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Bungling Wallabies save face
By Peter Jenkins
June 02, 2007
AUSTRALIA spanked Wales 31-0 with three second-half tries to save a tortured two-Test series from death by long-running boredom last night
Until Wallaby wingers Digby Ioane and Drew Mitchell scorched the Suncorp Stadium turf, and fullback Julian Huxley collected a chip-and-chase try to blow out the lead, the match mimicked the appalling standard of last week's clash in Sydney.
The error counts were high, the turnover tallies unacceptable, and the claims from the Wallabies that the Wales side was quality opposition looked nothing more than a hopeless attempt at spin doctoring.
It was a forgettable match for a crowd of 41,622, but Ioane and Huxley will at least take fond memories from the night of bungling.
Both scored their first Test tries - Ioane on debut and Huxley in only his second appearance.
The afterburners for which Ioane is renowned were lit soon after half-time.
The Wallabies carried the ball right where man of the match, No.8 Wycliff Palu, combined with second-rower Nathan Sharpe and Huxley to send the Western Force flyer on his way to the line.
Mitchell careered down the left touchline on the hour to carry the Australians 24-0 clear and Huxley collected the third try after 64 minutes.
But the lopsided scoreline offered no reason to think the Wallabies are on the march.
When both teams opened the match with the same basic skill bumbling that marred last week's first Test, it was a knee-slapping comedy of errors.
There was, late in the half, a three-minute snapshot that encapsulated the dirge the Brisbane crowd was forced to stomach.
Wales was penalised for pulling down an Australia maul and Wallaby fullback Julian Huxley kicked the ball dead in searching for touch.
From the ensuing scrum, Australia was given a free-kick to launch another attack. Backrower Palu, the outstanding forward, knocked on cold.
But referee Paul Honiss had sighted a Welshman offside and handed the Wallabies another penalty. He also called out both captains to tell them "it's all negative so far".
That little patch covered just 60 seconds.
In the two minutes to follow, Wallaby flanker George Smith knocked on; Australia was penalised from the scrum for Smith not binding to his pack; and Welsh flanker Colin Charvis was penalised for offside.
Four Australia lineout throws went astray in the opening half and hooker Stephen Moore was replaced at the break by his deputy Adam Freier.
The Wales lineout was also wobbling while both scrums engaged in a wrestling match that frequently hit the deck.
In the backline, even the usually reliable Stirling Mortlock had an awful case of the fumbles when he spilled a pass from five-eighth Stephen Larkham under no pressure.
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http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21839444-23217,00.html
By Peter Jenkins
June 02, 2007
AUSTRALIA spanked Wales 31-0 with three second-half tries to save a tortured two-Test series from death by long-running boredom last night
Until Wallaby wingers Digby Ioane and Drew Mitchell scorched the Suncorp Stadium turf, and fullback Julian Huxley collected a chip-and-chase try to blow out the lead, the match mimicked the appalling standard of last week's clash in Sydney.
The error counts were high, the turnover tallies unacceptable, and the claims from the Wallabies that the Wales side was quality opposition looked nothing more than a hopeless attempt at spin doctoring.
It was a forgettable match for a crowd of 41,622, but Ioane and Huxley will at least take fond memories from the night of bungling.
Both scored their first Test tries - Ioane on debut and Huxley in only his second appearance.
The afterburners for which Ioane is renowned were lit soon after half-time.
The Wallabies carried the ball right where man of the match, No.8 Wycliff Palu, combined with second-rower Nathan Sharpe and Huxley to send the Western Force flyer on his way to the line.
Mitchell careered down the left touchline on the hour to carry the Australians 24-0 clear and Huxley collected the third try after 64 minutes.
But the lopsided scoreline offered no reason to think the Wallabies are on the march.
When both teams opened the match with the same basic skill bumbling that marred last week's first Test, it was a knee-slapping comedy of errors.
There was, late in the half, a three-minute snapshot that encapsulated the dirge the Brisbane crowd was forced to stomach.
Wales was penalised for pulling down an Australia maul and Wallaby fullback Julian Huxley kicked the ball dead in searching for touch.
From the ensuing scrum, Australia was given a free-kick to launch another attack. Backrower Palu, the outstanding forward, knocked on cold.
But referee Paul Honiss had sighted a Welshman offside and handed the Wallabies another penalty. He also called out both captains to tell them "it's all negative so far".
That little patch covered just 60 seconds.
In the two minutes to follow, Wallaby flanker George Smith knocked on; Australia was penalised from the scrum for Smith not binding to his pack; and Welsh flanker Colin Charvis was penalised for offside.
Four Australia lineout throws went astray in the opening half and hooker Stephen Moore was replaced at the break by his deputy Adam Freier.
The Wales lineout was also wobbling while both scrums engaged in a wrestling match that frequently hit the deck.
In the backline, even the usually reliable Stirling Mortlock had an awful case of the fumbles when he spilled a pass from five-eighth Stephen Larkham under no pressure.
<
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21839444-23217,00.html
