Wallabies lead at break in Bronze final

Wales 3 Australia 7

Australia lost talisman backs Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale to first-half injuries, but they still led Wales in the World Cup bronze medal match at Eden Park.

Wales went into their final World Cup game knowing that victory over Australia would match a tournament-best finish of third in 1987.

But the beaten semi-finalists were without suspended skipper Sam Warburton, who was sent off against France last weekend, plus injured pair Adam Jones (calf muscle) and Rhys Priestland (shoulder).

James Hook continued at fly-half instead of Rhys Priestland, with prop Paul James replacing Jones and a reshuffled back-row seeing Toby Faletau switched to openside flanker and Ryan Jones starting at number eight in a team captained by Gethin Jenkins.

Wallabies lock Nathan Sharpe won his 100th cap in a much-changed Australian team at Eden Park, but Robbie Deans‘ men were boosted by star full-back Kurtley Beale returning from injury.

Australia monopolised the early possession, but they suffered an injury scare after just five minutes when centurion Sharpe - who had led the team out - needed prolonged treatment for an injury.

He limped back into the action, and Wales continued to struggle for continuity, conceding a couple of midfield penalties and handing Australia field position, but the Wallabies could not finish off.

Wales could feel relieved to still be on level terms after 10 minutes, yet it did not last long, despite Australia losing an injured Beale.

Wales wing Shane Williams was in the wars after being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle by hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, and from the resulting scrum Australia pounced.

Quickfire passing enabled centre Berrick Barnes to dash across for a try that wing James O’Connor converted, and a 7-0 lead was no more than the Wallabies deserved.

Wales needed a quick response, and it came in the form of a close-range Hook penalty that opened their account.

Australia’s injury woes continued after 22 minutes when fly-half Quade Cooper suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury. He was replaced by Anthony Faingaa, with Barnes moving to number 10.

But the Wallabies continued punching into the heart of Wales’ defence, testing Shaun Edwards’ impressive system that had leaked just three tries in Wales’ last five games.

Wales lacked the creative spark they had shown throughout most of the tournament, and Australia continued to pile on pressure, keeping misfiring opponents penned deep inside their own half.

Wales wing George North then departed nursing a gash to his head, which meant a temporary back division reshuffle of Stephen Jones at 10, Hook to full-back and Leigh Halfpenny on the wing.

North then returned just as Wales gained a penalty, but Halfpenny sent a long-range attempt wide, and Australia preserved their narrow advantage.

Both players departed inside the opening 20 minutes, Beale with a hamstring and Cooper nursing what appeared a serious knee problem, yet centre Berrick Barnes’ well-worked try – converted by James O’Connor – kept Wales at bay.

Wales managed a James Hook penalty in reply, but they needed a considerable second-half improvement on what had been probably their worst 40 minutes of the competition.