Demut und Fleiß

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia overcame a scrappy opening to beat a second-string but committed French team four tries to one in a 34-13 victory in the first of two internationals at the Sydney Olympic stadium on Saturday.

The Wallabies stepped it up after a mistake-riddled first half to kill the game off with a 27-6 lead just 11 minutes after the interval.

It was the second straight win for New Zealander Robbie Deans as Australia's first foreign coach and an improvement on the 18-12 win over Ireland in Melbourne a fortnight ago.

Australia broke away in the second period scoring three tries from Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom and Stirling Mortlock with fly-half Matt Giteau finishing with 19 points from a first-half try, four conversions and two penalties.

The Wallabies' defence was outstanding, holding their try-line under concerted pressure twice and only conceding a score to debutant winger Alexis Palisson near the end.

"Yes, it was an improved performance," Deans said. "We sustained our attack for longer, we were a little inaccurate with our ballwork, but we showed more patience in the second half and built more pressure and were able to get in behind them and profit from that.

"We had asked a little bit of them in the first half, but not quite enough. We saw enough signs at halftime. We shortened up our attack and were a bit more direct early in the second half and we got the benefit of that."

France left behind most of their best players for the domestic championship play-offs. Biarritz centre Damien Traille was the sole survivor from the starting team that lost 14-9 to England in the World Cup semi-final in Paris last October.

"The difference in the score is hard, but there is nothing to say about it because after 60 minutes the game was killed," France coach Marc Lievremont said.

"We spent a lot in defence in the first half and we didn't have much ball. And when we did we gave it away."

The French will be without Agen fullback Pepito Elhorga for next week's second Brisbane Test after he dislocated a shoulder, while tight-head prop Lionel Faure is in doubt with a twisted knee.

It was a ragged first half with both sides guilty of handling errors before Giteau and Dimitri Yachvili exchanged penalty goals in the opening 22 minutes.

Australia broke through four minutes before the break when fullback Cameron Shepherd countered off a quick throw-in, linking with Mortlock and replacement Adam Ashley-Cooper to push deep inside French territory.

Giteau was then able to skirt around lock Sebastien Chabal to score the opening try.

Shepherd, however, paid for not finding touch with his clearing kick, giving the French the opportunity for Yachvili's second penalty after the halftime siren to trail by four points.

Elhorga came off the field holding his right shoulder after a jolting tackle from Wycliffe Palu and Elsom midway through the half, with David Janin the replacement.

Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri also succumbed to a knee injury and made way for Adam Ashley-Cooper, while Palu (shoulder) was replaced by Phil Waugh at halftime.

The Australians scored quickly after halftime when lock Sharpe plunged over from a ruck on the French line and flanker Elsom surged over for a try off a clever Giteau switch as Australia took command eight minutes after the break.

The French hammered away through a series of multi phases trying to barge their way over the Australian try-line midway through the second half, but the Wallabies' defence held firm despite minutes of sustained pressure.

Mortlock scored an intercept try off Traille's pass in the 62nd minute before Brive winger Palisson scored a consolation try on his Test debut 14 minutes from fulltime.

France have not won in Australia since their 28-19 victory in Sydney in 1990 four tours ago.
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/4739654/australia-rugby-team-strong-weakened-french


圖 轉自
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/photos/


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