Third straight slow start as Wallabies stutter to win
RUGBY Australia 45 Uruguay 10
Tevita Kuridrani and Dane HaylettPetty crossed for two tries each in a win over Uruguay yesterday that did little to enhance confidence in Australia’s World Cup title credentials.
Expected to win comfortably, the Wallabies handicapped themselves with some lazy tackling technique against a committed if over-matched Uruguay line-up, some poor tactical and scrum options, and conceding a one-man advantage for 20 of the first 40 minutes.
The Australians led 19-3 at halftime despite two yellow cards for high tackles. Lock Adam Coleman was sinbinned for a high hit on fullback Rodrigo Silva in the 14th minute, and blindside flanker Lukhan SalakaiaLoto followed him for a high shot in the 29th.
In and around that, tries to wingers Haylett-Petty in the 6th and 19-yearold Jordan Petaia, who scored with his second touch in test rugby, in the 24th gave Australia a 14-3 lead.
And despite the disadvantage, centre Kuridrani scored Australia’s third try in the 31st after Michael
Hooper turned over the Uruguay ball.
Four more tries in the second half — including a first in 94 tests for prop James Slipper — and a bit more discipline allowed the Wallabies to put the result beyond doubt.
Australia started slowly in their opening win over Fiji and 29-25 loss to Six Nations champions Wales, and again needed halftime to instil some composure despite never being behind on the scoreboard.
“We were just a little bit off the pace at the start. That’s three times now, three games a little bit off the pace at the start,” Australia coach Michael Cheika said. “So I know I have to get my pre-match speech a little bit better. We got the pace up in the second half.”
Cheika made a lot of changes after the loss to Wales, wanting to give all the players in his squad some game time. Petaia and young prop Taniela Tupou were playing for the first time.
“I thought for his first entry to World Cup, Taniela Tupou did well when he came on as well. Slipper got his first try . . . you saw the excitement there,” he said. “We needed those guys to get good game time, the two locks played a full game, so I was happy with everyone.”
The Wallabies defended their line right until the end, when No 8 Manuel Diana touched down on the line after 18 phases of attack for Uruguay.
First-five Felipe Berchesi slotted Uruguay’s only points of the first half, converting a penalty for a high tackle after his team was unable to capitalise on a lineout and scrum from close range in the 12th.
The Uruguayans appeared to cross for a try via centre Tomas Inciarte after a ruck turnover just before halftime but the Television Match Official disallowed it because Diana was never onside before he pilfered the ball at the back of the ruck.
The back rower made amends for that when he drove over for a fivepointer after Uruguay got within a metre of scoring five times between the 74th and 78th minutes.
Uruguay coach Esteban Meneses paid tribute to the commitment of his team, and the improvement in the scorelines in back-to-back World Cups. Australia beat Uruguay 65-3 four years ago in England.
“For us, it’s incredible, the players left everything on the field,” he said. “Congratulations for the players from Uruguay, it’s fantastic.”
Australia play Georgia in their last pool game in Shizuoka on Friday, while Uruguay take on Wales at Kumamoto next Sunday.
Australia 45 (T. Kuridrani 2, D. HaylettPetty 2, J. Petaia, W. Genia, J. Slipper tries; C. Leali’ifano 5 cons) Uruguay 10 (M. Diana try; F. Berchesi pen, con). Halftime: 19-3.