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He may still be learning Advance Australia Fair, but Robbie Deans has made a triumphant start as the Wallabies’ first-ever foreign coach.
Deans’ former Crusaders sang Australia’s national anthem in jest — twice — in the winning dressing room after the Super 14 final two weeks ago in Christchurch and it is a good bet the supercoach was asked to join in tonight following the Wallabies’ nailbiting 18-12 win over Ireland at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome.
It wasn’t the most polished display, but the Wallabies showed enough in the six-point victory to suggest their New Zealand boss should know the words in full by the end of their bumper 15-Test campaign in 2008.
In their first match since falling to England in the quarter-finals of last year’s Rugby World Cup in France, the Wallabies wiped away the dust — if not quite the Irish — to run in two vital first-half tries to kick off the new era in encouraging fashion.
The rust was evident at times but there were plenty of other exciting moments featuring nice interplay between forwards and backs and a general willingness to play more vibrant and adventurous rugby.
Rookie halfback Luke Burgess was sound if unspectacular in his eagerly-waited first Test, while debutant winger Peter Hynes looked genuinely dangerous whenever he had room to showcase his blistering pace.
Five-eighth Matt Giteau was his usual classy and livewire self — as well as reliable as Australia’s new first-choice goalkicker — even if his combinations with Burgess inside and Berrick Barnes outside him are still works in progress.
And Lote Tuqiri played with energy and confidence, particularly in the first half, while the Wallabies pack did the job in nullifying their physical Irish counterparts.
Barnes had the distinction of scoring the first try of the Deans reign after being on hand to capitalise on a barnstorming run Tuqiri in the fifth minute.
Tuqiri took a pass from George Smith near the opposition quarter line, beat one defender with pace, then used Irish fullback Robert Kearney as a speed bump before offloading to Barnes a metre out when he was finally brought to the ground.
Giteau’s sideline conversion attempt shaved the post, but the Wallabies were nevertheless up and running with an early 5-0 lead.
It was the start of a rousing first half from Tuqiri in both attack and defence, yet it was Ireland who scored next t through flanker Denis Leamy in the 15th minute following a lineout win just five metres out from the Wallabies try line.
Ronan O’Gara’s successful conversion nudged Ireland ahead 7-5, but the Wallabies were quick to restore their lead following some fancy footwork from Giteau.
The stepping Giteau fooled two defenders before finding big lock James Horwill, who crashed over from close range.
Giteau slotted the conversion this time to leave the Wallabies up 12-7 after 21 minutes and then nailed a 40-metre penalty goal five minutes later to leave the home side comfortably placed at the interval.
Another Giteau penalty goal in the 44th minute extended Australia’s lead to 11 points, but a well-earned try to Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll following some smart counter-attack from the tourists set up a tense final quarter of an hour.
But the Wallabies hung on after being forced to tackle for more than a dozen phases at the death to deny Ireland their first Test win in Australia since 1979.
Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock admitted the Wallabies had plenty of work to do before their next Test, against France in Sydney in two weeks, but was satisfied with the win.
“Basically, the effort was there and that’s all you can ask for early on,” Mortlock said.
“The determination showed in all the guys. In particular, I’m really happy for our new caps. They did well.
“It’s always a great honour and to get a win is even better.
“It was out first hit-out for a long time, our first hit-out together, and we knew we’d be a little bit scrappy and that’s what we gave out there, in that second half in particular.
“But you can’t take anything away from Ireland. They were very gutsy until the very end, so a tough game.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.