being thrashed by New Zealand, finished it celebrating in black jerseys. They need Gavin Henson back at inside centre and the fact that their most impressive back was the wing Dafydd James, whose unyielding defence shattered Australia's dangerous Drew Mitchell, said everything about their uncompromising approach.
England do not have Australia's adventure and should consequently make fewer mistakes.
Wales showed their character in coming from 14-6 down but the Wallabies did not take full advantage of Tuqiri's menace and a draw, which would have resulted had Rogers landed a late conversion, would have been a fitting outcome, even if it might not have been enough to save Jones from the jackals.
WALES: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); James (Llanelli Scarlets), Watkins (Scarlets), Parker (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), Cooper (Dragons); D Jones (Ospreys), R Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Horsman (Worcester); Gough (Dragons), Sidoli (Blues); Charvis (Newcastle), M Williams (Blues), Owen (Dragons). Replacements: A Jones (Ospreys) for Horsman (50 mins), Sweeney (Dragons) for S Jones (80 mins). Tries: S Williams, penalty try. Con: S Jones. Pens: S Jones 4.
AUSTRALIA: Latham (Queensland Reds); Gerrard (ACT Brumbies), Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs), Turinui (NSW Waratahs), Mitchell (Queensland Reds); Rogers (NSW Waratahs), Gregan (ACT Brumbies); Dunning (NSW Waratahs), Cannon (NSW Waratahs), Fitter (ACT Brumbies); McMeniman (Queensland Reds), Sharpe (Queensland Reds); Roe (Queensland Reds), Waugh (NSW Waratahs), Smith (ACT Brumbies). Replacements: Baxter (NSW Waratahs) for Fitter (51 mins); Whitaker (NSW Waratahs) for Gregan (58 mins); Sailor (Queensland Reds) for Gerrard (65 mins); Chisholm (ACT Brumbies) for McMeniman (73 mins). Tries: Tuqiri, Sharpe, Latham. Cons: Rogers 2. Pen: Rogers.
Referee: A Spreadbury (England).
Guardian Service
