Wendell Sailor scored two tries as Australia made a fast start and then fell flat in Saturday's 30-10 rugby union international win over Wales.
Sailor raced the full length of the field in a freakish solo effort in the 9th minute and then beat the Welsh backs in a race to chase down a Chris Latham kick to notch his second try less than five minutes later as the world champion Wallabies were on course for a massive win.
Latham scored on a 30m arcing run to increase the lead to 18-3 after 23 minutes but the Australians didn't cross again during a lackluster half-hour when the Welsh bustled the hosts and reduced the margin to 10 points.
PHOTO: AP
Center Jamie Robinson crossed out wide in the 53rd minute to make the score 18-8 after sustained phases from the Wales forwards and a strong, barging run from center Mark Taylor to within a meter of the line.
The Wallabies regained control with tries to hooker Jeremy Paul and replacement center Nathan Grey but were less than impressive despite extending Wales' losing stretch to seven internationals.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said he was disappointed in Australia's defense in the first half but the overall performance improved in the second period.
The Welsh "were much tougher opposition than Ireland. That was a good workout for us," he said. "Three weeks we've been together now and we're happy with the progress we're getting, but we know we've got a lot of work to do."
Steve Hansen said his Welsh lineup was closer to the Australians than the score indicated.
"I though the first half performance, even though the scoreboard said 18-3, was very, very good," Hansen said. "We turned over some soft tries, which really, hurt us.
"I was really pleased with the composure of the boys to come back into it and they never gave up ... we were probably unfortunate not to score a couple more tries."
Paul barged over from close range in the 57th minute after Nathan Sharpe won clean lineout ball deep inside the Welsh quarter and the Australians recycled fast ball from the subsequent two rucks.
Grey replaced Steve Kefu and within five minutes split the defense 10m out with a left-foot step and strolled over in the 70th minute for Australia's fifth touchdown.
The former rugby league international picked up the loose ball in his own in-goal after Wales turned over possession, then brushed off Robinson and skirted around another defender as he tiptoed along the right touchline.
He angled infield and then stepped inside cover-defending fullback Rhys Williams and outpaced the rest of the cover in a sprint for the right corner post.
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