Gareth Anscombe "too nervous to be tired" during end to Wales' victory over Australia

Andrew Baldock 00:49 12/11/2018
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  • Gareth Anscombe says he was “too nervous to be tired” during the frantic final minutes of Wales‘ first victory over Australia for 10 years.

    A dour arm-wrestle of a match ended in dramatic fashion, with Wales’ 9-6 triumph ending a 13-Test losing sequence against the Wallabies.

    Seven minutes from time, Wales lost goalkicker Leigh Halfpenny after he was on the receiving end of a high challenge from Australia centre Samu Kerevi that went unpunished by referee Ben O’Keeffe.

    It forced Halfpenny from the pitch, then Wallabies replacement Matt Toomua kicked an equalising penalty before Wales substitute Dan Biggar, who was on for Halfpenny, delivered a winning 77th-minute strike.

    Six of Wales’ defeats against Australia had been by five points or less, but there was to be no gut-wrenching repeat as Anscombe and company closed the game out.

    “I was too nervous to be tired,” fly-half Anscombe said.

    Wales player celebrate their historic victory.

    Wales player celebrate their historic victory.

    “When we turned them over and did not get the ball back, in the last two or three games we have been in those positions and given the Wallabies the chance to win it.

    “But we closed the game out. Our defence grew, and were pretty game-savvy to stick our wingers up and play with 14 in the front line, which made them kick the ball.”

    Victories for Wales in their final two games of the autumn series – against Tonga next Saturday and South Africa in 13 days’ time – would make it nine games unbeaten since losing to Ireland in Dublin earlier this year.

    And if they finish 2018 with two more wins, it would represent Wales’ longest unbeaten run since a 10-match sequence in 1999.

    “Our squad is building pretty nicely,” Anscombe added. “We have a good mixture of experience and youth.

    Leigh Halfpenny endured an off-day against the Aussies, missing two presentable kicks at goal.

    Leigh Halfpenny endured an off-day against the Aussies, missing two presentable kicks at goal.

    “There are two or three guys in each position who are really starting to put their hands up. So from a Welsh Rugby point of view, that is healthy and hopefully we can continue to grow and go from strength to strength.”

    The next time Wales meet Australia it will be during the 2019 World Cup pool stage in Japan, when the winners will be installed as group favourites and potentially open up their side of the draw.

    “There is a lot of water left to go under the bridge,” Anscombe said.

    “We are on a bit of a roll right now, so we are just going to look at ourselves and keep on our game.

    “We are in a bit of a habit of winning, which is a nice place to be. We have two more tough games, but we need to keep improving and we are in a relatively healthy position right now.”

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