Australia, inspired by Will Genia and Quade Cooper, ran in five tries to open their Tri-Nations campaign with a 39-20 thumping of a weakened South Africa side on Saturday.
The Wallabies had promised a response to last week’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Samoa and delivered in some style at the Olympic Stadium to put their World Cup season back on course.
The Springboks, missing more than 20 frontline players from their touring squad, were no match for the sharpness and guile of the home attack and tries from Chiliboy Ralepelle and John Smit only added a veneer of respectability to the score.
Ben Alexander, Digby Ioane, James O’Connor, Stephen Moore and Adam Ashley-Cooper all crossed the line for the Wallabies and O’Connor added 14 points with his boot. – Reuters