2012 Wales rugby union tour of Australia

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	5 2 0 3
Test match	4 1 0 3
Opponent	P W D L
Australia	3 0 0 3
Barbarians	1 1 0 0
Tour chronology
Next tour	Japan 2013

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.

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.

• Caretaker coach: Rob Howley

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 13 December 1983 (aged 28) 16 Ospreys Ken Owens Hooker 3 January 1987 (aged 25) 5 Scarlets Matthew Rees Hooker 9 December 1980 (aged 31) 51 Scarlets Rhys Gill Prop 30 October 1986 (aged 25) 3 Saracens Paul James Prop 13 May 1982 (aged 30) 35 Ospreys Gethin Jenkins Prop 17 November 1980 (aged 31) 87 Cardiff Blues Adam Jones Prop 8 March 1981 (aged 31) 80 Ospreys Rhodri Jones Prop 23 December 1991 (aged 20) 1 Scarlets Luke Charteris Lock 9 March 1983 (aged 29) 34 Newport Gwent Dragons Bradley Davies Lock 9 January 1987 (aged 25) 33 Cardiff Blues Ian Evans Lock 4 October 1984 (aged 27) 23 Ospreys Alun Wyn Jones Lock 19 September 1985 (aged 26) 63 Ospreys Dan Lydiate Flanker 18 December 1987 (aged 24) 24 Newport Gwent Dragons Aaron Shingler Flanker 7 August 1987 (aged 24) 2 Scarlets Justin Tipuric Flanker 6 August 1989 (aged 22) 5 Ospreys Josh Turnbull Flanker 12 March 1988 (aged 24) 4 Scarlets Sam Warburton (c) Flanker 5 October 1988 (aged 23) 27 Cardiff Blues Gareth Delve Number 8 30 December 1982 (aged 29) 11 Melbourne Rebels Taulupe Faletau Number 8 12 November 1990 (aged 21) 16 Newport Gwent Dragons Ryan Jones Number 8 13 March 1981 (aged 31) 64 Ospreys Mike Phillips Scrum-half 29 August 1982 (aged 29) 65 Bayonne Rhys Webb Scrum-half 9 December 1988 (aged 23) 2 Ospreys Lloyd Williams Scrum-half 30 November 1989 (aged 22) 8 Cardiff Blues James Hook Fly-half 27 June 1985 (aged 26) 63 Perpignan Rhys Priestland Fly-half 9 January 1987 (aged 25) 15 Scarlets Ashley Beck Centre 15 April 1990 (aged 22) 0 Ospreys Andrew Bishop Centre 7 August 1985 (aged 26) 16 Ospreys Jonathan Davies Centre 5 April 1988 (aged 24) 26 Scarlets Scott Williams Centre 10 October 1990 (aged 21) 12 Scarlets Aled Brew Wing 9 August 1986 (aged 25) 9 Newport Gwent Dragons Alex Cuthbert Wing 5 April 1990 (aged 22) 6 Cardiff Blues George North Wing 13 April 1992 (aged 20) 21 Scarlets Harry Robinson Wing 16 April 1993 (aged 19) 1 Cardiff Blues Leigh Halfpenny Fullback 22 December 1988 (aged 23) 32 Cardiff Blues Liam Williams Fullback 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 2 February 1987 (aged 25) 16 Reds Stephen Moore Hooker 20 January 1983 (aged 29) 69 Brumbies Tatafu Polota-Nau Hooker 26 July 1985 (aged 26) 34 Waratahs Ben Alexander Prop 13 November 1984 (aged 27) 39 Brumbies Sekope Kepu Prop 5 February 1986 (aged 26) 16 Western Force Salesi Ma'afu Prop 26 March 1983 (aged 29) 14 Western Force Dan Palmer Prop 13 September 1988 (aged 23) 1 Brumbies Benn Robinson Prop 19 July 1984 (aged 27) 44 Waratahs James Slipper Prop 6 June 1989 (aged 23) 23 Reds Kane Douglas Lock 1 June 1989 (aged 23) 0 Waratahs Cadeyrn Neville Lock 9 November 1988 (aged 23) 0 Melbourne Rebels Hugh Pyle Lock 21 September 1988 (aged 23) 0 Melbourne Rebels Nathan Sharpe Lock 26 February 1978 (aged 34) 104 Western Force Rob Simmons Lock 19 April 1989 (aged 23) 19 Reds Sitaleki Timani Lock 19 September 1986 (aged 25) 2 Waratahs Dave Dennis Flanker 10 January 1986 (aged 26) 3 Waratahs Scott Higginbotham Flanker 5 September 1986 (aged 25) 14 Reds Michael Hooper Flanker 24 March 1990 (aged 22) 2 Brumbies David Pocock (c) Flanker 23 April 1988 (aged 24) 43 Western Force Ben McCalman Number 8 18 March 1988 (aged 24) 21 Western Force Ben Mowen Number 8 1 December 1984 (aged 27) 0 Brumbies Wycliff Palu Number 8 27 July 1982 (aged 29) 40 Waratahs Will Genia Scrum-half 17 January 1988 (aged 24) 37 Reds Nick Phipps Scrum-half 9 January 1989 (aged 23) 3 Melbourne Rebels Nic White Scrum-half 13 June 1990 (aged 21) 0 Brumbies Berrick Barnes Fly-half 28 May 1986 (aged 26) 40 Waratahs Quade Cooper Fly-half 5 April 1988 (aged 24) 35 Queensland Reds Bernard Foley Fly-half 8 September 1989 (aged 22) 0 Waratahs Anthony Fainga'a Centre 2 February 1987 (aged 25) 17 Reds Mike Harris Centre 8 July 1988 (aged 23) 2 Reds Rob Horne Centre 15 August 1989 (aged 22) 11 Waratahs Pat McCabe Centre 21 March 1988 (aged 24) 13 Brumbies Digby Ioane Wing 14 July 1985 (aged 26) 24 Reds Dom Shipperley Wing 16 October 1991 (aged 20) 0 Reds Joe Tomane Wing 2 February 1990 (aged 22) 1 Brumbies Cooper Vuna Wing 5 July 1987 (aged 24) 2 Melbourne Rebels Adam Ashley-Cooper Fullback 27 March 1984 (aged 28) 66 Waratahs Kurtley Beale Fullback 6 January 1989 (aged 23) 24 Melbourne Rebels Jesse Mogg Fullback 8 June 1989 (aged 23) 0 Brumbies Luke Morahan Fullback 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 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) FB 15 Liam Williams RW 14 Harry Robinson  35'  44'  68' OC 13 Andrew Bishop IC 12 James Hook LW 11 Aled Brew FH 10 Dan Biggar  64' SH 9 Lloyd Williams  51' N8 8 Ryan Jones  51' OF 7 Justin Tipuric BF 6 Josh Turnbull RL 5 Ian Evans LL 4 Alun-Wyn Jones  45' TP 3 Rhodri Jones  44' HK 2 Matthew Rees (c)  68' LP 1 Rhys Gill 34' to 44' Replacements: HK 16 Richard Hibbard  68' PR 17 Paul James  35' LK 18 Aaron Shingler  51' FL 19 Martyn Williams  45' SH 20 Rhys Webb  51' CE 21 Adam Warren  64' FB 22 Will Harries  68' Coach: Rob Howley FB 15 Mils Muliaina  66' RW 14 Isa Nacewa OC 13 Mike Tindall  46' IC 12 Casey Laulala LW 11 Shane Williams FH 10 Stephen Donald SH 9 Richie Rees  56' N8 8 Johnnie Beattie OF 7 Mamuka Gorgodze  56' BF 6 Francois Louw RL 5 Mark Chisholm LL 4 Mick O'Driscoll  40' TP 3 John Smit (c)  46' HK 2 Benoît August  40' LP 1 Duncan Jones Replacements: HK 16 Aled de Malmanche  40' PR 17 Neemia Tialata  46' LK 18 Anton van Zyl  40' N8 19 Akapusi Qera  56' SH 20 Rory Lawson  56' WG 21 Sailosi Tagicakibau  46' FB 22 Cedric Heymans  66' Coach: John Kirwan The Welsh Rugby Union announced that this would be a fully capped match.[1] As a result, Martyn Williams became the third Welsh player to reach 100 caps when he came off the bench. It was also announced that this match would see the last international appearances for Martyn Williams and Wales top try-scorer Shane Williams. Four players made their full international debuts for Wales: Rhodri Jones, Harry Robinson, Liam Williams and Adam Warren. 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 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) FB 15 Robbie Coleman  54' RW 14 Cam Crawford OC 13 Tevita Kuridrani IC 12 Andrew Smith LW 11 Kimami Sitauti FH 10 Zack Holmes SH 9 Ian Prior  31' N8 8 Ita Vaea  52' OF 7 Colby Faingaa BF 6 Peter Kimlin RL 5 Ben Hand (c) LL 4 Leon Power  52' TP 3 Scott Sio  31' HK 2 Anthony Hegarty LP 1 Ruaidhri Murphy Replacements: HK 16 Siliva Siliva PR 17 JP Pradaud  31' LK 18 Dylan Sigg  52' LK 19 Fotu Auelua  52' SH 20 Beau Mokoputo  31' FH 21 Tom Cox  54' WG 22 Jesse Mogg Coach: Jake White FB 15 Liam Williams RW 14 Harry Robinson OC 13 Andrew Bishop IC 12 Ashley Beck LW 11 Aled Brew  40' FH 10 James Hook SH 9 Rhys Webb N8 8 Aaron Shingler  30' OF 7 Justin Tipuric BF 6 Josh Turnbull RL 5 Luke Charteris LL 4 Alun Wyn Jones (c)  40' TP 3 Rhodri Jones HK 2 Richard Hibbard  71' LP 1 Paul James  45' Replacements: HK 16 Ken Owens  71' PR 17 Rhys Gill  45' LK 18 Ian Evans  40' N8 19 Gareth Delve  30' SH 20 Lloyd Williams  62' FH 21 Rhys Priestland WG 22 Alex 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 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) FB 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper RW 14 Cooper Vuna  71' OC 13 Rob Horne  50'  55' IC 12 Pat McCabe LW 11 Digby Ioane FH 10 Berrick Barnes SH 9 Will Genia N8 8 Wycliff Palu  58' OF 7 David Pocock (c) BF 6 Scott Higginbotham RL 5 Nathan Sharpe  64' LL 4 Rob Simmons TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau  55' LP 1 Benn Robinson  58' Replacements: HK 16 Stephen Moore  55' PR 17 Ben Alexander  58' FL 18 Dave Dennis  64' FL 19 Michael Hooper  58' SH 20 Nic White OC 21 Anthony Fainga'a  50'  55'  71' IC 22 Mike Harris Coach: Robbie Deans FB 15 Leigh Halfpenny RW 14 Alex Cuthbert OC 13 Jonathan Davies IC 12 Scott Williams  55' LW 11 George North  28' FH 10 Rhys Priestland SH 9 Mike Phillips N8 8 Taulupe Faletau  51' OF 7 Sam Warburton (c) BF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Luke Charteris  51' LL 4 Bradley Davies TP 3 Adam Jones  75' HK 2 Ken Owens  51' LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements: HK 16 Matthew Rees  51' PR 17 Paul James  75' LK 18 Alun-Wyn Jones  51' N8 19 Ryan Jones  51' SH 20 Lloyd Williams FH 21 James Hook  28' OC 22 Ashley 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 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) FB 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper RW 14 Cooper Vuna 59' to 69'  70' OC 13 Rob Horne IC 12 Pat McCabe LW 11 Digby Ioane FH 10 Berrick Barnes  72' SH 9 Will Genia N8 8 Wycliff Palu  54' OF 7 David Pocock (c) BF 6 Scott Higginbotham RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 Rob Simmons  69' TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau  50' LP 1 Benn Robinson  64' Replacements: HK 16 Stephen Moore  50' PR 17 Ben Alexander  64' FL 18 Dave Dennis  54' FL 19 Michael Hooper  69' SH 20 Nic White OC 21 Anthony Fainga'a  70' IC 22 Mike Harris  72' Coach: Robbie Deans FB 15 Leigh Halfpenny RW 14 Alex Cuthbert OC 13 Jonathan Davies IC 12 Ashley Beck LW 11 George North FH 10 Rhys Priestland SH 9 Mike Phillips  65' N8 8 Ryan Jones OF 7 Sam Warburton (c) BF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones  67' LL 4 Bradley Davies TP 3 Adam Rhys Jones HK 2 Matthew Rees  66' LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements: HK 16 Richard Hibbard  66' PR 17 Paul James LK 18 Luke Charteris  67' N8 19 Justin Tipuric SH 20 Rhys Webb  65' FH 21 James Hook WG 22 Scott 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 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) FB 15 Kurtley Beale RW 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper OC 13 Rob Horne IC 12 Pat McCabe  34' LW 11 Digby Ioane FH 10 Berrick Barnes SH 9 Will Genia N8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 David Pocock (c) BF 6 Scott Higginbotham  56' RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 Sitaleki Timani  72' TP 3 Sekope Kepu  56' HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau  56' LP 1 Benn Robinson Replacements: HK 16 Stephen Moore  56' PR 17 Ben Alexander  56' LK 18 Rob Simmons  72' FL 19 Dave Dennis  56' FL 20 Michael Hooper SH 21 Nic White CE 22 Anthony Fainga'a  34' Coach: Robbie Deans FB 15 Leigh Halfpenny RW 14 Alex Cuthbert OC 13 Jonathan Davies IC 12 Ashley Beck  65' LW 11 George North FH 10 Rhys Priestland  69' SH 9 Mike Phillips N8 8 Ryan Jones  49'  56' OF 7 Sam Warburton (c)  28' BF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones  65' LL 4 Bradley Davies TP 3 Adam Rhys Jones HK 2 Matthew Rees  65' LP 1 Gethin Jenkins  40' Replacements: HK 16 Ken Owens  65' PR 17 Paul James  40' LK 18 Luke Charteris  49'  56'  65' N8 19 Justin Tipuric  28' SH 20 Rhys Webb FH 21 James Hook  69' WG 22 Scott 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 2012 mid-year rugby test series 2012 France rugby union tour of Argentina 2012 Scotland rugby union tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa 2012 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand 2012 England rugby union tour of South Africa References Gillespie, Graeme (8 May 2012). "Williams Set to Reach 100 Caps". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 11 May 2012.