Sun, Jun 27, 2010 page18

• Aussies win scrappy Test match

  WORK TO DO The Wallabies continually hammered away at the Irish defensive line, but made far too many mistakes to fully capitalize on their wealth of possession

  • REUTERS
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  Australia have a lot of work to do before the Tri-Nations following yesterday’s scrappy 22-15 victory over Ireland, captain Ricky Elsom said.

  Scrumhalf Luke Burgess and flyhalf Quade Cooper scored first-half tries for the Wallabies, while Cooper also slotted two penalties.

  Inside-center Matt Giteau scored the only points of the second half when he kicked two penalties for the hosts, who lost 21-20 to England last weekend.

  

  Australia’s Luke Burgess scores a try against Ireland during their Test match in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday.

  PHOTO: EPA

  “When we played Ireland last year, we played a hell of a lot better than that and came away with a draw, so you have to be thankful when you get up on the scoreboard,” Elsom said in a televised interview.

  “We just weren’t sharp enough or on the same page [in terms of attack] ... and we have a lot of work to do before the Tri-Nations,” he added.

  Australia dominated territory and possession, but were penalized by referee Bryce Lawrence when Ireland got inside the Wallabies’ territory, which allowed flyhalf Jonathan Sexton to kick five first-half penalties.

  The Wallabies, however, established a 16-15 lead at the break after Burgess intercepted a pass from Ireland No. 8 Chris Henry and ran 40m to score.

  Cooper then side-stepped his way past three defenders after the halftime hooter had sounded.

  Australia continued to hammer away at the Irish defensive line all through the second half, but made far too many mistakes to fully capitalize on their wealth of possession.

  Their error rate was highlighted by Kurtley Beale’s inexplicable decision to kick ahead in the 60th minute when he was confronted with just a prop between him and the try-line and a lurking Giteau outside with only one other man to beat.

  ■ALL BLACKS 29, WALES 10

  REUTERS, HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND

  Daniel Carter slotted 17 points with his boot as the All Blacks extended their unbeaten run against Wales to 23 games with a 29-10 victory at Waikato Stadium yesterday.

  Carter slotted five penalties and a conversion of Cory Jane’s first-half try, while replacement flyhalf Aaron Cruden scored his maiden Test try in the final minute, before Piri Weepu’s conversion completed the scoring of a stop-start encounter.

  Seeking a first win over the All Blacks in 57 years, Wales winger Leigh Halfpenny had scored an early long-range penalty, before center Jamie Roberts grabbed a consolation try, converted by Stephen Jones, in the final three minutes.

  “It was a tough Test match and we really had to chip away and take the points when they were offered,” All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said in a televised interview.

  “I guess it was safe enough in the end, but we struggled to get our game going,” he added.

  Halfpenny and Carter traded early penalties and while the All Blacks counterattacked from deep and created pressure, they were unable to score until winger Jane crossed for a try after a brutal build-up by the forwards eventually created gaps out wide.

  Carter converted and added his second penalty on halftime, after Wales fullback Lee Byrne was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on lock Tom Donnelly, to give the All Blacks a 13-3 lead.

  The All Blacks dominated the second half and with Wales attempting to slow the tempo of the game, Carter’s three penalties were their only reward as their handling let them down.

  Roberts crossed for a consolation try after a sustained buildup for the visitors, before Cruden responded with his late try right on the fulltime whistle.

  “All week, we just spoke about gaining respect ... and I think we played with a lot more intensity, but a little bit of [in]discipline cost us in the second half,” said Jonathan Thomas, who took over the captaincy after Ryan Jones limped off with a knee injury. “We finished the game quite strongly and we just have to learn to keep improving.”
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