Wallabies hold off fiery Welsh
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The Wallabies were forced to work hard for their tough 33-28 victory over Wales at the Millenium Stadium on Saturday.
It was Australia's tenth consecutive victory over Wales and got new coach Michael Cheika's reign off to a winning start on the Test stage, but the game was in the balance right until the final stages.
Both teams scored three converted tries each in a breathless first half which saw more than a few defensive lapses, and they went into the half-time break deadlocked at 21-21.
The home side struck first when scrumhalf Rhys Webb spooted a gap next to a ruck and darted through. Australia struck back through fullback Israel Folau who took a neat offload from captain Michael Hooper to surge over.
Folau made that a double soon afterwards when he intercepted a skip pass from Webb on his own 22 and raced away untouched to give the Wallabies the lead.
Wales were back on level terms before long when flyhalf Dan Biggar spotted some space down the blindside and released George North who stormed through before drawing the last defender and giving it to Alex Cuthbert to score.
The seesaw nature of the match continued as Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani bust through a tackle on the Welsh 22 to score under the poles.
However, Wales showed good composure to level the scores at half-time as a quick tap from skipper Sam Warburton bore fruit when Alun Wyn Jones forced his way over from close range just before the break.
After a frenetic first-half of six converted tries that would have left both teams' defence coaches pulling their hair out in despair, Foley opened the second period with a penalty.
With the attacking endeavours of the opening period beginning to show, the pace slowed and the rhythm was further disrupted by a raft of replacements.
Foley hit a second penalty in the 56th minute after more Welsh ruck indiscipline to stretch the visitors' lead.
Veteran wing Adam Ashley-Cooper, playing his 101st Test to match Wallaby great David Campese, was on hand with a great tackle to hold up North over the line.
But South African referee Craig Joubert eventually called time on a number of resulting dominant Welsh scrums, awarding a penalty try against Australia for collapsing one too many times.
Rhys Priestland converted to hand the home side a 28-27 lead with 15 minutes to play.
Wales sat back and defended, but while they gave no penalty away, replacement scruhalf Will Genia found Foley in the slot on the Welsh 22m line and the Wallaby fly-half sent a drop-goal soaring through the posts to regain the lead and added another penalty to extend Welsh woes.
Man of the match: Welsh skipper Sam Warburton had a stand-out match for his side, but Australian fullback Israel Folau gets our award for a polished game which saw him grab two tries.
Moment of the match: The series of scrums which eventually resulted in a crucial penalty try for Wales was significant, but the pivotal moment came when Foley slotted a late drop-goal from which his side never looked back.
Villain of the match: There were none in an entertaining game played in good spirits.
The scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: Webb, Cuthbert, Jones, penalty try
Cons: Halfpenny 2, Biggar, Priestland
For Australia:
Tries: Folau 2, Kuridrani
Cons: Foley 3
Pens: Foley 3
DG: Foley
Teams:
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 George North, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Cory Allen.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps; 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Saia Fainga'a, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Will Skelton, 21 Matt Hodgson, 22 Will Genia, 23 Rob Horne.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), JP Doyle (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
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