And a damned close run thing it was as Wales inched home 21-18 against Australia to score Europe’s solitary win against the marauding rugby giants of the southern hemisphere.
But Wales played well throughout the autumn series, having South Africa in their sights and even giving the All Blacks a game for 40 minutes.
As did at England at Twickenham today although it was a thoroughly messy affair. England’s predilection for giving away daft penalties in kickable range, taking wrong decisions and inability to create gaps in midfield did for them in the end although 32-6 seemed a tad harsh.
As for New Zealand (apologies by the way for saying NZ couldn’t win in South Africa, what Mr B meant was win an old-style series and of course they did in 1996, so he wasn’t right about that either), they remain the world’s best finishers with the added benefit of having, in openside Richie McCaw, the one man in rugby who can be lying down between his opponents and the ball and be deemed to have remained on his feet).
Anyway, congratulations to them and to Wales.
[Image Attribution: BobTheCockDwarf]