The third place play-off in this year's Rugby World Cup is a reply of the 1987 3rd place play-off. Australia will face Wales in a match that can go either way. Both teams have lost 2 games up to now and both are determined to finish 3rd.

Wales were unlucky in losing to France in the semi-final. Losing their captain as early as the 18th minute didn't help them. Playing for 60 minutes with 14 men and still only losing 9-8 shows that they have got the heart. They out played France by far and the difference was 3 missed kicks in the last 20 minutes.


Turn over ball and handling errors didn't help their cause, but on a wet field it could not be helped. If they go into this game with the same determination and attitude they will be able to win Australia. They will have to watch the Australians at the breakdowns but have the players to do this. Their strong point is their scrums and if they can give the back line good quick ball the Australian defence will be under pressure. Their one weakness is their goal kicking and this can be a deciding factor in the end.

Australia can count themselves very lucky to even be playing this game. They lost to a motivated Ireland and managed to beat a Springbok side that out played them in every aspect in the quarter-final. Their weakness was exposed in the semi-final against the All Blacks. If Australia can't slow the opposition ball down at the breakdown, their defence is suspect. If the referee in the up coming game is as efficient as Craig Joubert was on Sunday in blowing this aspect of the game Wales will have a good chance.

The Australian play makers have not fired as yet during the World Cup. Quade Cooper and Baby-face O'Bieber (O'Connor) has looked average at most and they have lost Curtley Beale. This will put them under pressure not only on defence, but also on attack. On paper they are the better team, but they have not played to their potential as yet.

This should be a free running game as both teams doesn't really have anything to lose. 3rd and 4th place is as good an achievement as falling out during the group stages of the world cup. It says you were just not good enough to make the Final.

Wales to win by a slender 6 points if their kicking is up to scratch.