Warren Gatland’s team were comfortable winners on a deflating night for Australian rugby.
Ciarán Kennedy Reports from OL Stadium Lyon Wales 40 Australia 6 THE LOCALS IN Lyon aren’t the most patient bunch. There were remarkable scenes at the stunning OL Stadium earlier in the month when the Lyon football squad stood like scolded children on the pitch, listening to the club’s ultras admonishing them for their poor form.
The pressure was on both sides heading into this contest at the vast, 59,000 home of Olympique Lyonnais, but once Wales began to pull clear in the second quarter, Australia never looked capable of clawing their way back into the game – the Wales tries coming courtesy of Gareth Davies, Nick Tompkins and Jac Morgan, while the classy Gareth Anscombe added 23 points with the boot.
It was a needed settler for a nervy looking Wallabies side. Moments earlier Samu Kerevi had spilled a ball in the Wales 22. Donaldson failed to collect a kick and then slipped in trying to recover the ball. Somewhere in between Jones’ face flashed up on the screen, inviting a chorus of boos, before a shot of Gatland replaced the howls with cheers.
The same man would make it a 10-point gap before the break after Rob Valetini was too eager and threw himself on an emerging ball at the ruck. The Australian fans didn’t agree with Wayne Barnes’ call but their objections were drowned out by the PA confirming Anscombe’s latest three-pointer. James Crombie / INPHO Wales’ Josh Adams and Mark Nawaqanitawase of Australia. James Crombie / INPHO / INPHOThey needed a response, but it never arrived. One minute into the second period, Australia were serving up another three points on a plate, Tomos Francis winning a penalty at the scrum and Anscombe taking his haul to 12 points.
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