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The Qantas Wallabies got their international season off to a positive start when theydefeated Fiji 49-3 in a Bundaberg Red Rugby Series Test in Canberra tonight, scoring seven tries to nil. The Wallabies led 14-3 at half time.
Queensland Reds flyer Digby Ioane crossed for a double as did Tahs fullback Kurtley Beale with Matt Giteau successful with all seven conversion attempts.
But the Wallabies will be sweating on injuries to local heroes outside back Adam Ashley-Cooper and prop Ben Alexander, who both left the field during the match with leg injuries.
The Wallabies took the field resplendent in their new look Kooga jerseys and three new Wallabies in the starting XV – centre Rob Horne, prop Salesi Ma’afu and hooker Huia Edmonds - were keen to make a good first impression.
But fullback Beale, in his first run on Test, suffered the early jitters with two knock ons from Fiji kicks.
The first knock on gave Ma’afu a chance to make history at the first scrum when he and his younger brother Campese Ma’afu, named after a local legend David Campese, became the first brothers to pack down against each other in Test history.
The visitors had an excellent chance to capitalize on the mistakes when scrumhalf Emosi Vucago chipped over the Wallabies defence from the Men of Gold’s 22.
The ball again eluded Beale and bounced up invitingly for Fiji’s vice captain, wing Sireli Bobo, but he failed to take the ball cleanly with the tryline open.
New Wallabies No.10 Quade Cooper then tried to get Australia going forward putting wingers Ioane and local hero Ashley-Cooperinto gaps.
From Ashley-Cooper’s break scrumhalf Luke Burgess put in a box kick that Fiji failed to deal with. One of the debutants, Horne scooped up the ball neatly and at the next breakdown Fiji gave up a penalty for killing the ball.
Quick thinking from flanker David Pocock saw a quick tap and the ball come to Cooper who with great vision and skill lofted a 35 metre pass across field to Beale on the right wing who stepped inside the last line of defence to make up for his earlier blunders by crossing for the night’s first try.
Giteau converted from close to the posts and the Wallabies were up 7-0 after ten minutes.
Australia had a chance to go further ahead on 15 minutes but a mix up at the base of the ruck saw Burgess knock on just metres out with the tryline begging.
Shortly afterwards, Horne, went to the blood bin bringing on Tahs team mate Drew Mitchell who went to the right wing with Ioane moving to outside centre.
It was a disjointed nervy first quarter of the match with the Wallabies perhaps over-eager and trying too hard in their first Test of a new season.
Big hits from the Flying Fijians, some clearly without use of arms, did nothing to settle the Wallabies nerves with Giteau feeling the full effect of two massive collisions.
The Wallabies had another gilt edged opportunity on 25 minutes but captain Rocky Elsom, playing in his 50th Test, inexplicably spilt a simple Nathan Sharpe pass with once again the Fijian defence exposed.
A rare lineout penalty for obstruction, given against Ma’afu, gave Fiji a chance to put themselves on the board and fullback Taniela Rawaqa slotted the ball home from 35 metres out, ten metres in from the right touchline.
Wallabies up 7-3 approaching the half an hour mark.
Fiji then launched a promising attack over multiple phases but a big tackle by Pocock and Elsom saw the movement breakdown.
Soon after the Wallabies launched a neat counter attack from a Fijian kick. Superb ball skills from Ashley-Cooper, Pocock, Beale and Cooper saw Edmonds through but once again the ball went to ground with the tryline begging.
The Wallabies looked to be in soon after with Giteau’s quick tap seeing Cooper trickle a grubber kick over the line.
But Fijian winger Timoci Nagusa somehow got there before Beale and then raced to the 22 for a quick drop out.
With the Australian defence caught out it was a desperate race between a retreating Cooper and Nagusa with the Wallaby No.10 there just in time to stop what would have been a runaway Fijian try.
On the stroke of half time Cooper was again the architect putting Horne into an inviting gap 30 metres out from the Fijian line.
The young Tahs centre was pulled down ten metres out but he popped the ball up to Ashley-Cooper who found barnstorming No.8 Richard Brown who barged his way over from metres out to give the Men of Gold more breathing space at half time.
Giteau landed the conversion and the Wallabies went to the interval 14-3 up.
As the Wallabies left the field Elsom complained about what appeared late contact with Giteau on several occasions.
The Wallabies increased their lead against the run of play in the first few minutes of the second half.
A strong rolling maul from Fiji broke down just metres out from the Wallabies line with the ball coming loose.
Ioane kicked the ball ahead and Fiji were not able to scramble as the Wallabies charged forward.
Ashley-Cooper toed it on and then with superior numbers the Men of Gold turned the ball over at the resultant breakdown on the Fijian 22 with Sharpe again finding Elsom who fed the ball to Cooper who darted over out wide. Again Giteau was on line with the conversion and Australia were out 21-3.
Some Ioane magic warmed the crowd on 50 minutes. Pocock turned the ball over at a breakdown and popped the ball to the flying Queenslander 30 metres out.
Ioane flew off his right foot then threw a big left foot step to split the Fijian defence and sprint away to score his fifth Test try under the posts. Giteau again converted and the Wallabies were coasting at 28-3.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans went to the bench with Pekahou Cowan coming on for Ma’afu.
Ashley-Cooper made another damaging run and after he was pulled down metres short Irish referee Peter Fitzgibbon lost his patience with the visitors and yellow carded scrumhalf Vucago for slowing the ball down.
More worryingly for Australia Ashley-Cooper limped off with a problem with his right ankle bringing Mitchell on to the ground again.
Another promising Wallabies attack broke down as Elsom tried to hurdle the Fijian defence and the penalty to the home team was a chance for the fourth new Test cap of the night for the home team, young hooker Saia Faingaa coming on for Edmonds.
Faingaa made an immediate impact stopping a dangerous Fiji attack with a scything tackle resulting in a turnover.
But then tragedy as prop, local hero and try scoring machine Ben Alexander was taken off on the motorized stretcher with what looked like a serious knee injury. Ma’afu returned to replace his injured team mate.
Flanker Matt Hodgson then became the Wallabies fifth new cap of the night, coming on for Force team mate Pocock just in time to see neat interchange from Giteau and Cooper putting Mitchell over for the Wallabies fifth try.
Ioane was on fire, setting up his own try minutes later from a loose Fijian kick.
Receiving the ball on the halfway he cut through the Fijian defence before passing inside to Beale who popped the ball back to Ioane to score under the posts. Giteau again accurate and the Wallabies up 42-3 with just on 13 minutes remaining.
Fiji threw everything at the Wallabies in the final moments to try and get across the line but when resolute defence held them out once more replacement Graham Dewes was yellow carded for throwing a wayward punch at Cowan.
The Wallabies completed the scoring with just over two minutes left with Cooper once again guiding the backline superbly, first putting Reds team mate Ioane close and then sending good mate Beale over for a double. Giteau kept up his perfect record with the conversion.
Qantas Wallabies 49 (Digby Ioane 2, Kurtley Beale 2, Richard Brown, Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell tries; Matt Giteau 7 conversions) defeated Fiji 3 (Taniela Rawaqa penalty) at Canberra Stadium. (Half time: Wallabies 14-3)
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/wallabi.../section/21893
Man of the Match - Nathan Sharpe.
An I was immensely proud of OUR captain who immediately donated his prize to the Ronald McDonald House charity in Perth.
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what a champion! seriously!!!! he's a legend
Captain, my Captain!!
AGAIN!
Does EWF have Life Membership? - because I can see no better inaugural member.
'God invented beer to prevent Props from taking over the world'
Players that stood out for me
Sharpie
Digby
Beale
Browne
Ma-afu
Mumm
Horne
Cooper & Gits worked well together in the second half but i think Gits took a step back after those couple of cheap shots on him..
most uninspiring player = Burgess
When Genia comes back that back line is going to Hum!
i gotta ask. what's with beale's pornstash?
does he know how ridiculous it looks?
I thought Quade played very well, and apparently (well according to Channel 7) Digby has had a name change to Uwanee
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Most of the comments above cover the better players.
Burgess was the standout under-performer (surprise, surprise), but Elsom and Edmonds were also in the "how did he get picked" category for mine.
Giteau probably needs to look at changing his jersey - that one with the big bullseye on it seems to be causing him some grief!
Interesting that Pek is in the run-on for the Barbars - I would have thought he would be starting on Saturday with Alexander out - although Weekes may have the drop on that side of the scrum? Chance for Timmy?
'God invented beer to prevent Props from taking over the world'
I honestly can't believe Hodgsen take being put on the bench for him without pissing himself laughing. You've got to think it's a joke. That jump this was about the only thing I noticed Elsom doing. He was a mess.
Elsom out. Hodgsen in. Sharpe to captain.
It's pretty simple Deans.
And, probably because of my Western Force bias, I want James in for Beale. No real reasoning. James just fills me with more confidence.
A kick in this game is like a rather nasty alcoholic shooter, only as good as it's chaser...
Courtesy of quality South African commentry
I can think of a reason - Beale was pretty average in defense. Wasn't secure at all under the high ball and I think his positional play wasn't that great either - we had to scramble back in defense quite a few times from memory when there should have been an easy clean up from the full back.
It looks like JO'C & Pek probably won't get a start against England unfortunately since they're both starting for the barbarians, even though I thought the scrum looked better for the short period when it was Pek & Alexander.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David