Experimental Wallabies post scrappy win

 

By , 21 Jun 2009

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Robbie Deans’ experimental Wallabies backfired rather than exploded for a scrappy 34-12 win over a second-string Italian outfit at a third-full Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Australia scored five tries to nil for a 2-0 series clean sweep but only shook off the inexperienced Azzurri in the last 10 minutes with skilful tries to pacey backs Lachie Turner and Adam Ashley-Cooper.

With captain Stirling Mortlock, playmaker Matt Giteau and the entire front-row rested, it was hardly a match to remember for the Wallabies’ generation next and Deans’ reserve combinations.

With the score 20-12 in the 70th minute, Quade Cooper, who helped the Wallabies out of jail with a late solo try in Padova last November, again snuffed out Italy’s hopes with a neat flick pass to put winger Turner over to seal the match.

In keeping with the strange display from Australia, replacement three-quarter Ashley-Cooper finished with the man-of-the-match award along with his two entertaining tries before a crowd of just 20,280.

While Ashley-Cooper played more than 60 minutes with winger Peter Hynes (ear) injured early, halfback Luke Burgess was also a star for Australia with plenty of threatening snipes.

Although Italy were never expected to upset the home side and score a first win in 12 Tests between the nations, the Azzurri planned on exposing Australia’s second-string front-row at scrum time.

The home side’s front three stood tall but hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau’s woeful throwing let the lineout down badly and took the pressure off the grateful visitors in dangerous positions.

Italy did have success attacking enigmatic centre Cooper’s defensive channel with Craig Gower, taking the line on far more than in the 31-8 first Test loss in Canberra, twice putting backline runners past him for breaks.

But Cooper also showed some impressive signs, notably pillaging effectively at the breakdown to pass to fullback James O’Connor who gave a deft inside ball for Ryan Cross to score Australia’s second try in the 25th minute.

A three-try hero in his run-on debut in Canberra, O’Connor began the second Test with a red face after spilling an innocuous bomb in the first 30 seconds.

The mistake, Cooper’s miss on Giulio Rubini and then a ruck penalty allowed Townsville-born fullback Luke McLean to open the scoring with a three-pointer in the third minute.

The lead lasted eight minutes before Burgess made the Wallabies first clean break and Polota-Nau crossed from the next phase after Cooper threw a long cut-out pass to Turner, who popped the ball to the hooker a metre from the line.

A stop-start first half could have been much closer if McLean had slotted two missed penalties which would have drawn them in to 15-12 but Ashley-Cooper made them pay near halftime by starting and finishing a fine backline try.

Ashley-Cooper said he was surprised to get an hour on the park let alone the best player award.

“I was very surprised with the time. PJ (Hynes) lost half an ear (due to two cuts) so I got 60 or so minutes and I’m very happy to be a part of it,” he said.

Stand-in skipper George Smith attributed the problems in the lineout to miscommunication within the forwards but praised the pack’s effort in the scrum.

Coach Robbie Deans preferred to highlight the positive rather than the negatives.

“There was some good stuff and not-so-good stuff but it was a good turnout for guys who don’t have a lot of background together,” he said.

“Once again the Italians were successful in stymying our game but the boys worked hard and we were able to score five tries.”

Deans was also pleased with the performances of debutant prop Pek Cowan and flyhalf Berrick Barnes, who showed great poise throughout the match.

Italian coach Nick Mallett was delighted with his team’s performance, especially considering the last time the Azzurri travelled to Melbourne, in 2005, they were blown away 69-21.

“I think the performance today was a big step up from what we did (in Canberra) even though the score didn’t reflect that,” he said.

“I was very proud of the performances in the last two weeks … to lose by 20 points in both games against the Wallabies is a great result.

“Playing away from home I would have signed up any day on conceding just thirty points in either Test match.”

© AAP 2012

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