'They're not buying into that old storyline': How 'Wobblies' flipped the script on World Cup nemesis
Updated . First published at
When referee James Doleman reached for his pocket, Wallabies fans experienced a familiar sense of early Monday morning dread.
Not just the fact that another working week lay ahead, but with it a sinking feeling that Australia were again about to blow a big lead.
The Wallabies carried their Twickenham momentum into Cardiff and shot out to a 19-0 lead after just 22 minutes.
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Australia's Samu Kerevi collides with Wales' Jac Morgan. Getty
But Wales - trying desperately to avoid a record 11th straight defeat - worked their way back to trail by just 19-13 at halftime.
And so when the recalled Samu Kerevi - playing his 50th Test - clattered Jac Morgan high in the 42nd minute, it appeared the Wallabies could be turning into the Wobblies again.
"There's been a considerable shift in energy and momentum," Sean Maloney said in commentary for Stan Sport.
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Kerevi's yellow card was upgraded to red by referee Doleman but yet it didn't rattle Joe Schmidt's side.
They did the simple things much better than Wales and ended up making them look second rate in a record 52-20 rout.
It was summed up by Len Ikitau turning Cameron Winnett inside out before sliding over the try line with a massive grin on his face.
Len Ikitau of Australia dives in to score his team's seventh try. Getty
"They're not buying into that old storyline," former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said on Stan Sport.
"You know, 19-13, 'oh no, here it comes for the Welsh, they're going to get a run on.' They went down to 14 men and having that upgraded - should it have been yellow, should it have been red? You start thinking 'oh, no, it's happening again.' It's against us.
"Doleman, was that the right decision? People start going at the referee and it's a bit of a spiral effect. But this team is really keeping their cool."
Michael Hooper takes to the field with the match ball. Getty
Hooper's illustrious Wallabies career ended after he was named captain by Eddie Jones last year and then unceremoniously dumped for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
A Wallabies side without Hooper was subsequently smashed 40-6 by Wales in Lyon - effectively ending their campaign.
"I'm so, so proud of the team, to see them doing so well and playing with a smile on their face," Hooper said.
Rob Valetini of Australia lifts the James Bevan Trophy as players celebrate. Getty
"They're genuinely enjoying their rugby out there. Tom Wright gets the intercept and he's just having fun. Len Ikitau, it looks like he's playing under-12s touch on the wing there. So there's some great stuff to see."
The Wallabies, who finished last in the Rugby Championship, are now halfway to emulating the history making 1984 Grand Slam team with tougher tests against Scotland and Ireland to come.
"I had the over/under victories on this tour at one and a half," Morgan Turinui said on Stan Sport.
"Two wins was good and one probably not enough. That England win and this one sets it up to be a really positive finish. As a group, I think the Wallabies are further along now than I thought they'd be on this tour. It was a bit worrying during The Rugby Championship."
Fullback Wright and hooker Matt Faessler both scored hat tricks as Wales coach Warren Gatland's tenure looks all but over.
"The flashy stuff will look cute on the highlights," Turinui said.
"But in the early hours of the morning, those people who have watched that, they've seen a Wallabies forward pack front up two weeks in a row. And we talked about adversity.
"The pressure comes, you start to get the jitters a bit. You feel like momentum will go against you. 'Oh, we've seen this before.'
"But this team has a different mindset. Whether it's the basics that they're able to go back to or a couple of keys on the new coaching staff, I'm not quite sure. But they maintain composure.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa of Australia celebrates victory after defeating Wales. Getty
"They're playing a base game with really good core skills but then there's some expanse and some adventure coming into that Wallabies attack - looks like a fun brand of rugby to play too."
Wallabies legend Tim Horan said it was a "complete" Wallabies performance and Wales "weren't even in the same postcode."
"I'm very excited. This is huge," Horan told Nine's Today.
"Especially where we were this time last year, when Wales beat the Wallabies at the Rugby World Cup in Lyon.
"I was there commentating in the grandstand and half the Wallabies supporters walked out with 25 minutes to go in the game. So a big turnaround. Massive match next weekend against Scotland though."
Ex-Wallabies lock Justin Harrison said Australia's ambition of becoming a top three ranked nation again would require "five or six" world class players.
Wales aren't good - in fact this is statistically the proud rugby nation's worst ever side - but Harrison rattled off the names of Wallabies knocking on the door of being truly world class.
"Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Angus Bell, Noah Lolesio coming into that mix. Andrew Kellaway, Tom Wright.
"All the hallmarks of what you want to see in a Wallabies jersey. Honest, intelligent, hard working group of people who are well prepared, can deal with adversity and get what they need to do through simplicity, execution and connection."
