2012 Wales rugby union tour of Australia

In June 2012, Wales toured Australia as part of the 2012 mid-year rugby test series. They faced Australia in a series of three internationals across the eastern states, starting at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, then moving on to Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, before finishing in Sydney at the Sydney Football Stadium. In addition, they played a tour match against one of Australia's domestic clubs, the Brumbies, at Canberra Stadium.

2012 Wales rugby union tour of Australia
Coach(es)Rob Howley
Tour captain(s)Sam Warburton
Top point scorer(s)Leigh Halfpenny (41)
Top try scorer(s)10 players with 1 try
Top test point scorer(s)Leigh Halfpenny (41)
Top test try scorer(s)7 players with 1 try
Summary
P W D L
Total
05 02 00 03
Test match
04 01 00 03
Opponent
P W D L
 Australia
3 0 0 3
Barbarians
1 1 0 0
Tour chronology
Next tourJapan 2013

Before flying to Australia, Wales also held a one-off match at home so that Rob Howley, the caretaker coach, could finalise the squad. This was held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff against the Barbarians.

During this tour, Wales were attempting to regain the James Bevan Trophy they lost in 2009, when Australia beat them 33–12 in Cardiff. They had won it the previous year, 21–18. However, the last time Wales beat Australia in Australia was in 1969, when they won 19–16.

This tour was the most keenly anticipated rugby tour of the 2012 tours, with Wales going into it as Grand Slam winners of the 2012 Six Nations and Australia as winners of the 2011 Tri Nations.

Wales lost the series 3–0, continuing their history of not having won in Australia for 43 years. However, all matches were close encounters, and they scored 61 points to Australia's 72. They also played a return match in Cardiff in the 2012 Autumn Internationals that ended in a similar narrow defeat, 14–12.

In the last three matches between the two teams, Wales led with five minutes to go and Australia snatched victory from them.

Fixtures

edit
Date Venue Home Score Away
2 June 2012 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff   Wales 30–21 Barbarians
9 June 2012 Lang Park, Brisbane   Australia 27–19   Wales
12 June 2012 Canberra Stadium, Canberra   ACT Brumbies 15–25   Wales
16 June 2012 Docklands Stadium, Melbourne   Australia 25–23   Wales
23 June 2012 Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney   Australia 20–19   Wales

Squads

edit

Wales

edit

Towards the end of May, the bulk of the Welsh squad left for Australia, leaving a handful of players to face the Barbarians. After Wales' win over the Barbarians, the few players who had earned their place in the squad during the game left for Australia to join up with the team. Caretaker coach Rob Howley announced a 35-man squad to take to Australia.

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Richard Hibbard Hooker (1983-12-13)13 December 1983 (aged 28) 16   Ospreys
Ken Owens Hooker (1987-01-03)3 January 1987 (aged 25) 5   Scarlets
Matthew Rees Hooker (1980-12-09)9 December 1980 (aged 31) 51   Scarlets
Rhys Gill Prop (1986-10-30)30 October 1986 (aged 25) 3   Saracens
Paul James Prop (1982-05-13)13 May 1982 (aged 30) 35   Ospreys
Gethin Jenkins Prop (1980-11-17)17 November 1980 (aged 31) 87   Cardiff Blues
Adam Jones Prop (1981-03-08)8 March 1981 (aged 31) 80   Ospreys
Rhodri Jones Prop (1991-12-23)23 December 1991 (aged 20) 1   Scarlets
Luke Charteris Lock (1983-03-09)9 March 1983 (aged 29) 34   Newport Gwent Dragons
Bradley Davies Lock (1987-01-09)9 January 1987 (aged 25) 33   Cardiff Blues
Ian Evans Lock (1984-10-04)4 October 1984 (aged 27) 23   Ospreys
Alun Wyn Jones Lock (1985-09-19)19 September 1985 (aged 26) 63   Ospreys
Dan Lydiate Flanker (1987-12-18)18 December 1987 (aged 24) 24   Newport Gwent Dragons
Aaron Shingler Flanker (1987-08-07)7 August 1987 (aged 24) 2   Scarlets
Justin Tipuric Flanker (1989-08-06)6 August 1989 (aged 22) 5   Ospreys
Josh Turnbull Flanker (1988-03-12)12 March 1988 (aged 24) 4   Scarlets
Sam Warburton (c) Flanker (1988-10-05)5 October 1988 (aged 23) 27   Cardiff Blues
Gareth Delve Number 8 (1982-12-30)30 December 1982 (aged 29) 11   Melbourne Rebels
Taulupe Faletau Number 8 (1990-11-12)12 November 1990 (aged 21) 16   Newport Gwent Dragons
Ryan Jones Number 8 (1981-03-13)13 March 1981 (aged 31) 64   Ospreys
Mike Phillips Scrum-half (1982-08-29)29 August 1982 (aged 29) 65   Bayonne
Rhys Webb Scrum-half (1988-12-09)9 December 1988 (aged 23) 2   Ospreys
Lloyd Williams Scrum-half (1989-11-30)30 November 1989 (aged 22) 8   Cardiff Blues
James Hook Fly-half (1985-06-27)27 June 1985 (aged 26) 63   Perpignan
Rhys Priestland Fly-half (1987-01-09)9 January 1987 (aged 25) 15   Scarlets
Ashley Beck Centre (1990-04-15)15 April 1990 (aged 22) 0   Ospreys
Andrew Bishop Centre (1985-08-07)7 August 1985 (aged 26) 16   Ospreys
Jonathan Davies Centre (1988-04-05)5 April 1988 (aged 24) 26   Scarlets
Scott Williams Centre (1990-10-10)10 October 1990 (aged 21) 12   Scarlets
Aled Brew Wing (1986-08-09)9 August 1986 (aged 25) 9   Newport Gwent Dragons
Alex Cuthbert Wing (1990-04-05)5 April 1990 (aged 22) 6   Cardiff Blues
George North Wing (1992-04-13)13 April 1992 (aged 20) 21   Scarlets
Harry Robinson Wing (1993-04-16)16 April 1993 (aged 19) 1   Cardiff Blues
Leigh Halfpenny Fullback (1988-12-22)22 December 1988 (aged 23) 32   Cardiff Blues
Liam Williams Fullback (1991-04-09)9 April 1991 (aged 21) 1   Scarlets

Australia

edit

Robbie Deans announced his squad to face Wales at the beginning of June. The public already knew that James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale and usual captain James Horwill would all be out of the tour due to injury. From this, Robbie Deans was able to announce his 40-man squad. On 19 June, it was revealed that Beale would return for the third and final test against Wales.

Head coach:   Robbie Deans

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Saia Fainga'a Hooker (1987-02-02)2 February 1987 (aged 25) 16 Reds
Stephen Moore Hooker (1983-01-20)20 January 1983 (aged 29) 69 Brumbies
Tatafu Polota-Nau Hooker (1985-07-26)26 July 1985 (aged 26) 34 Waratahs
Ben Alexander Prop (1984-11-13)13 November 1984 (aged 27) 39 Brumbies
Sekope Kepu Prop (1986-02-05)5 February 1986 (aged 26) 16 Western Force
Salesi Ma'afu Prop (1983-03-26)26 March 1983 (aged 29) 14 Western Force
Dan Palmer Prop (1988-09-13)13 September 1988 (aged 23) 1 Brumbies
Benn Robinson Prop (1984-07-19)19 July 1984 (aged 27) 44 Waratahs
James Slipper Prop (1989-06-06)6 June 1989 (aged 23) 23 Reds
Kane Douglas Lock (1989-06-01)1 June 1989 (aged 23) 0 Waratahs
Cadeyrn Neville Lock (1988-11-09)9 November 1988 (aged 23) 0 Melbourne Rebels
Hugh Pyle Lock (1988-09-21)21 September 1988 (aged 23) 0 Melbourne Rebels
Nathan Sharpe Lock (1978-02-26)26 February 1978 (aged 34) 104 Western Force
Rob Simmons Lock (1989-04-19)19 April 1989 (aged 23) 19 Reds
Sitaleki Timani Lock (1986-09-19)19 September 1986 (aged 25) 2 Waratahs
Dave Dennis Flanker (1986-01-10)10 January 1986 (aged 26) 3 Waratahs
Scott Higginbotham Flanker (1986-09-05)5 September 1986 (aged 25) 14 Reds
Michael Hooper Flanker (1990-03-24)24 March 1990 (aged 22) 2 Brumbies
David Pocock (c) Flanker (1988-04-23)23 April 1988 (aged 24) 43 Western Force
Ben McCalman Number 8 (1988-03-18)18 March 1988 (aged 24) 21 Western Force
Ben Mowen Number 8 (1984-12-01)1 December 1984 (aged 27) 0 Brumbies
Wycliff Palu Number 8 (1982-07-27)27 July 1982 (aged 29) 40 Waratahs
Will Genia Scrum-half (1988-01-17)17 January 1988 (aged 24) 37 Reds
Nick Phipps Scrum-half (1989-01-09)9 January 1989 (aged 23) 3 Melbourne Rebels
Nic White Scrum-half (1990-06-13)13 June 1990 (aged 21) 0 Brumbies
Berrick Barnes Fly-half (1986-05-28)28 May 1986 (aged 26) 40 Waratahs
Quade Cooper Fly-half (1988-04-05)5 April 1988 (aged 24) 35 Queensland Reds
Bernard Foley Fly-half (1989-09-08)8 September 1989 (aged 22) 0 Waratahs
Anthony Fainga'a Centre (1987-02-02)2 February 1987 (aged 25) 17 Reds
Mike Harris Centre (1988-07-08)8 July 1988 (aged 23) 2 Reds
Rob Horne Centre (1989-08-15)15 August 1989 (aged 22) 11 Waratahs
Pat McCabe Centre (1988-03-21)21 March 1988 (aged 24) 13 Brumbies
Digby Ioane Wing (1985-07-14)14 July 1985 (aged 26) 24 Reds
Dom Shipperley Wing (1991-10-16)16 October 1991 (aged 20) 0 Reds
Joe Tomane Wing (1990-02-02)2 February 1990 (aged 22) 1 Brumbies
Cooper Vuna Wing (1987-07-05)5 July 1987 (aged 24) 2 Melbourne Rebels
Adam Ashley-Cooper Fullback (1984-03-27)27 March 1984 (aged 28) 66 Waratahs
Kurtley Beale Fullback (1989-01-06)6 January 1989 (aged 23) 24 Melbourne Rebels
Jesse Mogg Fullback (1989-06-08)8 June 1989 (aged 23) 0 Brumbies
Luke Morahan Fullback (1991-08-28)28 August 1991 (aged 20) 1 Reds

Warm-up matches

edit

Wales vs Barbarians

edit
2 June 2012
14:00 BST (UTC+01)
Wales  30–21Barbarians
Try: Robinson 10' c
Hook 71' c
Brew 79' c
Con: Hook (3/3) 11', 72', 80'
Pen: Hook (3/3) 4', 25', 51'
Report[1]Try: Donald (2) 27' c, 59' c
Rees 36' c
Con: Donald (3/3) 28', 37', 60'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 57,565
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
FB 15 Liam Williams
RW 14 Harry Robinson   35'   44'   68'
OC 13 Andrew Bishop
IC 12 James Hook
LW 11 Aled Brew
FH 10 Dan Biggar   64'
SH 9 Lloyd Williams   51'
N8 8 Ryan Jones   51'
OF 7 Justin Tipuric
BF 6 Josh Turnbull
RL 5 Ian Evans
LL 4 Alun Wyn Jones   45'
TP 3 Rhodri Jones   44'
HK 2 Matthew Rees (c)   68'
LP 1 Rhys Gill   34'
Replacements:
HK 16 Richard Hibbard   68'
PR 17 Paul James   35'
LK 18 Aaron Shingler   51'
FL 19 Martyn Williams   45'
SH 20 Rhys Webb   51'
CE 21 Adam Warren   64'
FB 22 Will Harries   68'
Coach:
  Rob Howley
 
FB 15   Mils Muliaina   66'
RW 14   Isa Nacewa
OC 13   Mike Tindall   46'
IC 12   Casey Laulala
LW 11   Shane Williams
FH 10   Stephen Donald
SH 9   Richie Rees   56'
N8 8   Johnnie Beattie
OF 7   Mamuka Gorgodze   56'
BF 6   Francois Louw
RL 5   Mark Chisholm
LL 4   Mick O'Driscoll   40'
TP 3   John Smit (c)   46'
HK 2   Benoît August   40'
LP 1   Duncan Jones
Replacements:
HK 16   Aled de Malmanche   40'
PR 17   Neemia Tialata   46'
LK 18   Anton van Zyl   40'
N8 19   Akapusi Qera   56'
SH 20   Rory Lawson   56'
WG 21   Sailosi Tagicakibau   46'
FB 22   Cédric Heymans   66'
Coach:
  John Kirwan

ACT Brumbies vs Wales

edit
12 June 2012
19:30 AEST (UTC+10)
ACT Brumbies  15–25  Wales
Pen: Holmes (5/6) 10', 38', 56', 62', 66'Report[3]Try: Hook 19' c
Tipuric 31' c
A.W. Jones 40' m
Con: Hook (2/3) 20', 32'
Pen: Hook (2/2) 69', 76'
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
FB 15 Robbie Coleman   54'
RW 14 Cam Crawford
OC 13 Tevita Kuridrani
IC 12 Andrew Smith
LW 11 Kimami Sitauti
FH 10 Zack Holmes
SH 9 Ian Prior   31'
N8 8 Ita Vaea   52'
OF 7 Colby Faingaa
BF 6 Peter Kimlin
RL 5 Ben Hand (c)
LL 4 Leon Power   52'
TP 3 Scott Sio   31'
HK 2 Anthony Hegarty
LP 1 Ruaidhri Murphy
Replacements:
HK 16 Siliva Siliva
PR 17 JP Pradaud   31'
LK 18 Dylan Sigg   52'
LK 19 Fotu Auelua   52'
SH 20 Beau Mokoputo   31'
FH 21 Tom Cox   54'
WG 22 Jesse Mogg
Coach:
  Jake White
FB 15 Liam Williams
RW 14 Harry Robinson
OC 13 Andrew Bishop
IC 12 Ashley Beck
LW 11 Aled Brew   40'
FH 10 James Hook
SH 9 Rhys Webb
N8 8 Aaron Shingler   30'
OF 7 Justin Tipuric
BF 6 Josh Turnbull
RL 5 Luke Charteris
LL 4 Alun Wyn Jones (c)   40'
TP 3 Rhodri Jones
HK 2 Richard Hibbard   71'
LP 1 Paul James   45'
Replacements:
HK 16 Ken Owens   71'
PR 17 Rhys Gill   45'
LK 18 Ian Evans   40'
N8 19 Gareth Delve   30'
SH 20 Lloyd Williams   62'
FH 21 Rhys Priestland
WG 22 Alex Cuthbert   40'   62'
Coach:
  Rob Howley

Touch judges:
Andrew Lees (Australia)
Will Houston (Australia)

Test matches

edit

First test

edit
9 June 2012
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Australia  27–19  Wales
Try: Higginbotham 14' c
Gregan 40' c
McCabe 66' c
Con: Barnes (3/3) 15', 42', 67'
Pen: Barnes (1/3) 8'
Drop: Barnes (1/1) 49'
Report[4]Try: Cuthbert 57' c
Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 59'
Pen: Halfpenny (4/4) 21', 45', 55', 62'
Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 43,000
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
FB 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW 14 Digby Ioane   71'
OC 13 Cooper Vuna   50'
IC 12 Pat McCabe
LW 11 Lote Tuqiri
FH 10 Berrick Barnes
SH 9 Matt Giteau
N8 8 Wycliff Palu   58'
OF 7 David Pocock (c)   55'
BF 6 Scott Higginbotham
RL 5 Dan Vickerman   64'
LL 4 Nathan Sharpe
TP 3 Guy Shepherdson   38'
HK 2 Stephen Moore   55'
LP 1 Benn Robinson   58'
Replacements:
HK 16 Adam Freier   55'
PR 17 Matt Dunning   58'
LK 18 Dave Dennis   64'
FL 19 Michael Hooper   58'
SH 20 Phil Waugh
CE 21 George Gregan   50'   55'   71'
CE 22 Anthony Fainga'a
Coach:
  Robbie Deans
 
FB 15 Leigh Halfpenny
RW 14 Alex Cuthbert
OC 13 Jonathan Davies
IC 12 Scott Williams   55'
LW 11 George North   28'
FH 10 Rhys Priestland
SH 9 Mike Phillips
N8 8 Taulupe Faletau   51'
OF 7 Sam Warburton (c)
BF 6 Dan Lydiate
RL 5 Luke Charteris   51'
LL 4 Bradley Davies
TP 3 Adam Jones   75'
HK 2 Ken Owens   51'
LP 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements:
HK 16 Matthew Rees   51'
PR 17 Paul James   75'
LK 18 Alun Wyn Jones   51'
N8 19 Ryan Jones   51'
SH 20 Lloyd Williams
FH 21 James Hook   28'
CE 22 Ashley Beck   55'
Coach:
  Rob Howley

Touch judges:
Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Television match official:
Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

Notes

Second test

edit
16 June 2012
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Australia  25–23  Wales
Try: Horne 38' c
Con: Barnes (1/1) 39'
Pen: Barnes (5/6) 19', 29', 47', 58', 64'
Harris (1/1) 80'
Report[5]Try: North 4' c
Davies 43' c
Con: Halfpenny (2/2) 3', 44'
Pen: Halfpenny (3/3) 49', 60', 66'
Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
Attendance: 33,880
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
FB 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW 14 Cooper Vuna   59'   70'
OC 13 Morgan Turinui
IC 12 Pat McCabe
LW 11 Lote Tuqiri
FH 10 Berrick Barnes   72'
SH 9 George Gregan (c)
N8 8 Wycliff Palu   54'
OF 7 Phil Waugh
BF 6 Scott Higginbotham
RL 5 David Giffin
LL 4 Nathan Sharpe   69'
TP 3 Patricio Noriega   52'
HK 2 Jeremy Paul   50'
LP 1 Bill Young   64'
Replacements:
HK 16 Stephen Moore   50'
PR 17 Al Baxter   64'
LK 18 Dave Dennis   54'
FL 19 Michael Hooper   69'
SH 20 Nic White
CE 21 Anthony Fainga'a   70'
CE 22 Mike Harris   72'
Coach:
  Robbie Deans
 
FB 15 Leigh Halfpenny
RW 14 Alex Cuthbert
OC 13 Jonathan Davies
IC 12 Ashley Beck
LW 11 George North
FH 10 Rhys Priestland
SH 9 Mike Phillips   65'
N8 8 Ryan Jones
OF 7 Sam Warburton (c)
BF 6 Dan Lydiate
RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones   67'
LL 4 Bradley Davies
TP 3 Adam Jones
HK 2 Matthew Rees   66'
LP 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements:
HK 16 Richard Hibbard   66'
PR 17 Paul James
LK 18 Luke Charteris   67'
FL 19 Justin Tipuric
SH 20 Rhys Webb   65'
FH 21 James Hook
CE 22 Scott Williams
Coach:
  Rob Howley

Touch judges:
Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Television match official:
Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

Third test

edit
23 June 2012
15:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Australia  20–19  Wales
Try: Horne 64' m
Pen: Barnes (5/5) 3', 9', 16', 38', 74'
Report[6]Try: R. Jones 60' c
Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 61'
Pen: Halfpenny (4/5) 7', 13', 24', 70'
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 42,889
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
FB 15 Kurtley Beale
RW 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper
OC 13 Rob Horne
IC 12 Pat McCabe   34'
LW 11 Digby Ioane
FH 10 Berrick Barnes
SH 9 George Gregan (c)
N8 8 Wycliff Palu
OF 7 Phil Waugh
BF 6 Scott Higginbotham   56'
RL 5 Nathan Sharpe
LL 4 Justin Harrison   72'
TP 3 Al Baxter   56'
HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau   56'
LP 1 Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK 16 Stephen Moore   56'
PR 17 Ben Alexander   56'
LK 18 Rob Simmons   72'
LK 19 Dave Dennis   56'
FL 20 Michael Hooper
SH 21 Nic White
CE 22 Anthony Fainga'a   34'
Coach:
  Robbie Deans
 
FB 15 Leigh Halfpenny
RW 14 Alex Cuthbert
OC 13 Jonathan Davies
IC 12 Ashley Beck   65'
LW 11 George North
FH 10 Rhys Priestland   69'
SH 9 Mike Phillips
N8 8 Ryan Jones   49'   56'
OF 7 Sam Warburton (c)   28'
BF 6 Dan Lydiate
RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones   65'
LL 4 Bradley Davies
TP 3 Adam Jones
HK 2 Matthew Rees   65'
LP 1 Gethin Jenkins   40'
Replacements:
HK 16 Ken Owens   65'
PR 17 Paul James   40'
LK 18 Luke Charteris   49'   56'   65'
FL 19 Justin Tipuric   28'
SH 20 Rhys Webb
FH 21 James Hook   69'
CE 22 Scott Williams   65'
Coach:
  Rob Howley

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Wales 30-21 Barbarians". BBC. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  2. ^ Gillespie, Graeme (8 May 2012). "Williams Set to Reach 100 Caps". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Planet Rugby - Reports and Previews - Wales hang on in Canberra". 6 January 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "Planet Rugby | Reports and Previews | Australia bounce back in Brisbane". planetrugby.com. 9 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012.
  5. ^ "Planet Rugby | Reports and Previews | Harris wins it for Wallabies". planetrugby.com. 16 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Planet Rugby | Rugby Union News, Live Rugby Scores, Results & Fixtures | LIVE: Australia v Wales". planetrugby.com. 23 June 2012. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012.