AFP, PARIS
Wales on Sunday became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup as they produced a record-breaking performance to hammer Australia 40-6 in Lyon.
Scotland also remained in contention for the quarter-finals with a 45-17 bonus point win over Tonga, although they would likely need to beat Ireland in their final Pool B match to progress.
Photo: Reuters
Wales, who had labored to victory in their previous matches against Fiji and Portugal, looked to be in trouble when they lost influential flyhalf Dan Biggar after just 12 minutes.
However, tries from Gareth Davies, Nick Tompkins and skipper Jac Morgan, and an exemplary kicking display from replacement flyhalf Gareth Anscombe, who mustered 23 points in total, saw them into the last eight.
It was the most points they have ever scored against the Wallabies and the 34-point gap eclipsed their 28-3 win in Cardiff back in 1975.
“We’ve played well in the last two games, but there were a few things we could improve on and today the discipline was better and we were great,” Morgan said. “I’m very proud of the boys, we’re prepared to go to the well for each other and everyone’s prepared so well.”
With Australia’s hopes of qualifying now depending on Fiji losing to Georgia or Portugal, the pressure is mounting on coach Eddie Jones. It was his side’s seventh defeat in eight Tests since he took over the reins for the second time in January.
Australia’s only victory since then was over Tier II Georgia.
“I would like to apologize to all Australia supporters,” Jones said. “Our performances was not up to the standards required. I take full responsibility for it. It is very disappointing.”
Wales got off to a dream start with a line-out move straight off the training ground as Morgan hit a beautiful line onto Tompkins’s inside pass to break through the defensive line and tee up Davies to score by the posts.
Two Ben Donaldson penalties brought it back to 7-6 and with Biggar leaving the field with a shoulder problem, suffered tackling Richie Arnold, the Australians appeared to be in a good position.
However, Anscombe proved a more than able replacement for Biggar, despite missing his first kick at the sticks, punishing a series of Australian infringements.
Three penalties took it to 16-6 at the break, after which Wales ran away with it, Anscombe adding another three penalties, a drop goal and converting Tompkins’ try in the 49th minute, which he had set up with a delightful chip over the Australian defense.
Australian heads had dropped by the time Morgan had the last say with a try off a driving maul.
The Scots, who lost 18-3 to defending champions South Africa in their opening game, went into their match in Nice knowing they needed all five points to stay in contention in Pool B.
That was achieved by halftime as George Turner, Duhan van der Merwe, Kyle Steyn and Rory Darge all crossed the paint to give Scotland a 24-10 lead at the break. George Horne, Blair Kinghorn and Darcy Graham added further tries in the second half to round off the win.
Solomone Kata gave the Tongans some hope in the first half with a fine try and 150kg prop Ben Tameifuna barreled over early in the second half, but they never got close enough to worry the Scots.
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