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Wallabies survive Barbarians scare

Cape Town - Australia survived a major scare to beat the Barbarians 31-28 in Sydney on Saturday.

The Wallabies trailed for most of the match and found themselves four points down heading into the final 10 minutes, before two Barbarians yellow cards in quick succession gave the hosts a two-man advantage.

Wing Taqele Naiyaravoro, having scored a double, was yellow-carded for repeated off-side infringements.

He was joined in the sin bin a few minutes later by captain Quade Cooper, who executed a high tackle on Israel Folau.

Australia may be without two of their rising stars on their European tour, though, with Jack Dempsey and Lukhan Tui both in doubt after injuries.

Tui went off in the 35th minute with a hamstring concern, while Dempsey had his leg twisted in a tackle in the 74th minute, unable to stand up on the sideline.

The Barbarians had led 21-12 at half-time.

Scorers:

Australia

Tries: Duncan Paia'aua (2), Henry Speight, Jack Dempsey, Stephen Moore

Conversions: Paia'aua (3)

Barbarians

Tries: Taqele Naiyaravoro (2), Andrew Ready, Tom Banks

Conversions: Quade Cooper (4)

Teams:

Australia

15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Israel Folau, 10 Duncan Paia'aua, 9 Nick Phipps (captain), 8 Lopeti Timani, 7 Jack Dempsey, 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Lukhan Tui, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Tom Robertson

Substitutes: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Curtis Rona, 23 Izaia Perese

Barbarians

15 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs & Samoa), 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs & Australia), 13 Tom Banks (Brumbies), 12 George Moala (Blues & New Zealand), 11 Eto Nabuli (Reds & Australia), 10 Quade Cooper (Reds & Australia, captain), 9 Augustine Pulu (Blues & New Zealand), 8 Wycliff Palu (Toyota Verblitz & Australia), 7 Matt Hodgson (Force & Australia, vice-captain), 6 Isi Naisarani (Force), 5 Sam Carter (Brumbies & Australia), 4 Luke Jones (Bordeaux Begles & Australia), 3 Taniela Tupou (Reds), 2 Andrew Ready (Reds), 1 Pekahou Cowan (Force & Australia)

Substitutes: 16 Anaru Rangi (Force), 17 Ben Alexander (Brumbies & Australia), 18 Salesi Manu (Bond), 19 Matt Philip (Force), 20 Kane Koteka (Force), 21 Theo Strang (Sydney University), 22 Sam Greene (Toyota Verblitz), 23 Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs)

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