Australia’s attacking threat was largely negated by Wales’s use of the smother tackle, which coach Warren Gatland conceded later was a tactic his side had made a decision to employ before the match.
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The moment of truth came midway through the second half when Australia, clinging by their fingertips to a 12-6 advantage, had Will Genia and Dean Mumm in the sin-bin and Wales were awarded a series of penalties.
Scotland had earlier survived a scare when they were pushed all the way by Samoa, finally clinching second place in Pool B and a last-eight berth against the Springboks with a 36-33 win.
Asked if the men in red can defeat Heyneke Meyer’s Springboks next Saturday, Cheika said: “Oh yes”.
They ultimately prevailed 15-6 in a gripping arm wrestle at Twickenham on Saturday (Sunday NZT), with the right boot of five-eighth Bernard Foley proving decisive, contributing all of Australia’s points through five penalties.
Wales took lead in the first half dominating field play and ball possession, with the Wallabies struggling to get the ball over the line.
“I’m happy we won, it was a different type of game”, said Cheika. A late victory over England put them in a good position before Australia’s storming win over the same opponents confirmed Welsh qualification.
England had hoped this would be a shootout match to join them in the quarter-finals but even with the hosts dead and buried, Twickenham produced an electric atmosphere to dispel concerns about flagging interest in the tournament. Wales’s lack of composure when they should have scored has raised questions about their temperament.
“It is disappointing we didn’t get more for the scrum and driving line-out considering they were a man down in the pack”.
Wales tried everything – except the obvious option of taking one of their many penalties as a shot at goal – but Australia dealt with it all.
With both teams already knowing they had qualified for the quarter finals, the focus was on winning the game to swerve round the tricky side of the draw and avoid a quarter final against South Africa followed by a potential semi final against the All Blacks.
“And when you enjoy your rugby, you actually die for each other and you saw that defence, really, what they did is they didn’t give up”, former wing Campese told BBC Radio Wales.
Cross-code star Israel Folau has vowed to do everything in his power to ensure he’s fit to play in the World Cup quarterfinal after pushing through the pain barrier to help the Wallabies to an epic win against Wales.
“It’s a big blow,” Wales kicking coach Neil Jenkins said.
“I just can’t believe that”.
“You can’t get away with a bad game”.
“We definitely don’t want to be doing that again”, he said, referring to their heroic defensive push. “We have come up against it in the past”. I think any country would have backed themselves to go over.
“The guys just did their job”, Moore said.
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“We got away with it this time but won’t at this level too many times”.
