FLY-HALF Stephen Jones rounded off a fine year for Six Nations champions Wales by steering them to a 21-18 victory over Australia at the Millennium Stadium yesterday.
Jones booted 11 points to add to first-half tries from World Player of the Year Shane Williams and Lee Byrne as Wales became the only northern hemisphere team to beat a Tri-Nations side this year.
The Wallabies also went over twice through lock Ma
rk Chisholm and wing Digby Ioane while fly-half Matt Giteau kicked eight points.
Centre Jamie Roberts' willingness to play 10 minutes of the first half with a fractured skull typified the bravery shown by Wales in this afternoon's thrilling victory over Australia, according to Wales backs coach Rob Howley.
Roberts was involved in a sickening collision with Australia captain Stirling Mortlock in the opening exchanges.
Mortlock let the field with a head injury, but Roberts carried on and played a part in the build up to Wales's first try.
However, after 12 minutes he withdrew and coach Warren Gatland claimed the fracture to his skull will keep him out for a minimum of six weeks.
"Jamie has sent us a text from hospital telling us he has a fractured skull," revealed Howley.
"That just sums up the team spirit – a guy is in hospital but sends a text message to the players who he has been playing with for the past three weeks."
Australia were chasing their first European clean sweep since 1996 following wins over England, France and Italy this month.
Disappointed Australia coach Robbie Deans said: "It's never enjoyable to come second in a Test match… There was obviously not much in it."
In an explosive start, the hosts forced the visitors on the back foot when fullback Drew Mitchell knocked on under the high ball after 15 seconds.
Worse was to follow with Mortlock forced to leave the field. Wales took full advantage when Williams touched down inside four minutes, his 44th Test try.
Australia hit back when Chisholm sprinted home from 70 metres. Giteau added the conversion to put the visitors ahead before firing Australia into a 10-5 lead with a fine drop-goal.
Hooker Stephen Moore was yellow-carded on the half hour and within a minute Byrne doubled the try count. Jones converted for a 15-10 interval lead before Giteau kicked a 46th minute penalty.
Jones edged Wales further clear with a 67th minute drop goal and penalty before Ioane's late try for Australia and Giteau's missed conversion.
Wales: L Byrne; M Jones, T Shanklin, J Roberts, S Williams; S Jones, G Cooper; G Jenkins, M Rees, A Jones, I Gough, A-W Jones, R Jones (c), M Williams, A Powell. Replacements: R Hibbard, J Yapp, L Charteris, D Jones, M Roberts, J Hook, A Bishop.
Australia: D Mitchell; P Hynes, R Cross, S Mortlock (c), D Ioane; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Robinson, S Moore, A Baxter, M Chisholm, N Sharpe, H McMeniman, P Waugh, R Brown. Replacements: A Freier, M Dunning, D Mumm, G Smith, S Cordingley, Q Cooper, L Tuqiri, A Ashley-Cooper.
Scorers: Wales – Tries: S Williams, Byrne. Cons: S Jones. Pens: S Jones 2. Drop Goal: S Jones. Australia – Tries: Chisholm, Ioane. Con: Giteau. Pen: Giteau. Drop Goal: Giteau.
Referee: A Lewis (Ireland).
The full article contains 565 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
