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Wallabies beat
Wales In a
Test triumph
RUGBY UNION
CARDIFF: Australia's embattled
rugby world champions banished the
traumas that have beset them with a
Test triumph over Wales on Saturday
showing the class that took them to
the top.
The Wallabies produced a hard-hit
ting display, spiced by a helping of
"Campese magic", to continue their
domination of Wales with a 23-6 vie-,
tory at Cardiff Arms Park.
As the 51,000 fans who had
crammed into the famed stadium
were filing out, Australian coach Bob
Dwycr hailed it as "one of our great
victories".
The run of injuries suffered by
Dwyec's men and the demands of a
year of almost constant travelling
were put aside'but not forgotten in the
euphoria of victory.
Neither was what the team regarded
as excessive criticism of their earlier
Welsh performances, which included
two defeats and some struggling dis
plays.
-The loss of Michael Lynagh and
John Eales in particular, on top of
Nick Farr-Jones' absence, was a big
blow.
But against a new-look Welsh side,
fired by the Wallabies' difficulties, the
Australians proved they were far from
a three-man band with their seventh
win in eight Tests this year.
The criticism had acted as a big
spur, captain Phil Reams said.
"We know we're a good side and
can put on a good performance and
we did it today," Kearns said. The
Test was his first as captain.
Dwyer said the win had given him 1
more satisfaction than victory over
arch-rivals New Zealand.
"It was an opportunity for us to
prove we could win against all the
odds," he said.
"It is necessary for a really strong
side to show that no matter what ob
stacles are thrown in their path they
can overcome them."
Though the victory was largely
achieved through their forward pow
er, David Campese was not prepared
to let them hog all the limelight.
The wing maestro, playing his first
game in Wales after an ankle injury,
put his own stamp of class on the
affair with a dazzling 70-metre try in
the dying moments.
Campese's 52nd ti7 in his 72nd
Test, with the Wallabies leading 18-6,
came off a mistimed kick from centre
Jason Little after Dan Crowley had
intercepted from Welsh No 8 Stuart
Davies.
Campese reeled in the chip ahead
deep in Australian territory, taking it
on the full and steaming down the
touchline to leave the opposition in
his wake.
"I told Jason to kick, so I was
looking for it ahead," said Campese,
whose suspect ankle had swollen after
a first-half knock.
"Then I saw the ball coming out of
the corner of my eye. I just caught it
and off I went."
It was one of only a handful of
times Campese saw the ball in a game
turned into a forward-dominated and
kicking battle by the slippery condi
tions after rain.
Wales, putting behind its last two
crushing losses to Australia, took the
game to the world champions for
much of the opening half.
In contrast to their last meeting,
where Wales won just three of 35 line
outs, the home side took advantage of
John Eales' absence to sweep the first
five and came out on top 20-15.
But they weren't able to capitalise.
due largely to the Australians' superb
tackling.
Flanker Willie Ofahengaue, who at
one point received a rare caution for
fighting, Little, centre partner Tim
Horan, flanker David Wilson (taken
off midway through the second half
with a fractured right collarbone) and
winger Paul Carozza produced jarring
hits, especially after the break.
"It's really inspiring for the rest of
the team to see Willie [Ofahengaue]
cut some bloke in half like he did in a
couple of tackles," Kearns said.
The giant Tongan-born flanker and
Horan defied shoulder and ankle
problems after the break, with five
Wallabies carrying complaints.
Paul Kahl, making his Test debut at
five-eighth in place of Lynagh, kicked
and tackled well.
Wales drew first blood with a 32nd
minute penalty by five-eighth Colin
Stephens. But then the Australians
took control, with tries by Wilson
(37th minute) and Rod McCall (45th)
putting them ahead 12-3.
Wilson's first Test try came after a
15 metre penalty kick by fullback
Marty Roebuck hit the post and re
bounded into his arms.
In an ensuing maul Wilson
emerged with the ball.
Roebuck, after missing all four
first-half kicks, landed two penalties
and a conversion from the same num
ber after the break before Campese's
crowd-pleasing display in injury time.
"That try did a little injustice to the
final score," lamented Welsh captain
Ieuan Evans.
McCall summed up the Wallabies'
determination not to fall victim to a
resurgent Welsh side, "Tim was run
ning around on one leg, Willie had
one shoulder. The blokes just weren't
going to let it happen.'
I P» MM
— AAP
AP picture David Campese after his 70m try. Help
AP picture
David Campese after his 70m try.
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