Australia gave themselves a morale boost on their faltering tour with a convincing 31-3 win over the Cardiff Blues.
Tuesday’s victory at the Cardiff City Stadium set the Wallabies up for this weekend’s clash with Wales and was a much-needed win after last week’s shock 9-8 reverse at Murrayfield — the first time Australia had lost to Scotland in 27 years — followed their grand slam-ending draw with Ireland.
The Wallabies had lost all six of their meetings against Cardiff, but there was never any danger of them going down to the regional team, which sprang out of one of the traditional powerhouses of Welsh rugby.
New Zealander Ben Blair kicked the hosts’ only points in the fourth minute, but first-half tries from Ryan Cross and Kurtley Beale helped Australia into a 17-3 lead at the break.
Further tries late on from Luke Morahan and Beale again confirmed the Wallabies’ superiority.
Fullback James O’Connor converted all four tries and kicked a penalty to leave Australia’s under-pressure Kiwi coach Robbie Deans with some interesting selection calls to make ahead of Saturday’s tour-ending Test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
“The boys played with spirit and played as one, which was good to see,” Deans said. “We certainly hope it will rub off on Saturday against Wales. We’re lucky to have that opportunity, rather than having to go into the [southern] summer on the back of a loss to Scotland.”
Dean Mumm, Australia’s captain against the Blues, said it felt good to redress the record from the days of the old Cardiff club team.
“We heard about the record when we arrived and naturally we wanted to change it,” he said. “We did that and it feels good.”
Billy Millard, the Blues’ Australian backs coach, said he’d been impressed by the visitors.
“The Wallabies showed a lot of class in broken play, they kicked well and were very physical at the breakdown,” he said. “Our boys never stopped trying to attack, but we were never able to generate quick ball in the right areas.”
■THORN, ELLIS TO LEAVE
REUTERS, WELLINGTON
Brad Thorn and Andy Ellis have been given permission to leave New Zealand’s northern hemisphere rugby tour early and return home to their families.
The pair will remain with the All Blacks for Saturday’s test against France in Marseille, but will be allowed to miss next week’s match against the Barbarians in London.
All Blacks manager Darren Shand said Ellis was returning because his wife was expecting their first baby, while Thorn was given the week off because he already has a large, young family.
“Family life is obviously very important to the All Blacks players and management and we try and get players home when they need to be with their families,” Shand said in a statement. “Andy and Brad need to go home and we agreed before the tour that they would leave after the French test.”
Replacement hooker Aled de Malmanche will remain with the team in Marseille and a decision on whether he will stay for the Barbarians match will be made after the French test.
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