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
Date and time Venue Home Score Away
2 June 2012, 14:00 BST (UTC+01) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff  Wales 30–21 Barbarians
9 June 2012, 20:00 AEST (UTC+10) Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane  Australia 27–19  Wales
12 June 2012, 19:30 AEST (UTC+10) Canberra Stadium, Canberra ACT Brumbies 15–25  Wales
16 June 2012, 20:00 AEST (UTC+10) Etihad Stadium, Melbourne  Australia 25–23  Wales
23 June 2012, 15:00 AEST (UTC+10) Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney  Australia 20–19  Wales

Squads

Wales

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

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

Wales vs Barbarians
2 June 2012
14:00 BST (UTC+01)
Wales  30–21 Barbarians
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)
FB15Liam Williams
RW14Harry Robinson 35' 44' 68'
OC13Andrew Bishop
IC12James Hook
LW11Aled Brew
FH10Dan Biggar 64'
SH9Lloyd Williams 51'
N88Ryan Jones 51'
OF7Justin Tipuric
BF6Josh Turnbull
RL5Ian Evans
LL4Alun-Wyn Jones 45'
TP3Rhodri Jones 44'
HK2Matthew Rees (c) 68'
LP1Rhys Gill 34' to 44'
Replacements:
HK16Richard Hibbard 68'
PR17Paul James 35'
LK18Aaron Shingler 51'
FL19Martyn Williams 45'
SH20Rhys Webb 51'
CE21Adam Warren 64'
FB22Will Harries 68'
Coach:
Rob Howley
FB15 Mils Muliaina 66'
RW14 Isa Nacewa
OC13 Mike Tindall 46'
IC12 Casey Laulala
LW11 Shane Williams
FH10 Stephen Donald
SH9 Richie Rees 56'
N88 Johnnie Beattie
OF7 Mamuka Gorgodze 56'
BF6 Francois Louw
RL5 Mark Chisholm
LL4 Mick O'Driscoll 40'
TP3 John Smit (c) 46'
HK2 Benoît August 40'
LP1 Duncan Jones
Replacements:
HK16 Aled de Malmanche 40'
PR17 Neemia Tialata 46'
LK18 Anton van Zyl 40'
N819 Akapusi Qera 56'
SH20 Rory Lawson 56'
WG21 Sailosi Tagicakibau 46'
FB22 Cedric Heymans 66'
Coach:
John Kirwan

ACT Brumbies vs Wales
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)
FB15Robbie Coleman 54'
RW14Cam Crawford
OC13Tevita Kuridrani
IC12Andrew Smith
LW11Kimami Sitauti
FH10Zack Holmes
SH9Ian Prior 31'
N88Ita Vaea 52'
OF7Colby Faingaa
BF6Peter Kimlin
RL5Ben Hand (c)
LL4Leon Power 52'
TP3Scott Sio 31'
HK2Anthony Hegarty
LP1Ruaidhri Murphy
Replacements:
HK16Siliva Siliva
PR17JP Pradaud 31'
LK18Dylan Sigg 52'
LK19Fotu Auelua 52'
SH20Beau Mokoputo 31'
FH21Tom Cox 54'
WG22Jesse Mogg
Coach:
Jake White
FB15Liam Williams
RW14Harry Robinson
OC13Andrew Bishop
IC12Ashley Beck
LW11Aled Brew 40'
FH10James Hook
SH9Rhys Webb
N88Aaron Shingler 30'
OF7Justin Tipuric
BF6Josh Turnbull
RL5Luke Charteris
LL4Alun Wyn Jones (c) 40'
TP3Rhodri Jones
HK2Richard Hibbard 71'
LP1Paul James 45'
Replacements:
HK16Ken Owens 71'
PR17Rhys Gill 45'
LK18Ian Evans 40'
N819Gareth Delve 30'
SH20Lloyd Williams 62'
FH21Rhys Priestland
WG22Alex Cuthbert 40' 62'
Coach:
Rob Howley

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

Test matches

First test
9 June 2012
20:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Australia  27–19  Wales
Try: Higginbotham 14' c
Genia 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'
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 43,000
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
FB15Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW14Cooper Vuna 71'
OC13Rob Horne 50' 55'
IC12Pat McCabe
LW11Digby Ioane
FH10Berrick Barnes
SH9Will Genia
N88Wycliff Palu 58'
OF7David Pocock (c)
BF6Scott Higginbotham
RL5Nathan Sharpe 64'
LL4Rob Simmons
TP3Sekope Kepu
HK2Tatafu Polota-Nau 55'
LP1Benn Robinson 58'
Replacements:
HK16Stephen Moore 55'
PR17Ben Alexander 58'
FL18Dave Dennis 64'
FL19Michael Hooper 58'
SH20Nic White
OC21Anthony Fainga'a 50' 55' 71'
IC22Mike Harris
Coach:
Robbie Deans
FB15Leigh Halfpenny
RW14Alex Cuthbert
OC13Jonathan Davies
IC12Scott Williams 55'
LW11George North 28'
FH10Rhys Priestland
SH9Mike Phillips
N88Taulupe Faletau 51'
OF7Sam Warburton (c)
BF6Dan Lydiate
RL5Luke Charteris 51'
LL4Bradley Davies
TP3Adam Jones 75'
HK2Ken Owens 51'
LP1Gethin Jenkins
Replacements:
HK16Matthew Rees 51'
PR17Paul James 75'
LK18Alun-Wyn Jones 51'
N819Ryan Jones 51'
SH20Lloyd Williams
FH21James Hook 28'
OC22Ashley Beck 55'
Coach:
Rob Howley

Touch judges:
Keith Brown
Garratt Williamson
Television match official:
Vinny Munro

  • Cooper Vuna made his full international debut for Australia.
  • Ashley Beck made his full international debut for Wales.

Second test
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'
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Attendance: 33,880
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
FB15Adam Ashley-Cooper
RW14Cooper Vuna 59' to 69' 70'
OC13Rob Horne
IC12Pat McCabe
LW11Digby Ioane
FH10Berrick Barnes 72'
SH9Will Genia
N88Wycliff Palu 54'
OF7David Pocock (c)
BF6Scott Higginbotham
RL5Nathan Sharpe
LL4Rob Simmons 69'
TP3Sekope Kepu
HK2Tatafu Polota-Nau 50'
LP1Benn Robinson 64'
Replacements:
HK16Stephen Moore 50'
PR17Ben Alexander 64'
FL18Dave Dennis 54'
FL19Michael Hooper 69'
SH20Nic White
OC21Anthony Fainga'a 70'
IC22Mike Harris 72'
Coach:
Robbie Deans
FB15Leigh Halfpenny
RW14Alex Cuthbert
OC13Jonathan Davies
IC12Ashley Beck
LW11George North
FH10Rhys Priestland
SH9Mike Phillips 65'
N88Ryan Jones
OF7Sam Warburton (c)
BF6Dan Lydiate
RL5Alun Wyn Jones 67'
LL4Bradley Davies
TP3Adam Rhys Jones
HK2Matthew Rees 66'
LP1Gethin Jenkins
Replacements:
HK16Richard Hibbard 66'
PR17Paul James
LK18Luke Charteris 67'
N819Justin Tipuric
SH20Rhys Webb 65'
FH21James Hook
WG22Scott Williams
Coach:
Rob Howley

Touch judges:
Craig Joubert
Garratt Williamson
Television match official:
Vinny Munro

Third test
23 June 2012
15:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Australia  20–19  Wales
Try: Horne 64' m
Con: Barnes (0/1)
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)
FB15Kurtley Beale
RW14Adam Ashley-Cooper
OC13Rob Horne
IC12Pat McCabe 34'
LW11Digby Ioane
FH10Berrick Barnes
SH9Will Genia
N88Wycliff Palu
OF7David Pocock (c)
BF6Scott Higginbotham 56'
RL5Nathan Sharpe
LL4Sitaleki Timani 72'
TP3Sekope Kepu 56'
HK2Tatafu Polota-Nau 56'
LP1Benn Robinson
Replacements:
HK16Stephen Moore 56'
PR17Ben Alexander 56'
LK18Rob Simmons 72'
FL19Dave Dennis 56'
FL20Michael Hooper
SH21Nic White
CE22Anthony Fainga'a 34'
Coach:
Robbie Deans
FB15Leigh Halfpenny
RW14Alex Cuthbert
OC13Jonathan Davies
IC12Ashley Beck 65'
LW11George North
FH10Rhys Priestland 69'
SH9Mike Phillips
N88Ryan Jones 49' 56'
OF7Sam Warburton (c) 28'
BF6Dan Lydiate
RL5Alun Wyn Jones 65'
LL4Bradley Davies
TP3Adam Rhys Jones
HK2Matthew Rees 65'
LP1Gethin Jenkins 40'
Replacements:
HK16Ken Owens 65'
PR17Paul James 40'
LK18Luke Charteris 49' 56' 65'
N819Justin Tipuric 28'
SH20Rhys Webb
FH21James Hook 69'
WG22Scott Williams 65'
Coach:
Rob Howley

Touch judges:


Television match official:

  • The Wales squad is the same team that came within two points in the second test. The only change was Ken Owens replacing Richard Hibbard, who left for personal reasons.
  • Kurtley Beale returned to the fullback position after injury.

See also

References
  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". archive.org. 6 January 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_7802790,00.html
  5. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_7817368,00.html
  6. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7836959,00.html
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