The Wallabies scored 11 tries in their 65-3 win against Uruguay at Villa Park on Sunday, writes SIMON BORCHARDT.
Having missed out on the bonus point against Fiji, it took Michael Cheika's second-stringers just 30 minutes to get it against the weakest team in the Pool of Death. They were also able to significantly boost their points difference, which could yet be a deciding factor, although not by as much as they would have had Quade Cooper not missed with six of his 11 conversion attempts.
Uruguay's best period of play came in the first half when Cooper was in the sin bin, but it was one-way traffic when 15 on 15 and a question of just how many points the Wallabies would rack up.
Australia blew an early try-scoring opportunity, when Drew Mitchell couldn't hang onto a pass from Kurtley Beale, but then struck twice in quick succession. Sean McMahon broke away from a driving maul to open the scoring, before Beale set up his side's second try with a grubber that was collected by Cooper, who put Joe Tomane away.
Cooper was then yellow-carded for a high, off-the-ball tackle on Agustin Ormaechea, which allowed Uruguay to briefly get back into the game and on the board through a Felipe Berchesi penalty.
But normal activity resumed following Cooper's return, with Dean Mumm, Henry Speight and Ben McCalman scoring tries to make it 31-3 at the break.
Mitchell then got in on the act, scoring two tries early in the second half, with McCalman and McMahon both crossing for their second tries to take the Wallabies past the 50-point mark.
And they weren't done yet, with a trademark Cooper break resulting in a try for Matt Toomua that had Cheika clapping in the coach's box, and Tevita Kuridrani diving over in the last play of the game.
Wallabies – Tries: Sean McMahon (2), Joe Tomane, Dean Mumm, Henry Speight, Ben McCalman (2), Drew Mitchell (2), Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani. Conversions: Quade Cooper (5).
Uruguay – Penalty: Felipe Berchesi.
Wallabies – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Joe Tomane, 13 Henry Speight, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Dean Mumm (c), 3 Toby Smith, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio.
Subs: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Rob Simmons, 21 Will Genia, 22 Bernard Foley, 23 Tevita Kuridrani.
Uruguay – 15 Gaston Mieres, 14 Leandro Leivas, 13 Joaquin Prada, 12 Andres Vilaseca, 11 Rodrigo Silva, 10 Felipe Berchesi, 9 Agustin Ormaechea, 8 Juan Manuel Gaminara, 7 Matias Beer, 6 Juan De Freitas, 5 Franco Lamanna, 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c), 3 Mario Sagario, 2 German Kessler, 1 Mateo Sanguinetti. Subs: 16 Nicolas Klappenbach, 17 Oscar Duran, 18 Carlos Arboleya, 19 Alejandro Nieto, 20 Diego Magno, 21 Fernando Bascou, 22 Alejo Duran, 23 Alberto Roman.
Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
