Preview: Bronze medal - Aus v Wales

Australia and Wales will look to Friday’s bronze medal match at Eden Park in Auckland for some consolation after their hopes of winning the World Cup were extinguished following semifinal defeats last weekend.

The Wallabies were bloodied and battered in 6-20 defeat at the hands of New Zealand, while the Welsh are still bemoaning a 8-9 loss to France, where they played with 14 men for the last hour.

While pundits question the relevance of a third place play-off tacked on to the end of a demanding six-week tournament, both teams say they have plenty to play for in their curtain-fall appearances at the seventh World Cup.

The Wallabies are licking their wounds having been second best in all aspects to the All Blacks, but are determined to go out with a bang after promising so much, but delivering so little.

Wales, meanwhile, say they are equally as determined to prove they should be in Sunday’s Final instead of France after coming within a whisker of beating the French despite having skipper Sam Warburton sent off midway through the first half for a lifting tackle.

The principality’s Western Mail newspaper devoted its entire Monday front page to an emotional editorial entitled “Is This How You Feel?”, lamenting the defeat and what might have been.

Senior Wallaby back Adam Ashley-Cooper said the match was a chance for Australia to give something back to their fans.

“We care and if they [Australia supporters] care about us, they would care. They need to know that the collective group here that are representing the country care a lot,” Ashley-Cooper said.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has made eight changes to his team, several as a result of injuries.

The most significant saw Kurtley Beale included following a hamstring strain that saw the attacking fullback miss the semifinal, while lock Nathan Sharpe is set to win his 100th cap after replacing the injured Dan Vickerman.

“The strain is actually fine, it’s the muscles around it that’s pretty weak, but I’ve done everything I can to get it as strong as possible and I’m really looking forward to it,” Beale said.

Sharpe is in line to become only the fifth Wallaby to play 100 Tests – the others are George Gregan, George Smith, Stephen Larkham and David Campese.

“I couldn’t control when I would have an opportunity to play my 100th Test, all I could do is to get myself into the best possible shape so when I had the opportunity to play I would put my best foot forward,” Sharpe said.

“As disappointing as it is to be playing in the play-off for third, it’s still an opportunity for us to represent our country and do it proudly.”

Meanwhile, exciting 19-year-old wing George North said Wales ought to have a tangible reward for an impressive tournament.

“The way we’ve been playing that’s something [third] we really deserve.”

Wales defeated Australia 22-21 in the play-off for third place at the inaugural 1987 World Cup in New Zealand, and neither team has played in one since.

Warren Gatland, whose coaching reputation has been enhanced by the Welsh displays at the World Cup, said he wants his exuberant team to finish on a high.

“We face Australia back home at the Millennium Stadium in just over a month’s time and we are single-minded in our assertion that we want that homecoming to be a celebration of us achieving the status of one of the top three teams in the world,” said Gatland, who, like his coaching opposite Deans, is a New Zealander.

Players to Watch:

For Wales: You won’t look further than veteran Shane Williams, who may well be playing his last Test, but other exciting runners like Leigh Halfpenny and George North could also be very entertaining. Toby Faletau, on the flank, may well be the key forward for Wales.

For Australia: The return from injury of fullback Kurtley Beale will give the Wallaby backs the strike-power they lacked last week, while Berrick Barnes at inside centre may be the other creative force they lacked. David Pocock will get another chance to put his mark on the tournament, and perhaps claim the IRB Player of the Year prize.

Head to Head: Considering the Welsh won’t be fielding their best team, the Wallaby front row of Salesi Ma’afu, Tatafu Polota Nau and James Slipper may be under a lot less pressure against the Welsh trio of Paul James, Huw Bennett and Gethin Jenkins. However, the most entertaining showdown will certainly be at flyhalf – James Hook (Wales) against Quade Cooper (Australia) – two skilful and creative players.

Recent Results:
2010: Australia won 25-16, Cardiff
2009: Australia won 30-12, Cardiff
2008: Wales won 21-18, Cardiff
2007: Australia won 32-20, Cardiff (World Cup pool match)
2007: Australia won 31-0, Brisbane
2007: Australia won 29-23, Sydney
2006: Wales and Australia drew 29-29, Cardiff
2005: Wales won 24-22, Cardiff
2003: Australia won 30-10, Sydney
2001: Australia 21-13, Cardiff

Prediction: The match that is so often one of the most boring at the tournament, because of a distinct lack of interest by the teams involved, may well be very entertaining this time round. You have two teams that are willing, and certainly capable, of playing a very expansive brand of rugby. The result will be determined by which team has the best defence, as they will leak fewer tries than the opposition. The Wallabies – against mutual opponent South Africa and Ireland – have leaked no tries. Wales, against those teams, conceded three tries. It may well suggest the Wallaby defence is better. Australia to sneak a try-feast by less than 10 points.

The teams:

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Toby Faletau, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Paul James, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain).
Replacements: 16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Alun Wyn Jones, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Scott Williams.

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill (captain), 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Anthony Fainga’a, 22 Rob Horne.

Date: Friday, October 21
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 20.30 (07.30 GMT)
Expected weather: Fine, cloudy out west. Strengthening Southwesterly winds. High of 19°C, low of 13°C.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), George Clancy (Ireland)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

AFP and rugby365.com