Sam Carter about to score the Wallabies’ first in an entertaining 11 try encounter

by Paul Cook –

A new era for Australian rugby under Michael Cheika has been ushered in with a much needed win for the Wallabies but they were forced to work hard for their 40-36 victory over the Barbarians in an entertaining affair at Twickenham in London.

Behind 12-7 early on to a side displaying all the gung-ho tenets of the Barbarian ethos, a rusty Wallaby outfit grew with every minute of the contest to edge ahead 14-12 by the break. Finding themselves 22-14 down within 10 minutes of the restart, the tourists flicked a switch to seemingly take the game out of the Barbarians reach, a quickfire three-try salvo leaving them 18pts ahead with only 15 minutes remaining.

But lapses in concentration let the invitational side back in for two late tries to leave Australia holding on for the final whistle.

Coach Sir John Kirwan and his players firmly bought into the Baa Baas spirit from the off with a couple of outrageous early plays. Steven Luatua gave an indication of the mindset of his side, offering up his best Dan Marino impression from a lineout with a 50 yard touchdown pass that was unfortunately dropped by Nick Cummins.

Tevita Kuridrani continued his fine run of form with another try

Joining Luatua in the showbiz stakes was Argentine scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli, who cheekily kicked a tap and go penalty straight over his head and behind the Wallabies line from 10 metres but the visitors reacted just about in time to thwart danger.

The Baa Baas dominated the early exchanges and offered the greater attacking threat, Frank Halai on the end of a flowing move through the hands in the 15th minute to open the scoring. When the Wallabies lost captain Matt Hodgson and Scott Higginbotham to injury in successive minutes as the game entered the second quarter, things didn’t seem to be going their way but it did offer a first glimpse in green and gold for young gun Sean McMahon.

The disruptions didn’t hamper Australia’s path back into the match, Sam Carter hitting a nice line to cross off a snappy short ball from Will Genia to level matters, although, they did appear to benefit from a benevolent TMO decision which ignored a likely knock-on from Saia Faingaa in the build-up.

The Barbarians stuck to their principles and grabbed a second when new Queensland Reds recruit Adam Thompson dived over in the corner on the half hour before Genia repeated his previously successful assist to put a storming Benn Robinson over near the uprights.

Matt Hodgson had returned from the sheds to resume his captaincy by this time, Higginbotham not so fortunate, and the 33-year-old almost topped off his Indian summer with the Wallabies’ third try five minutes from half-time. However, his outstretched hand was correctly ruled to have been grounded just shy of the chalk and an entertaining opening stanza came to a close with the tourists 2pts to the good at 14-12.

Tevita Kuridrani had been arguably the Wallabies’ brightest spark in the first forty so it was perhaps fitting that the in-form centre got on the scoresheet to kickstart proceedings after the break. He had plenty to do when Brumbies team mate Matt Toomua fed him just over halfway but a step, a swerve and some blistering acceleration took him clear of four Barbarian tacklers and over the chalk.

Honey Badger Still Bites: Nick Cummins returned to haunt his former team
with a dazzling second half try

The 9pt lead was short lived however, as the invitational side struck almost immediately from the restart. A chip kick over the top from Francis Saili’i left a line of Wallabies stranded in reverse gear and the Blues winger raced through to touch down marginally ahead of Sean McMahon’s desperate lunge.

A 51st minute long range penalty from Colin Slade restored the Barbarians lead as coach Kirwan emptied his bench with a raft of replacements. Their fightback prompted Michael Cheika to follow suit, bringing on a couple of his trusted lieutenants in Bernard Foley and Sekope Kepu but it was another replacement, Nic White, who made the biggest initial impact, putting Rob Horne over in the corner after good work from Matt Toomua.

Foley crossed just after the hour to finish off a 40 metre intercept from Israel Folau and a try to debutant McMahon a few minutes later, punishing some soft tackling efforts from a couple of Barbarians, built a dominant 40-22 lead for the Wallabies.

Had it finished that way, Cheika would have had good reason to revel in a positive – if far from perfect – start to his international coaching career but having flexed their muscles to forge their winning advantage, the Wallabies were guilty of complacency in the closing stages.

It may not be a Bledisloe Cup but the Wallabies will gladly take any silverware right now

Nick Cummins finished off a silky lineout move to leave a host of former team mates in his wake and dive under the posts with five minutes remaining and the Honey Badger was at it again three minutes later, counter attacking from deep and evading a couple of gold jerseys before releasing Marnitz Boshoff away to the posts to leave a 4pt ball game at 40-36.

With their tails up, the Baa Baa’s went for the kill, keeping ball in hand and running from everywhere to keep Wallabies’ supporters chewing their nails to the end but after almost four minutes of extra time, Sekope Kepu decided enough was enough and booted the ball into Row Z to ensure a morale boosting victory for his team and a winning start for his new coach.

Australia 40 (Sam Carter, Benn Robinson, Tevita Kuridrani, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Sean McMahon tries; Quade Cooper 3 cons, Bernard Foley 2 cons) defeated Barbarians 36 (Frank Halai, Adam Thompson, Francis Saili’I, Nick Cummins, Marnitz Boshoff tries; Colin Slade pen, 2 cons, Marnitz Boshoff 2 cons)