Wallabies thrash the Barbarians
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| Drew Mitchell © Gallo Images |
The Wallabies were never seriously challenged by a strong Barbarians side, who beat England last week, running in eight tries to one in a match that was played in the best traditions of Barbarian rugby.
Although the game was not an official test, the Australians signalled their intentions to lay down a marker for the season ahead, handing the famed invitational club their heaviest defeat against the major southern hemisphere teams.
Wing Drew Mitchell, who was picked at the expense of Lote Tuqiri, justified the selectors' faith in him with two tries while lock James Horwill, flyhalf Matt Giteau, hooker Stephen Moore and replacements Ben Alexander, David Pocock and James O'Connor all helped themselves to touchdowns in a lop-sided match.
England wing Iain Balshaw scored a consolation try for the Barbarians that was converted by New Zealand flyhalf Luke McAlister on the stroke of halftime but the visitors were never able to pose any real threat to the Australians.
The Wallabies scored three tries inside the first 23 minutes to open up a 20-7 halftime lead then piled on five unanswered tries in the second term to run out easy winners.
Read more on the June Internationals page.
| © Reuters |