Oracle of Delphi
KC Hill
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Craig HillAustralia Runners Up In Men's Plate Competition
March 8th 2009 08:04
In the men’s competition, Australia finished runners up in the Plate competition for sides outside the top eight after going down 21-17 to Scotland in the final.
Australia narrowly missed out on the Cupquarter finals despite placing second in their pool from the opening two days of preliminary competition.
However, on finals day, Australia strung together two victories to qualify for the Plate decider.
Coached by former dual international Michael O’Connor, the Australian men’s team defeated USA 24-14 in the Plate quarter finals and followed up with a 22-19 win over Tonga in the semi finals.
In the final, Australia and the Scots scored three tries apiece but three conversions to one gave the Europeans victory.
Scotland led 21-7 with just two minutes remaining. Tries to Jono Jenkins and Damon Murphy reduced the deficit to four and the Australians also mounted a last attack inside the last 15 seconds in a bid to snatch victory.
But an indiscretion at the final ruck of the game allowed Scotland to hoof the ball into touch and bring the contest to a close.
“We’re playing some good footy,” said Australian captain Damon Murphy.
“We’re just lacking that bit of experience at the moment.”
Coach O’Connor added: “They played well. It was just one of those things . . . we could have won it in the last play.
“There was nothing in the game, we came back from a bad start and we were right in it at the end.
“It was a good effort. We had a lot of injuries and were basically down to a squad of nine.
“I was pleased with the effort.”
The major event in the men’s division – the Cup competition – was taken out by Wales after the top four seeded teams all crashed out in the quarter finals.
The fancied sides fell in quick succession with Wales downing New Zealand, Argentina toppling South Africa,Kenya knocking out defending Rugby World Cup Sevens championsFiji and Samoa advancing at the expense of England.
In the first semi final, Wales edged out Samoa and Argentina was too strong for the giant-killing Kenyans, scoring the only two tries to win 12-0.
Wales was crowned Rugby World Cupchampions in the men’s competition after accounting for Argentina19-12 in the title decider.
MEN’S CUP COMPETITION
Quarter finals
Wales 15 New Zealand 14
Samoa 31 England 26
Argentina 14 South Africa 12
Kenya 26 Fiji 7
Semi finals
Wales 19 Samoa 12
Argentina 12 Kenya 0
Final
Wales 19 Argentina 12
MEN’S PLATE COMPETITION
Quarter finals
AUSTRALIA 24 (Luke Morahan 2, Shaun Foley, Damon Murphy tries; Richard Kingi, William Bishop conversions) def USA 14
Tonga 24 Tunisia 7
Scotland 21 France 19
Portugal 12 Canada 5
Semi finals
AUSTRALIA 22 (Luke Morahan 2, Jono Jenkins, Ed Jenkins tries; Richard Kingi conversion) def Tonga 19
Scotland 29 Portugal 7
Final
Scotland 21 def AUSTRALIA 17 (Ed Jenkins, Jono Jenkins, Damon Murphy tries; Richard Kingi conversion)
Australia narrowly missed out on the Cupquarter finals despite placing second in their pool from the opening two days of preliminary competition.
However, on finals day, Australia strung together two victories to qualify for the Plate decider.
Coached by former dual international Michael O’Connor, the Australian men’s team defeated USA 24-14 in the Plate quarter finals and followed up with a 22-19 win over Tonga in the semi finals.
In the final, Australia and the Scots scored three tries apiece but three conversions to one gave the Europeans victory.
Scotland led 21-7 with just two minutes remaining. Tries to Jono Jenkins and Damon Murphy reduced the deficit to four and the Australians also mounted a last attack inside the last 15 seconds in a bid to snatch victory.
But an indiscretion at the final ruck of the game allowed Scotland to hoof the ball into touch and bring the contest to a close.
“We’re playing some good footy,” said Australian captain Damon Murphy.
“We’re just lacking that bit of experience at the moment.”
Coach O’Connor added: “They played well. It was just one of those things . . . we could have won it in the last play.
“There was nothing in the game, we came back from a bad start and we were right in it at the end.
“It was a good effort. We had a lot of injuries and were basically down to a squad of nine.
“I was pleased with the effort.”
The major event in the men’s division – the Cup competition – was taken out by Wales after the top four seeded teams all crashed out in the quarter finals.
The fancied sides fell in quick succession with Wales downing New Zealand, Argentina toppling South Africa,Kenya knocking out defending Rugby World Cup Sevens championsFiji and Samoa advancing at the expense of England.
In the first semi final, Wales edged out Samoa and Argentina was too strong for the giant-killing Kenyans, scoring the only two tries to win 12-0.
Wales was crowned Rugby World Cupchampions in the men’s competition after accounting for Argentina19-12 in the title decider.
MEN’S CUP COMPETITION
Quarter finals
Wales 15 New Zealand 14
Samoa 31 England 26
Argentina 14 South Africa 12
Kenya 26 Fiji 7
Semi finals
Wales 19 Samoa 12
Argentina 12 Kenya 0
Final
Wales 19 Argentina 12
MEN’S PLATE COMPETITION
Quarter finals
AUSTRALIA 24 (Luke Morahan 2, Shaun Foley, Damon Murphy tries; Richard Kingi, William Bishop conversions) def USA 14
Tonga 24 Tunisia 7
Scotland 21 France 19
Portugal 12 Canada 5
Semi finals
AUSTRALIA 22 (Luke Morahan 2, Jono Jenkins, Ed Jenkins tries; Richard Kingi conversion) def Tonga 19
Scotland 29 Portugal 7
Final
Scotland 21 def AUSTRALIA 17 (Ed Jenkins, Jono Jenkins, Damon Murphy tries; Richard Kingi conversion)
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