Penalties by the error-prone Wallabies gave replacement flyhalf Gareth Anscombe goal-shooting practice. He slotted six of seven penalty attempts — the one miss hit the post — and converted a try he set up for inside center Nick Tompkins.
In a high-stakes contest, Wales rose to the occasion at OL Stadium with their biggest win against Australia in their 115-year history, and handed the Wallabies their heaviest World Cup defeat.
Kiwi Anscombe steps up
Kiwi-born Gareth Anscombe came on in the 12th minute after linchpin Dan Biggar apparently injured ribs in a tackle, and Wales didn’t miss a beat.
The performance was a personal triumph for Anscombe. He was Wales’ first-choice flyhalf in 2019 but a knee injury forced him to miss that year’s Rugby World Cup and two seasons. A shoulder injury against Australia last November sidelined him for five months.
He repaid the faith of coach Warren Gatland by putting a literal boot into the Wallabies. His 23-point haul, including a drop goal, equalled Biggar in 2015 against England for most points by a Welshman in a World Cup game.
Wales scored three tries, conceding none, and kept Australia scoreless after the 14th minute.
Captain Jac Morgan, sporting cotton plugs up both bleeding nostrils, set up the first try and scored the last in another brilliant performance.
In just the third minute, Wales called a short lineout and Morgan hung behind the backs. From a quick tap down, Tompkins’ inside pass met Morgan in a huge gap and scrumhalf Gareth Davies was in support to finish his eighth try across three Rugby World Cups.
Biggar converted and was replaced by Anscombe while Australia were in the ascedency. The Wallabies patiently built pressure in phases but couldn’t finish them off. Halves Tate McDermott and Ben Donaldson made breaks but couldn’t make the last passes.
Australia's Fraser McReight, left, and Australia's Rob Valetini embrace after the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Wales and Australia. Photo / AP
Donaldson kicked two penalties to close it to 7-6 and received another kickable penalty for the lead. But Australia opted for touch and an attacking lineout but nobody was lifted for the catch and Wales took the gift and cleared.
Australia never recovered, and conceded soft penalties for Anscombe to tick over the scoreboard.
By halftime, Wales led 16-6 and contained Australia by making 103 tackles.
A scrum penalty three minutes into the new half brought the kicking tee back on for Anscombe and Wales didn’t look back as Australia’s confidence ebbed away.
Morgan scored the third try in the 78th from a lineout maul, then held up Suliasi Vunivalu over the line to prevent Australia even from a consolation score.
Wales 40 (Gareth Davies, Nick Tompkins, Jac Morgan tries; Dan Biggar conversion, Gareth Anscombe conversion, 5 penalties, drop goal), Australia 6 (Ben Donaldson 2 penalties). HT: 16-6
