Wallabies v Barbarians: Video, match report of Australia’s 40-36 victory at Twickenham

THE Wallabies have opened their European rugby tour with a nailbiting win over the Barbarians side in Michael Cheika’s first game as coach.

Barbarians v Australia

THERE are two ways to look at the Wallabies 40-36 win over the Barbarians in their first outing under new coach Michael Cheika.

Either “new dog same fleas” or “one of the most entertaining displays of running rugby you’ll ever see”.

The truth is probably somewhere in between. Yes, it was entertaining, and yes, the Wallabies came desperately close to losing after looking to have the match wrapped up with 20 minutesto go.

In fact, if not for a try-saving tackle by Aussie skipper Matt Hodgson on rampaging Kiwi Matt Todd in the dying moments, the Wallabies’ Spring tour would have got off to the worst possible start.

Sean McMahon makes a break for the Wallabies.

As Cheika said, “I was hoping not to have to get out of my seat the whole game, but with five minutes to go when they looked like snatching it, I couldn’t help myself.”

Cheika wasn’t the only one on his feet. If all games of rugby were played with this much spirit, ball movement and dedication to scoring points by placing the ball over the white line rather than through the posts, the stadiums wouldn’t be big enough to hold the fans.

Sadly, they are not, and while the 53,568 crowd was crying out for more razzle-dazzle, the match had a more serious purpose for Cheika who must have got cramp writing copious notes on areas of the Wallabies play that need attention before the serious stuff starts next week against Wales.

Top of the list, no doubt, would be his team’s defence out wide. Wingers Henry Speight and Rob Horne were both caught out of position early, leading to Barbarians tries. Defence coach Nathan Grey won’t get much sleep for the next month.

Adam Thomson of the Barbarians scores a try in the corner despite the tackle of Wallabies winger Henry Speight.

On the plus side were the performances of Tevita Kuridrani, who picked up where he left off against the All Blacks in Brisbane, and newcomer Sean McMahon who was outstanding after coming on as a replacement when flanker Scott Higginbotham suffered a hamstring injury.

With Higginbotham unlikely to be fit for next week’s Test against Wales, Cheika hinted McMahon could be the “bolter” for in the squad.

“I thought he was outstanding,” he said.

“He got on the field and took his opportunity with both hands. With the injury to Scott there’s an opening in the back-row for the Test next week. He’s definitely put himself right up there alongside Matt Hodgson who played very well today.”

Cheika said that the starting team that came so close against the world champions at Suncorp deserves first crack against Wales, an indication that Quade Cooper and Will Genia did not do enough in their time on the field to pressure incumbents Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps.

Genia’s afternoon got off to the worst possible start when he knocked on Australia’s first possession of the match, while Cooper, coming off a long spell through injury, was unable to produce any of the trademark “tricks” that he promised in the lead-up.

In fact, it was the Barbarians who were the entertainers, showing their intent from the start, with All Black number eight Steven Luatua taking a lineout throw and launching it 40 metres across field into the arms of Japan-based Aussie Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins who might have scored if he had held on.

Tevita Kuridrani on the charge for the Wallabies.

“I ballsed that up,” he said. “There was no-one in front of me. It could have been the difference.”

A few minutes later it was the turn of Argentine halfback Tomas Cubelli. Taking a tap kick close to the Australian line, he turned his back on the Wallabies and kicked backwards over his head.

A try went begging with two Baa-Baa forwards shouldering each other off balance in their eagerness to score.

The spilled ball by cult-figure Cummins was a rare blemish on a crowd pleasing performance that had Cheika ruing what might have been, had the exciting winger not taken the big money on offer in Japan to help support his sick father.

Asked if he would rush the Honey Badger into the World Cup squad side if he could get a clearance from his Japanese team, Cheika joked, “not if he keeps scoring tries against us.”

Sam Carter dives over to score a try for the Wallabies.

The game itself was no joking matter for the new Wallaby coach who is on a tight schedule as he attempts to bring what he terms a new “shape” to the team.

“This was a perfect type of game to work on shape because it gets so disjointed,” he said.

“The sort of set-up we want is about getting yourself re-organised off the ball. It’s not about what you’re doing on the ball, it’s about what you’re doing when you haven’t got the ball.

“So, getting into position and having more options open, more options available. We played a fairly simple game today, not too many variations, so we can keep getting players in right positions on the field.

“I think we have to be able to manage the workload of our big fellas. We want them playing power-forward running games, where the previous team played a little more around the corner, playing to the sidelines. We might get them changing the point of attack more.

“This game we did some good things and not so good things. We’ve got work to do.”

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