Share

Wallabies rout hapless BaaBaas

London - Australia warmed-up for their Test away to Wales next weekend by running in eight tries as they overwhelmed the star-studded Barbarians by a record 60-11 win at Twickenham on Saturday.

Both Australia wings, Lachie Turner and Digby Ioane, and replacement forward James Horwill, Australia's regular captain, scored two tries each.

Australia coach Robbie Deans was delighted ahead of a clash with Wales -- the team the Wallabies beat to finish third at the World Cup.

"It's ideal for us, the right order to have the games. That (Wales) is going to be a tough assignment so it was good to have a hit-out before we get to the Millennium Stadium."

The Barbarians managed a try in stoppage time from Wigan rugby league wing Sam Tomkins, playing his first union match, following two penalties from England discard Danny Cipriani.

Barbarians coach Graham Henry, fresh from leading New Zealand to World Cup glory, said his side had been beaten by a top-class Australia team.

"They (Australia) got their second wind in the last five (minutes) and it's just a pity it didn't go for another 40 (minutes) because I think we could have pulled them back," Henry joked.

"The Australians, when they play like that, are an outstanding rugby side. They played some real quality football. We just couldn't hang on to them."

Australia's win surpassed their previous best against the Barbarians of 55-7 in Sydney two years ago.

James O'Connor, normally a wing but selected for the first time at fly-half at international level by Deans, landed eight out of nine goalkicks on his way to a match haul of 20 points.

An incident-packed and error-strewn first half saw Australia turn round 18-3 in front after they scored two tries, butchered several others and had both Adam Ashley-Cooper and James Slipper sent to the sin-bin.

Australia saw both centre Berrick Barnes (knee) and O'Connor (hand) suffer injuries but they were optimistic the pair would be fit for next weekend.

Both sides made numerous passing and handling errors with Turner making a mess of a huge overlap in the 10th minute when he failed to find Ben Horne.

Four minutes later the Barbarians were level and Australia a man down.

Uncapped New Zealand centre Robbie Fruean intercepted O'Connor's pass and sprinted 50 metres downfield. But his intended pass to Tomkins was knocked on by Ashley-Cooper, yellow carded by French referee Romain Poite.

Cipriani, who plays his club rugby in Australia for the Melbourne Rebels, kicked the ensuing penalty to make it 3-3.

Australia though scored next when O'Connor's mis-hit drop-goal from 25 metres somehow went over the bar.

Minutes later, O'Connor's cleverly delayed a pass to Ioane, running from deep, and the wing brushed aside Fruean and Cipriani before scoring a 25th minute try.

Prop forward Slipper was then sent to the sin-bin for a late tackle on Cipriani.

O'Connor and Scott Higginbotham both burst clear only to deliver wretched passes when seemingly certain tries loomed.

But on the stroke of half-time, Australia worked an overlap that saw O'Connor send in Turner for a try in the corner.

The half ended in bizarre fashion when O'Connor, after Poite signalled for him to kick, took too long with his trademark deliberate run-up and saw charging Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer steal the ball off the kicking tee -- the only conversion the Wallaby missed.

Henry emptied his star-studded bench at the break and Cipriani then reduced Australia's lead with a penalty.

It was Horwill who scored next when fellow substitute Stephen Moore rolled off the back of a lineout and fed his fellow forward close to the line.

Italy prop Salvatore Perugini, on as a replacement, was also sent to the sin-bin and Australia then ran riot, starting when Cipriani's pop-pass close to his own line was picked off by Wallaby centre Rob Horne.

Scorers:

Australia:

Tries: Digby Ioane (2), Lachie Turner (2), James Horwill (2), Rob Horne, Radike Samo
Penalty: James O'Connor
Conversions: O'Conner (7)
Drop goal: O'Connor

Barbarians:
Try: Sam Tomkins
Penalties: Danny Cipriani (2)

Results of all matches between the Barbarians and Australia:


Played: 12
Barbarian wins: 3
Australia wins: 9

Results:

1948 Cardiff: Barbarians 9 Australia 6
1958 Cardiff: Barbarians 11 Australia 6
1967 Cardiff: Australia 17 Barbarians 11
1976 Cardiff: Barbarians 19 Australia 7
1984 Cardiff: Australia 37 Barbarians 30
1988 Cardiff: Australia 40 Barbarians 22
1992 Cardiff: Australia 30 Barbarians 20
1996 Twickenham: Australia 39 Barbarians 12
2001 Cardiff: Australia 49 Barbarians 35
2008 Twickenham: Australia 18 Barbarians 11
2009 Sydney: Australia 55 Barbarians 7
2011 Twickenham: Australia 60 Barbarians 11
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE