No mention was made of the Welsh chance to suppress at least one of the co-host nations. Wales were abetted in their quest for third place by Wallaby flanker David Codey.
Having already been warned by referee Fred Howard in the first minute of the game, for violent play against Gareth Roberts, the Australian was dismissed three minutes later for trampling dangerously at a ruck. Paul Thorburn put Wales on the scoreboard shortly after Codey’s misdemeanour.
Though depleted, the home side’s efforts were not diminished. Drawing on character reserves due to their loss, Australia scored a penalty soon after Thorburn’s effort thanks to the boot of Michael Lynagh. They missed another penalty attempt each before Wales’s first try of the match ensued. Richard Moriarty was in support of Roberts who, with the Welsh pack behind him, pushed over the try line.
This was shortly followed by an Australian score in kind. Matthew Burke ploughed through the entire Welsh defence in order to put an extra four points on the board. Lynagh converted to add an additional two. Jonathan Davies and Mark Ring attempted to launch a Welsh attack but only succeeded in causing confusion, giving the Wallabies a chance to pounce. They did; Burke and David Campese took the advantage given, passing to Peter Grigg to ease over for Australia’s second try of the game; Lynagh converted once more.
Paul Moriarty reduced the deficit after he replied to the Australian pressure with a try. With Richard Webster, Anthony Buchanan and Allan Phillips abetting, Moriarty touched down. His effort was added to by the conversion from Paul Thorburn, taking the score into the interval at 13-15 to the home side.
After the half-time intermission Thorburn added three points to his personal tally, as did Lynagh, as each fullback scored a penalty apiece. Lynagh landed an outstanding drop goal soon after to extend the Australian lead to 16-21, which seemed to seal Wales’s fate.
However, there was still fire in the Dragon. Jonathan Davies kicked a ball high into the Australian twenty-two which was recovered by John Devereux and recycled to Ieuan Evans. Mark Ring and Thorburn contributed to the final match-winning try, Thorburn with the try-winning pass to Adrian Hadley who dived over the line. In the fifth minute of injury time Thorburn converted under immense pressure to take the score to 22-21 in favour of the men in red.
The Wallabies launched one more counter attack, which very nearly snatched glory away from Wales. Yet the defence just about stopped the attack at the corner flag, and Wales’s third place in the augural Rugby World Cup was guaranteed. Having been systematically dismantled by the New Zealanders, Wales gained the consolatory bronze position and restored their self-esteem. This was a result that subsequent Wales National side’s have yet to emulate.
