The Wallabies scored five second-half tries as they secured a 47-10 win over the USA in a World Cup warm-up match in Chicago. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
Australia fielded a largely experimental side for their final match before the World Cup, with coach Michael Cheika opting to rest a number of first-choice players in what was the Wallabies’ first match in America in nearly 40 years.
The Wallabies scored two early tries through flyhalf Bernard Foley and scrumhalf Nick Phipps to take a 14-0 lead by the 16th minute, but failed to establish any continuity in attack for the rest of the first half.
The USA Eagles cut the deficit to just four points at the break as flyhalf AJ MacGinty slotted a penalty, while Zimbabwean-born winger Takudzwa Ngwenya impressively set up a try for scrumhalf Mike Petri.
However, it was predominantly one-way traffic in the second half, particularly during the final quarter when the Eagles’ resolve began to fade, with Sean McMahon, Dean Mumm, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, Taqele Naiyaravoro all dotting down for the Wallabies.
USA – Try: Mike Petri. Conversion: AJ MacGinty. Penalty: MacGinty.
Wallabies – Tries: Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Sean McMahon, Dean Mumm, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, Taqele Naiyaravoro. Conversions: Foley (6).
USA – 15 Blaine Scully, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Seamus Kelly, 12 Thretton Palamo, 11 Chris Wyles (c), 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Samu Manoa, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 6 Al McFarland, 5 Greg Peterson, 4 Cameron Dolan, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Zach Fenoglio, 1 Eric Fry.
Subs: 16 Phil Thiel, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Louis Stanfill, 20 John Quill, 21 Danny Barrett, 22 Shalom Suniula, 23 Folau Niua.
Wallabies – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Joe Tomane, 13 Henry Speight, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 James Slipper (c).
Subs: 16 James Hanson, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Toby Smith, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Sam Carter, 21 Quade Cooper, 22 Will Genia, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro.
Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
