Australia scored three tries and shut out a toothless Welsh team to win their rugby union international 31-0 in Brisbane on Saturday.
Leading only 6-0 after a dour first half, the Wallabies cut loose in the second 40 minutes to demoralise a second-string Welsh outfit.
Tries to debutant winger Digby Ioane, fellow winger Drew Mitchell and fullback Julian Huxley in a 15-minute passage broke the back of a spirited but outclassed Welsh side.
The Welsh, missing 17 first-string players, pushed the Wallabies in Sydney last week, only losing the game when Australia crossed for a try after the fulltime siren had gone.
But they had no answer here and rarely looked like breaching the Wallabies’ defence. Wales coach Gareth Jenkins lamented the lack of ball that his side had during the match.
”Possession was hard to come by — there were only seven lineouts as far as we were concerned in the game and there were 17 free kicks and penalties against us,” Jenkins said.
”We never had a chance to actually get hold of the ball, which meant we had to defend far too often for far too long and it became really one-way traffic in the last 20 minutes.”
The Wallabies were led superbly by man of the match Wycliff Palu, with the big number eight causing havoc every time he charged at the Welsh line.
The home side also looked far more composed in attack than a week ago following the return of flyhalf Stephen Larkham, and they were unlucky not to be further ahead at halftime.
Australian coach John Connolly said his team had gone into the second half with a much better attitude than a week ago.
”All week we’ve been worried about how we wanted to play instead of turning up for the battle and winning that, and then the rest follows,” he said. ”We spoke about it and were a lot more positive in the second half.”
Neither side managed to assert their authority in the first 40 minutes, although the Wallabies always looked more dangerous.
Australia almost gave their home fans the perfect start when Mortlock appeared certain to score after eight minutes, only to be pulled down just short of the line by Welsh newcomer Aled Brew.
But Wales were penalised at the ensuing breakdown and Mortlock kicked the penalty to put the home side ahead 3-0.
Mortlock put the Wallabies further ahead 10 minutes later when the Welsh backs were caught offside right in front of the posts 35m out.
Australia came out more positively in the second half and Mortlock put Australia ahead 9-0 with another penalty three minutes after the break.
Minutes later Ioane made it a Test debut to remember when he crossed out wide following an Australian attack that began 60m out.
The floodgates threatened to open 20 minutes from time when Mitchell took the ball on his own 10m line and raced 60m to score.
Five minutes later it was all over for Wales when Huxley took a neat inside ball from replacement scrumhalf George Gregan 40m out, chipped ahead then regathered to cross out wide.
Mortlock converted to make it 31-0.
Connolly said Gregan’s introduction at halftime had been the turning point. ”George made a significant difference — the players looked more comfortable,” he said.
”There’s no doubt that the Gregan, Larkham, [Matt] Giteau, Mortlock combination are comfortable with each other.”
Wales tried hard for the remainder of the half but were lucky not to concede even more points as they desperately looked to get on the scoreboard. – Sapa-AFP