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*Australia finish tour with 33-12 win
*Giteau makes amends after miss against Scotland
*(Adds details and byline)
By Phil Cadden
CARDIFF, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Australia swept past Wales 33-12
at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to end their European tour
on a high.
Robbie Deans's men had suffered criticism after the shock
9-8 defeat to Scotland last weekend but his side delivered the
perfect response with a four-try win over Wales.
Digby Ioane, James Horwill and David Pocock all touched down
in the opening 40 minutes before Tatafu Polota-Nau sealed
victory for the visitors after the interval.
Wales got on the scoreboard thanks to three penalties from
Stephen Jones and a solitary strike from Leigh Halfpenny but the
hosts had no answer to the power of the Tri Nations giants.
After a dismal trip to Europe with one win from three
matches, Australia were determined to finish well and they
started brightly with Matt Giteau, who missed a last-gasp
conversion against the Scots, putting them in the driving seat
in the third minute with a long-range penalty.
Wales, who were missing skipper Ryan Jones with a back
strain, suffered further injury woes when International Rugby
Board (IRB) world player of the year Shane Williams limped off
with a hamstring problem.
A minute later, new captain Gethin Jenkins saw his men
concede the opening try.
Giteau's clever grubber kick allowed Ioane to beat wing
Halfpenny to the ball and pounce for a simple try. The number
ten missed the conversion from the left touchline.
MISSED CONVERSION
Halfpenny got Wales on to the scoreboard with a long-range
penalty on 18 minutes but within a minute the Wallabies had
doubled their try count.
Benn Robinson shrugged off Luke Charteris's soft tackle and
Drew Mitchell fed Horwill for a simple finish in the left
corner.
Giteau again missed the conversion before Stephen Jones
booted home his first penalty. Australia were dangerous in
attack and it was no surprise when they added a third score to
cap a nightmare 24 minutes for the home side.
Giteau put the Wallabies into an excellent field position
and flanker Pocock capitalised by fending off James Hook and
Charteris to touch down.
Giteau added the extras for a commanding 20-6 lead before
Wales lost Halfpenny and hooker Matthew Rees to injury.
Despite the changes, Jones hammered home his second penalty
from distance but a lapse in concentration from the Dragons at
the re-start allowed Giteau to nudge Australia further ahead.
Jones fired up Wales again with a third penalty on the
stroke of half-time but both the fly-half and Hook missed
chances to pile the pressure on the Wallabies.
The home side should have scored when neat work by Jones put
Jamie Roberts through a gap but the move broke down.
Giteau beat Duncan Jones with a darting run before feeding
replacement prop Polota-Nau to seal victory.
(Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story
email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
((clare.fallon@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 7933; Reuters
Messaging: clare.fallon.reuters.com@reuters.net. For the Reuters
sports blog Left Field go to: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport))
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