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Mix-n-match Australia maintain unbeaten run

The Wallabies will take one positive out of an ugly World Cup win over Canada: It would be hard for them to get worse.

Australia's second-string team had no cohesion, went one-out too often and lacked much incisive attack on Saturday against a confrontational Canadian squad aiming for its first win in France.

With their key players sidelined to avoid injuries before next weekend's quarter-final against defending champions England, Australia won 37-6 to maintain their unbeaten record in the group.

Winger Drew Mitchell scored a pair of tries inside three minutes, giving him an Australian World Cup record and a tournament-leading seven from four group matches.

"I was just a bit fortunate to get more involved in the second half and things went alright," Mitchell said.

Jonah Lomu's eight tries in 1999 is the World Cup record.

It was an uninspiring win going into a showdown with England, who reached the knockout stage courtesy of a near vintage Jonny Wilkinson performance.

Wilkinson's dropped goal in extra time gave England a 20-17 win over Australia in the last World Cup final, and his contribution in the 36-20 win over Tonga on Friday night set up a rematch in Marseille next weekend.

Australia coach John Connolly said with Wilkinson back, and with their strong scrum and pace out wide, England would be a threat for any team.

"We've said that all along," he said. "We're prepared for that."

Connolly took as few risks as possible with his selection against Canada, not wanting to add to an injury toll that already had playmaker Stephen Larkham, captain Stirling Mortlock and center Scott Staniforth out of action.

The reshuffled backline had backup fullback Julian Huxley at flyhalf and winger Lote Tuqiri in the centers. Tuqiri didn't break his tryscoring drought, but he did break the line, created chances and set up two of Australia's six tries.

Connolly said having Huxley at 10 and having wingers Tuqiri and Adam Ashley-Cooper in midfield did not help with a cohesive attack.

"We're happy to get away with a win. It wouldn't have been the greatest game to watch," Connolly said. "Now we are going for the big one."

Canada ended a World Cup winless for the first time, but coach Ric Suggitt said his players had been competitive throughout.
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