Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon and Drew Mitchell scored two tries each as the Wallabies thrashed Rugby World Cup minnows Uruguay 65-3 in their second pool match for the tournament.
The Wallabies ran in 11 tries on a Sunday afternoon in Birmingham to record the biggest win of the tournament so far, and will now prepare for their match against England in a week.
Uruguay were brave and combative, but in the end the Wallabies were superior in too many areas for the South Americans.
Enjoying the majority of the support of the crowd at Villa Park, there were few highlights for the Uruguay team, as Australia spent most of the game in complete control of the contest.
It was looking ominous from the very early moments of the match, as Kurtley Beale made a long break from a quick lineout, only for Drew Mitchell to bomb the try by knocking the ball on with an open tryline beckoning.
The Wallabies’ revenge from the mistake would be swift, with a lineout drive seeing man of the match Sean McMahon, the Wallabies’ new openside flanker, take a vacant blindside on to score from the maul.
Quade Cooper was always going to the under pressure to show what he could do with his goal kicking, and his night got off to a bad start from the sideline, missing his first attempt.
Cooper ended up with five from 11 from the tee, although many of his attempts were from the sideline.
It got even worst about seven minutes later, when after setting up a try with a beautiful out-the-back pass to Joe Tomane, he was given a yellow card for a high tackle.
No doubt there will be plenty of arguments after the game about whether it was earned or not.
Referee Pascal Gauzere was making the Wallabies play a disciplined match, and along with Cooper’s yellow card, Australia conceded seven penalties in the first half alone.
Michael Cheika will no doubt take a long look at his side’s discipline on video.
A tough ten minutes was on the cards after Cooper was sent for a sitdown, but once he was back on the field, the expectations of the Wallabies’ fans resumed, with the new skipper Dean Mumm crossing for a try in the 26th minute, and Henry Speight in the 30th.
The second half opened for the Wallabies with two tries for Drew Mitchell.
Tries continued to come for Australia, with McCalman getting his second, and Matt Toomua dotting down after some terrific back interplay.
Tevita Kuridrani iced the game with a five-pointer in the corner in injury time, after replacing Matt Toomua with two minutes to play.
Highlights for the Wallabies included the scrum, which was dominant all night long, and some sparkling back play. The maul also continued to be a strength, with Sean McMahon the beneficiary with his two tries.
Long passing was a particular highlight, with Cooper and Kurtley Beale both showing how to throw gems to their fellow backs, with Mitchell’s second try and Matt Toomua’s late try both coming from spectacular arcing balls from Quade Cooper.
Lineouts would be a slight cause for concern for Michael Cheika, with a couple of early throws going awry. After they settled into the game, however, Dean Mumm got the forwards working in harmony.
So too would be the fact that the Wallabies pushed the pass in the tackle on plenty of occasions, and paid the price for it.
There were also plenty of basic skill errors from the Wallabies, with Drew Mitchell in particular having a horror start to the game. He wasn’t the only one, however, with plenty of Wallabies conceding unforced mistakes.
Behemoth lock Will Skelton has to be a concern for Australia, appearing to hurt his shoulder in the second half. Former captain James Horwill is in the UK playing for Harlequins, and is available to be called into the squad if Skelton’s injury is serious.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Some years prior to being paid four and five and six and seven hundred thousand a year would be even better.
With this bloke the inherent ineptness is a feature, not a flaw.Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Foley kicks 5/9 against Argentina 4 games ago and nobody says anything. Cooper kicks 5/11 and he just can't kick well enough at this level. Perhaps Australia just don't have good goal kickers.
AndyS
Guest
A good question indeed. Tuesday would be good...
Rob G
Guest
when do you think he will decide to work on these things? 2018, 2022????
Rob G
Guest
what does QC add to the bench that beale and toomua don't?
Who?
Guest
A real rocks and diamonds performance all round, that one... Front row did well, but Smith did mess up at LH, and Cheika chose not to use Holmes - the THP with the least game time so far. Odd?! Not sure why it was important to have Kepu and Sio out there for so long. Mumm and Skelton were ok, but gave away some stupid penalties - including Mumm. Simmons looked good when he came on - we looked quite good with Simmons/Douglas/Mumm. Though I have to say that Skelton was absolutely key to defending the maul - almost singlehandedly stopped a couple of them. So, some definite positives there, just sick of the unnecessary penalties. Loose forwards... Palu of course subbed early, but wasn't hugely visible. The Two Mac's were excellent. Phipps... There was still too much jumping to catch uneven passes at first receiver. But very happy to see him adding some sniping to his game - his little run to send Mumm in for his try was excellent, a great addition to his armoury. Quade..? No definitive word! Had one kick directly in front, and ten that were all within 15m of the sidelines (i.e inside the tram tracks). None were big misses - all looked nicely struck, just slightly offline. No shanks, no large scale hooks. Makes me wonder if the kicking coach has much to say. The YC? A joke, surely. He started across the shoulders (so yes, high), but not around the neck. There wasn't clear evidence his arm ever contacted the neck, and he didn't drive to the ground. Not a yellow, and a year ago it would've earned a few back slaps! Beyond that, his defence was actually quite solid - one of his first involvements was backslamming (but lower than the shoulders) a prop! One misjudged kick early in the game (you'll never see Foley put a kick dead from 10m past halfway!), but some sublime play, pulling runners from all directions. I've no idea what Cheika will make of it. I thought the combination with Toomua was key, though. We saw our wingers with the ball in space. We saw them scoring tries. I don't care if it was Uruguay or the ABs - the structures that ran today, with the 15 closer to the centre of the field, the 12 direct, and the 10 looping (quite a few nice double touches) gave a situation where the 13 and wings got the ball in space. Even with space to try to burn people around the outside! Tomane had a good game - did everything asked of him. Mitchell's last act in a RWC was to get injured. His first ones in this RWC were a knock on, another knock on, then a penalty for offside at the ruck. Not a great start! But very glad he found his feet. I don't think Speight did enough to knock down the door on TK, but the other two could arguably be fighting for one spot (Horne's). I really wouldn't be surprised to see Mitchell take that spot against England, for his boot and security under the high ball. And Beale, well, he had a good game. Not really tested in a lot of ways, but produced so much of the good we know he can bring.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
"Great" is a word overused in Australian rugby circles. Australia's true golden era was 1984-2004, when we constantly had great players. Despite some occasional great performances, Quade Cooper isn't great like McLean, Ella, Lynagh, Larkham (or maybe even Knox). Michael Hooper is a very good player and only going to get better, but he's not great like Poidevin (bad hands and all), Wilson, or Smith. But Adam Ashley-Cooper... he deserves to be called "great." There was a period around 2008, when Australia suffered their greatest loss ever to South Africa, when I thought AAC should be dropped because he played bad at fullback. There was a period around 2009-2010 when I thought AAC tried to do things too much on his own, especially in a backline that was being monstered by larger opponents. But when it's all said and done, he deserves to be called great - great leg-drive, great courage, terrific composure. New Zealanders I know regard him quite highly, which they don't many other Wallabies.
riddler
Guest
mitchell and horne.. aac on the bench..
Redsback
Guest
Mitchell and Ashley-Cooper on the wings next week looks a lot more solid to me against England. We'll need their boots.
Shop
Guest
My bad WB, Tom Wood. Point is though I think they all should have been carded (including QC whose offence was the least severe). Burger's effort in the Japan game was blatant. I think the refs can be scared to pull out a card on the big teams. When you have someone around the neck you let go, no questions, if not pull out a card.
Quading in...
Guest
My concern Bennalong is that Toomua is the best option to cover Burgess. Giteau and Foley to start probably but Toomua ready to come on if the defence doesn't hold...
bennalong
Guest
Not many changes will be made due to that game. Quade continues to mix the sublime with the plain dumb and sadly, despite the coaching, can't kick well enough at this level. Beale showed why he's still in the mix but overplayed his hand quite a few times Despite the wraps from Kafer in commentary, Toomua will not be in the starting team at 10 or 12. Don't get me wrong, he played well enough and always tries. The other Brumbies, Speight and Tomane, won't have changed Cheika's mind either. Mitchell showed what he's got and despite a poor start, scored two good tries and could be up for a place. Phipps was good........ passing, speed, defence and sniping. McMahon and McCalman both had good games.
PeterK
Roar Guru
QC earned himself a bench spot. Foley has to start because of his goal kicking. However if Aust are chasing and have to score tries QC is far more creative and could engineer those tries. Foley cannot.
Iwillnotstandby
Guest
I think that is Quade done. He is a lot better at attacking the line now but... Not enough good to make up for the rest. I feel sorry for McMahon with hooper and Pokock to get past. Toomua and Beale will make the bench against England. Phipps has shown there is not much between him and Genia. I think we'll be better off without Skelton. Maybe swap speight for Horne...maybe. Seems like the b team is made up of the players who are prone to errors. I loved the sheer heart shown by Uruguay. A bit more ball and the game would look significantly different.
Nobrain
Guest
There is no consistency on and off the field, Galarza is out of the RWC for touching Retalik s face, the AB testified in favor of the argentine and the appeal was denied, in the other hand we have seen worst thing than that and nothing. What about Brown kick on the head of the Wales fullback? Is it better to be caught in the act by a ref and get a yellow or to call by the offials after the game and be baned for the rest of RWC?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Shop it was Tom Wood that did the body slam against Fiji. It was no different to QC yet he got carded which was ridiculous. Silly he did it but a penalty only. The ref got plenty of help from his touchies today. Peyper can't help himself ! Only McMahon and McCalman pushed there claims for a bench spot. Mitchell had a strong second half but dropped too much ball in the first. Speight and Tomane didn't do enough to put pressure on Horne.
AndyS
Guest
Cooper is a real conundrum, isn't he? As Frank says, he is the epitome of the good, bad and ugly. The thing is, both the bad and ugly are things that are discretionary and can be worked on, even worked on intensively. The good on the other hand simply can't be taught, and what there was has possibly even been drilled out of the alternatives. But then whether they can shovel enough spakfilla into such long established cracks...?
Phil
Guest
Australia simply cannot afford to have such a poor frontline goalkicker. Whoever's picked at fly-half, someone has to be picked somewhere in the team who can do better than <50% goal-kicking success rate. England and Wales will have a 2 try start on us just in goalkicking otherwise.
Shop
Guest
It is about time the neck grab/back slam was dealt with. Ironically this was probably the most feeble so far in the RWC. Burger against Japan, I think it was Parling against Fiji and there was also one in the France Italy game that all were just penalties. Hopefully the refs start being consistent on this.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
The thing about Quade (and I'm not discounting that he did many good things in that Test) is that one can understand him making those kinds of errors against the All Blacks, under enormous pressure. But surely, against Uruguay, you can calm down, slow down, and cut-out the brain fades. He did many good things too. And Cheika did the right thing playing him in a Test we would easily win to test him out. Which way Cheika will go against England, I don't know... I don't know anything about the Wallabies right now...