Wallabies Stick with Hard Men Michael Hooper and Pocock
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Friday, October 2, 2015 23 WALESCardiff PUT FIJI TO ROUTout in the Fijian 22 metre area areth Davies guided Wales and both sides playing harum- to a nail-biting 23-13 scarum rugby to the delight of victoryG over Fiji yesterday to the 71,000 crowd. pile the pressure on Pool A The pressure paid off for rivals Australia and England. Wales as scrum-half Davies Even though there was no dummied past Fiji captain bonus, the win was the third for Akapusi Qera to dart over from Warren Gatland’s Welsh team close range. after having beaten Uruguay Biggar, who kicked 23 points 54-9 and England 28-25. It left in Wales’ thrilling win over them on top of the “Pool of England, made no mistake with Death” on 13 points ahead of the conversion. Australia (9) and England (6). There were still concerns Wales will be guaranteed over Wales’ scrum, penalised one of the two qualifying spots after an impressive Fijian shunt for the quarter-finals along saw them retreating fast. with Australia if the Wallabies Volavola kicked the penalty, beat England on Saturday. but missed a second effort. But Fiji made it so hard for Biggar took Wales out to 10-3 Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium with his first penalty as Morgan Stadium, the home side failing then skipped past a clutch of to convert overwhelming first- defenders only for Davies to half domination of territory ignore a simple two-on-one and possession into points. with the line beckoning. The Pacific islanders rallied Just after the half-hour impressively at scrum-time and mark, Baldwin crossed for in the loose, capitalising on very Wales’ second after Tyler poor out-of-hand kicking by Morgan drove for the line, Wales. Biggar kicking the extras. “That was so tough,” said Fiji remained potent on Wales captain Sam Warburton. the break, however, a loose “The first half, I was knackered. Wales’ hooker Ken Owens (2nd right) is tackled pass by Gethin Jenkins seized But we have got three wins quite happy.” Wales scored two and three penalties. Ben losing influential scrum-half crossed for one try through upon and sent wide to Asaeli out of three. If someone had first-half tries through Davies Volavola kicked two penalties Nikola Matawalu to injury Vereniki Goneva. Tikoirotuma who accelerated told us that at the start of the and Scott Baldwin, fly-half Dan for Fiji after Wales scrum and giant goal-kicking winger There was an electric start to away, the attack snuffed out in campaign we would have been Biggar kicking two conversions infringements and despite Nemani Nadolo to a ban, the game, the Welsh camping desperate fashion. (AFP) Wallabies stick with hard men All Blacks wary of Michael Hooper and Pocock gargantuan Georgian London focus is on us because we know there has been homework on ustralia coach Michael we can control the outcome at the behemoth Gorgodze. Cheika kept faith with his the end of the day.” Liam Messam, kept out of hardA men Michael Hooper and Hooper dismissed England’s the match by a calf injury, David Pocock to break down claims they would dominate described the Toulon loose England’s resistance in their scrum exchanges. forward as a “massive man and “Pool of Death” World Cup “No, we’re walking out there a brutal man.” clash on Saturday. nil-all at the weekend,” said His body bears the scars that Cheika on Thursday named Hooper. come with 12 years of Test the same team that beat Fiji “It’s a knockout game no rugby in which he has built 28-13 in Australia’s opening matter what anyone has said a reputation as a fearsome game for the Twickenham it’s an important game.” warrior, although there have battle. He turned out a virtual Zimbabwe-born Pocock, been times his commitment to reserve team for the following who has performed wonders the cause has proved costly. 65-3 Pool A hammering of to still be fighting fit after two Mamuka Gorgodze He is seventh on the all-time Uruguay. serious knee injuries, said he Cardiff list of players sin-binned in An Australia victory would Australia’s prop Toby Smith (2nd left) takes part in a team train- hoped he wouldn’t let down eorgia may be an Test matches. When he was almost certainly knock hosts ing session both of his countries. unknown quantity for the yellow-carded in Georgia’s pool England out of the competition. really committed to making large part in them being so “I want to make Australians AllG Blacks but they are certainly match against Argentina the And Cheika is again counting all Australians truly proud effective in their two games and the millions of aware of “Gorgodzilla”, their score ballooned out from 14-9 on the power of back-rowers of how we represent them at together. Zimbabweans around the world uncompromising captain to 35-9 as the Pumas scored Hooper and Pocock in the this Rugby World Cup and “I think as ‘Cheik’ said he proud of my performance on Mamuka Gorgodze. three converted tries while he loose -- which the Australians Saturday night will be another believes in us 201 per cent Saturday,” said the 27-year-old. Richie McCaw said 99 cooled his heels on the sideline. see as a key England weakness. opportunity for us to do that.” so he wants you to play your A Wales win over Fiji on percent of the All Blacks But he was the hero in their “We’ve been working Hooper, who in 2014 own game,” he said. Thursday and Australia victory preparation for Friday’s Pool opening win against Tonga, hard each day this week to was briefly captain of the “He wants you to use at Twickenham would dump C clash at Millennium Stadium scoring from a powerful drive improve our game before we Wallabies even though he was your skills, and he’s been England out of the World Cup in Cardiff has been on getting off the back of a ruck to give play England on Saturday,” just 22, said Cheika’s belief empowering us with that ever in the first round -- the worst their own game right. But, the them a half-time lead on their said Cheika. “The group is in him and Pocock played a since he’s been in the job. “The performance by a host nation. players have let it be known way to a 17-10 victory. .