The Wallabies have secured a bonus-point 45-10 victory over a tough Uruguay team in Pool D of the Rugby World Cup in Japan earlier this morning.
Two tries each from Dane Haylett-Petty and Tevita Kurindrani, along with touchdowns from Jordan Petaia, Will Genia and James Slipper sealed a bonus-point win for the men in green and gold.
The Aussies got off to a flying start with winger Haylett-Petty getting over in the right-corner after some nice play from the back-line. Fly-half Christian Lealiifano hit a perfect conversion from the touchline to make it 7-0 in five minutes.
Uruguay responded well and cut the deficit within a couple of minutes from a penalty kick, with Felipe Berchesi sending the kick over from in front of the posts.
Moments later and the Wallabies were down to 14-men as lock Adam Coleman was sin-binned after a high-tackle.
However, it was Australia that hit the next score through 19-year-old Petaia was on the end of a lovely move, bursting through two tackles before spinning around a tackler on the line to touchdown, becoming the youngest try scorer for his country at a World Cup. Again Lealiifano hit the extras to push the Wallabies 14-3 in front.
Just after Coleman returned to the fray the Wallabies were down a man once again as Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was yellow carded for another high-tackle.
Although once again it was the Wallabies that struck with Petaia showing great feet and sent a lovely pass to Kuridrani, who sprinted over for his side’s third try. The extra two were missed this time but they went in 19-3 at the half-time whistle.
The Wallabies took little time to get going after half-time as Kuridrani burst through the defence and raced over for his second and Australia’s fourth to seal the bonus-point. Lealiifano slotted over from the tee to stretch the lead out to 26-3.
Seven minutes on and substitute Genia was sent over by Jack Dempsey who showed great power to hold off a couple of defenders before passing to the scrum-half, who simply had to touch the ball down over the whitewash, with the two being added by Lealiifano.
Just after the hour mark and Slipper barged over for his side’s sixth try of the game and his first for the Wallabies in his 94th test, and Lealiifano made no mistake with the conversion to make it 40-3.
With twelve minutes remaining Haylett-Petty latched onto a brilliant grubber kick through to get another try in the right-corner. The extras were missed this time around.
Despite being well over as a contest minnows Uruguay made a late push and were rewarded with a try as Manual Diana barrelled over the line from close-range to a roar from the crowd that were delighted to see them score a deserved try. Berchesi knocked over the extras in what was the final score of the game as it finished 45-3 in favour of the Wallabies.
The win momentarily puts the Wallabies at the summit of Pool D having played a game more than Wales, and they will hope to secure a place in the last eight of the tournament when they take on Georgia on Friday. Meanwhile, Uruguay will finish up their time in Japan with a clash against Wales next Sunday.
Wallabies Player Ratings
Starting XV:
James Slipper (7), Folau Fainga’a (6), Allan Alaalatoa (7), Rob Simmons (7), Adam Coleman (6), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (5), Michael Hooper (7), Jack Dempsey (8), Nic White (7), Christian Lealiifano (7), Jordan Petaia (8), Matt To’omua (7), Tevita Kuridrani (9), Dane Haylett-Petty (8), Kurtley Beale (7)
Replacements (7)
