A late rally by the midweek Australian side saw them stun Cardiff Blues with two converted tries in the last three minutes to record a comfortable 31-3 victory at the Cardiff City Stadium.
In total Robbie Deans’ side scored four tries and completely shut out the home side. The tourists led 17-3 and were never seriously in danger of being caught by the Blues.
Full back James O’Connor stood out for Australia while Beale also showed touches of class on the wing for the dirt trackers.
Highly promising fly half Matt Toomua lasted only two minutes in his Wallaby debut after he took the full brunt of a bullocking Dafydd Hewitt charge. A minute later Ben Blair scored the first points in an international match played at the ground with a well struck penalty.
In the fifth minute Ryan Cross scored the first of Australia’s four tries, after O’Connor had split the Cardiff defence. O’Connor added the conversion and the tourists had a lead they never conceded.
O’Connor banged over a 20th minute penalty, before a mistake by the Blues gifted the Wallabies their next – Kurtley Beale getting the try right on the stroke of half-time. O’Connor converted to make it 17-3 at the break.
The scoreline stayed unchanged – despite yellow cards to Richard Brown and Matt Hodgson for repeated infringements at the breakdown – till the 77th minute.
A break from debutant scrum half Richard Kingi, who slipped a delicate ball to another debutant Luke Morahan, set up the winger for Australia’s third try as he cantered home unoppsoed. O’Connor again converted.
Beale took advantage of a wayward kick by the Blues fly half Sam Norton-Knight to score his second try after a quicksilver counter attack by the Wallabies. O’Connor converted to end the match on 31-3.
Scorers:
Cardiff Blues: Pen: Blair
Australia: Tries: Cross, Beale (2), Morahan; Cons: O’Connor (4); Pen: O’Connor
