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Digby Ioane celebrates - Source: Reuters -
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Australia swept past Wales 33-12 at the Millennium Stadium on
Sunday to end their European tour on a high.
Robbie Deans's men had suffered criticism after the shock 9-8
defeat to Scotland last weekend but his side delivered the perfect
response with a four-try win over Wales.
Digby Ioane, James Horwill and David Pocock all touched down in
the opening 40 minutes before Tatafu Polota-Nau sealed victory for
the visitors after the interval.
Wales got on the scoreboard thanks to three penalties from Stephen
Jones and a solitary strike from Leigh Halfpenny but the hosts had
no answer to the power of the Tri Nations giants.
After a dismal trip to Europe with one win from three matches,
Australia were determined to finish well and they started brightly
with Matt Giteau, who missed a last-gasp conversion against the
Scots, putting them in the driving seat in the third minute with a
long-range penalty.
Wales, who were missing skipper Ryan Jones with a back strain,
suffered further injury woes when International Rugby Board (IRB)
world player of the year Shane Williams limped off with a hamstring
problem.
A minute later, new captain Gethin Jenkins saw his men concede the
opening try.
Giteau's clever grubber kick allowed Ioane to beat wing Halfpenny
to the ball and pounce for a simple try. The number ten missed the
conversion from the left touchline.
Missed conversion
Halfpenny got Wales on to the scoreboard with a long-range
penalty on 18 minutes but within a minute the Wallabies had doubled
their try count.
Benn Robinson shrugged off Luke Charteris's soft tackle and Drew
Mitchell fed Horwill for a simple finish in the left
corner.
Giteau again missed the conversion before Stephen Jones booted
home his first penalty. Australia were dangerous in attack and it
was no surprise when they added a third score to cap a nightmare 24
minutes for the home side.
Giteau put the Wallabies into an excellent field position and
flanker Pocock capitalised by fending off James Hook and Charteris
to touch down.
Giteau added the extras for a commanding 20-6 lead before Wales
lost Halfpenny and hooker Matthew Rees to injury.
Despite the changes, Jones hammered home his second penalty from
distance but a lapse in concentration from the Dragons at the
re-start allowed Giteau to nudge Australia further
ahead.
Jones fired up Wales again with a third penalty on the stroke of
half-time but both the fly-half and Hook missed chances to pile the
pressure on the Wallabies.
The home side should have scored when neat work by Jones put Jamie
Roberts through a gap but the move broke down.
Giteau beat Duncan Jones with a darting run before feeding
replacement prop Polota-Nau to seal victory.
