Better from Wales but the Losing Streak Continues

There was a lot to like about the latest Welsh performance in Australia. True they lost the second test 36-28, but there were plenty of encouraging glimmers of hope that the excruciating run of defeats may come to an end some time soon.

Things started badly with the Wallabies racing to a 17-0 lead with even the bounce of the ball seemingly against Wales. Wales did show tremendous resilience to bounce back with two textbook tries for Lake from lineout drives. This was tempered though by conceding two soft penalties to be 23-14 down at half time. Wales had looked far livelier and were troubling the Australians far more than in the previous encounter last week.

Within ten minutes of the second half starting, Wales had scored their third try when Liam Williams crossed after sustained Welsh pressure. The conversion from Thomas meant that Wales had closed the gap to just two points at 23-21. Of course, the home side responded and used their big ball carriers to power over for a try and the lead was back to seven at 28-21.

The match was evenly contested with Wales getting good field position at times but failing to capitalise on it.  But then disaster for Wales. Liam Williams’ attempt to keep an Aussie touch-finder in play only goes straight into the arms of Daugunu who canters in for a try which looked to have put the game beyond Wales at 33-21.

Full credit to Wales who did not think the game was over and a splendid effort from Dyer running just inside the left hand touchline to score in the corner and a super conversion from Costelow put Wales back in touch at 33-25. The clock was against Wales as there were only five minutes to go and they attacked frenetically. Alas for Wales, they conceded yet another penalty in front of their posts and that was that. Australia ran out winners 36-28 and Wales were left mourning an opportunity missed.

This was an entertaining match if not of the highest quality. Wales showed great character and “won” the second half. The pack toiled hard with Lake and Botham both playing their hearts out in taking the game to the Wallabies. Behind the pack it still looked disjointed and finding the right combination is still the outstanding issue for Warren Gatland. Sadly losing has become a habit.

England who lost narrowly to the All Blacks for the second time and Ireland who pipped South Africa with a last gasp drop goal are both looking strong and along with France will make the Six Nations really difficult for Wales.

Wales get A for Effort but......

It seems a long time since that last Pontypool game but there is still international rugby to watch albeit from afar.

Wales are currently in Australia with a young squad desperately trying to end the horrible losing streak that they are on. Australia too are trying to recover from a particularly fallow period where little has gone right. Wales did have a warm up game against the Springboks in Twickenham of all places. They were duly thumped after a reasonable first half. I have to say I did not feel a great deal of optimism about the first test against Australia last Saturday.

The morning had started with England being narrowly defeated by New Zealand in what may be termed a Premier League match. Australia v Wales followed and using the same analogy was more like Championship standard if I am being kind.

Australia were the better side that was clear and had dominance in the set pieces which go a long way to deciding the outcome of a match. The Australians were generally bigger physical specimens in the pack and made Wales suffer. Wales, as always, could not be faulted for lack of effort with the redoubtable Wainwright to the fore. Wales managed to hold on to Australia's coat tails in the first half  with the score 13-10 at half time. This was a try apiece with both coming from forward drives with Wales actually awarded a penalty try after a lineout near the home try line.

In the second half Australia became more dominant scoring a couple of tries against two penalties from Wales that left the final score Australia 25: Wales 16. Both sides could have scored more tries with Wales even having a try disallowed for obstruction as a driving maul  powered over the Aussies' line. The match was error strewn with both sides looking rusty.

Wales did not do enough in an attacking sense to win the game but never gave up. In the last few minutes it was very much all Wales as desperation drove them into playing a more open game. They looked the better for it but by then it was too late.

For Wales, Wainwright was the stand out player by a mile with a huge appetite for carrying the ball forward.  Tshiunza who probably had his best game for Wales and the rest of the pack worked hard against bigger opposition and the driving lineout drill worked well at times. The scrums were a cause for concern and the lineout failed too often to allow a strong platform to be built. Behind the scrum the backs were largely ineffective with what appears to be too many people playing out of their normal club positions.

The big question is whether this group of players can take Wales on to better things. Yes, there were some key players missing like Jack Morgan and Tomos Williams and there is quite a lot of promise shown by the younger players but a huge improvement is needed. Wales have now dropped out of the top ten in the World Rankings for the first time. Not quite a crisis yet but not far from one.

Wales face Australia next weekend with a banged up squad it will be a huge ask for them to get a victory. Australia must surely be better next weekend as Joe Schmidt gets to grip with his new job.

I have also been watching the Wales Under 20s in their World Cup and I have been impressed by their efforts as they stood up well to New Zealand and beat Spain. Yet more promise in the pipeline but it wil need time for these players to develop. They will face a tough match against France next and will need to win if they are to progress to the latter stages.

Less than a couple of months before Pooler get back in action in earnest. Bring it on - I can't wait.