Australia win caps southerners’ success

LONDON – Australia proved the doubters wrong by beating England 20-14 to cap a successful day for the southern hemisphere heavyweights, with New Zealand and South Africa also winning in the second round of autumn internationals on Saturday.

The All Blacks recovered from a slow start to overpower Italy 42-10 in Rome, winger Julian Savea scoring two of their five tries as the world champions extended their unbeaten run to 19 matches.Hooker Adriaan Strauss grabbed a brace of tries for South Africa, which scored all of its points in the opening 47 minutes to prevail 21-10 over Scotland at Murrayfield.The Australians were the big winners, though, bouncing back from an embarrassing 33-6 defeat to France last weekend to see off their old rivals at Twickenham and reclaim the Cook Cup.’It was much better than last week – it had to be,’ said Australia coach Robbie Deans, who had come under heavy fire since the Paris loss. ‘Any win here is significant. It doesn’t come easy.’France gave the northern hemisphere something to smile about for the second weekend running by defeating Argentina 39-22 in Lille, with rejuvenated flyhalf Frederic Michalak contributing 24 points. Only New Zealand and South Africa can now leave Europe unbeaten this autumn.Elsewhere, Japan edged Georgia 25-22 in Tbilisi with a late dropped goal by Kosei Ono, Tonga beat the United States 22-13, and Canada ran through Russia 35-3 in a pair of tests in Colwyn Bay, Wales. Also, a largely second-string Ireland thrashed Fiji 53-0 in a non-cap international, running in eight tries.European pride was hit on Friday when Samoa stunned Six Nations champion Wales 26-19 in Cardiff, but England was widely expected to restore order against an injury-hit, try-shy Australian team that was so feeble in France.Those high expectations proved too much for Stuart Lancaster’s side, which was on the back foot for much of the first half but still went into halftime 14-11 ahead after Manu Tuilagi’s 39th-minute try. That canceled out Nick Cummins’ first test try in the 35th – Australia’s first in three matches.Fullback Berrick Barnes booted three penalties early in the second half to make it 20-14 before the Wallabies weathered the storm in the final 25 minutes, helped by England’s curious decision-making in turning down at least three kicks at goal in favour of attacking lineouts.’You back the players on the field,’ Lancaster said. ‘I thought the momentum was with us and the call to kick to the corners was the right one.’While Australia showed again how dangerous it is to write the team off, it is England’s turn to face the critics.Lancaster’s young side started poorly, just like it did in the 54-12 win over Fiji last week, and only fitfully found its best form, with Australia exposing the hosts’ naivety in attack.’We’re devastated to have lost this game,’ Lancaster said. ‘We didn’t quite take our opportunities and at this level we must take it.’The only cloud on Australia’s triumph was the news that center Pat McCabe will miss at least the next three months after scans revealed he sustained a fracture in his neck in the France loss, adding to the squad’s injury problems – especially in its back division.New Zealand has never lost to Italy but was only 13-7 ahead at halftime at Stadio Olimpico following a try by No. 8 Kieran Read, standing in as captain for the rested Richie McCaw.The All Blacks, much-changed from the side that beat Scotland 51-22 last Sunday, only found their trademark incisiveness late on with Cory Jane and Savea twice going over in the final 12 minutes. Center Ma’a Nonu also scored for the tourists in front of more than 70 000 spectators.’Sometimes test matches are not won in the first 20 minutes and it takes 60-80 minutes to wear a side down,’ Read said.Alberto Sgarbi’s converted try and Luciano Orquera’s dropped goal were all Italy had to show for their efforts.The Springboks relied on their renowned physicality to emerge triumphant 16-12 against Ireland and it was much the same against Scotland, although all their good work came in the first hour this week.Strauss went over either side of the break, with Pat Lambie kicking the other 11 points. Replacement scrumhalf Henry Pyrgos grabbed a consolation try for the Scots, who fell to a fourth straight home loss having entered the autumn tests with confidence after beating Australia away in June.’It was not a great game but we will take an ugly win,’ South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer said. ‘We know we can play much better and we will need to improve (against England) next week.’Michalak, who also starred against the Wallabies last week, has rediscovered his form in a France jersey, helped of course by playing behind a dominant pack that paved the way toward victory over the Pumas.Winger Vincent Clerc, with his 33rd and 34th international tries, and rangy flanker Yannick Nyanga dotted down for Les Bleus, with Michalak converting all three tries and adding five penalties and a dropped goal.The southern hemisphere big guns have won five of their six matches in Europe this month, all but securing top-four spots in the IRB rankings ahead of the pool draw for the 2015 World Cup on December 3. – Nampa-AP

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