The Padded Cell… Wales v Australia 26/11/22

As I cease strolling, I peer up and down the yellow lit hall a last time and with shaky breath I try to swallow the knot of concern in my throat. The acquainted sickly candy aroma of decaying rodentry pervades the dank partitions round me and I really feel greater than odor the mould, whereas the piercing readability of dripping water blends unseen with the oppressive dank that cloys my lungs and chills my soul.

Is that this the place I finish my northern tour?

As I flip to my process, the now acquainted ball of uncertainty begins rising in my stomach, increasing outwards till it appears to engulf what little braveness I’ve left. Thus I grasp the startling chilly of the metal latch and lean my shoulder into the metal-banded door. And with the tortured squeal of hinges unused, the prodigious portal swings ponderously away as I hunch to squint into the startling fluorescence of the fabled padded cell past…

Wobblies: James Slipper (Capt), Folau Fainga’a , Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Jed Holloway, Fraser McReight, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon, Ben Donaldson, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Reece Hodge, Len Ikitau, Jordan Petaia, Tom Wright Res: Lachlan Lonergan, Tom Robertson, Sam Talakai* Ned Hanigan, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio, Jock Campbell. *uncapped

Boyos: Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric (Capt), Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer, Joe Hawkins, George North, Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny Res: Ryan Elias, Rhodri Jones, Tomas Francis, Ben Carter, Josh Macleod, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Priestland, Josh Adams

Venue: Principality Stadium

Match Officers: Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Chris Busby (IRFU) TMO: Pleasure Neville (IRFU)

Kick-off: 3:15pm Saturday twenty sixth November Welsh native means 02:15am Sydney.

Context: The Wobblies have had an abysmal northern tour, punctuated with what ‘might’ve/would’ve/ought to’ve been’ performances, to document solely a solitary 1pt win over the Scots of their final 4 take a look at matches. Will the strolling wounded go residence with 1 from 5? Or will they salvage a win, and sure Dave Rennie’s job, to double down and make it a 2/5 tour?

The Boyos are in comparable disarray. With one win and 4 defeats, Wales completed the 2022 6Nations Championship in second final place with solely lowly Italy performing worse (Oh… wait… Cachu). And so they have continued their horror 2022 with 2 defeats from 3 begins on this 12 months’s November exams together with final week’s disastrous loss to Georgia (not Romania). Coach Wayne Privac should absolutely be right down to the quicks of his fingernails.

Let’s get it on within the feedback under…

Oranges – Wales had the higher of the half in each possession and area place and so lead in 20-13. The Wobblies had some, however not too many probabilities and as per the tour thus far, haven’t actually capitalised on the probabilities they received. The late half cheese to Gordon led to a collection of Welsh fed scrums on the Wobbly 5m and even after 3 scrum penalties to the reds (and a scrum yellow warning), the Dragons nonetheless couldn’t capitalise – so the Wobbs dodged a bullet there. The Wobbs self-discipline is markedly higher than earlier weeks. MarkyN and Gleeson having nice video games. McReight getting ragdolled so much. Must be a cracker of a 2nd half.

Full time: Nicely bugger me… 34-39 to the Wobbs ultimately. The unlikeliest of comebacks. I’ve to examine, nevertheless it’s the most important come again I can keep in mind for the Wobbs from 20-13 down. Big sport from MarkyMark. Him and Frosty are finds of the tour. Pete Samu got here on and made an instantaneous influence – why isn’t this man the beginning 7 is past me. Hodge was stable however unspectacular at 12 and I’m sorry to let my bias present however nice effort from Lolly who got here on and dealt with every little thing with poise and function. Lachy Lonegran went from hero (strive) to villian (potential match shedding penalty) to match successful hero (making the essential steal). Wales misplaced their form and enthusiasm because the match wore on and the Wobbs lastly began to play a bit within the final 15-20min as we received nice influence off the bench. Nice scrummage from Talakai on debut and good referee restoration from Dr Tom.

I feel penalties had been 12-13 by the tip. So a transparent Wobbly enchancment there to not be in a penalty gap.

However in all seriousness, given Wales had been right down to 13 males ultimately, the Wobblies wanted to win that. However thank the Massive Man they did. 2 from 5 for the tour and a win like that earlier than the Christmas layoff is a much better place to be than 1 from 5 going into the Invoice 12 months. Hmmm…

G’evening Cobbers.