Rampaging Aussies give new coach big boost

AUSTRALIA’S new era under coach John Connolly began with a crushing 34-3 win over England yesterday, helped by an unlikely try from hulking prop Rodney “Rodzilla” Blake on his Test debut.

Front rower Blake also showed his ball-handling skills to force his 130 kilogram frame over the line for a try in the dying minutes.

Overall, Connolly said he was pleased with a team he took over in February still reeling from its worst losing streak in 36 years.

“We are satisfied with the result in terms of points but we just know we can play so much better,” he said.

Coach Andy Robinson said his side had rattled the Australians but too many “bombed” opportunities and two late Wallabies tries meant the lopsided scoreline did not reflect the game.

Australia drew first blood when Stirling Mortlock converted a penalty to give Australia a 3-0 lead.

Urged on by captain Gregan, the host’s formidable backline then began to spread the ball around, looking like the Wallabies of old with Mortlock, Mat Rodgers and Lote Tuqiri on the attack.

The English defence held them out but conceded a penalty which Mortlock duly converted.

The visitors’ morale was further sapped when Olly Barkley missed a penalty from right in front of the posts before Australia slotted home another penalty to go into the break 9-0.

England made it onto the scoreboard early in the second half when Barkley converted a penalty, only for Mortlock to do the same a few minutes later.

Australia’s Stephen Larkham then released Mortlock, who passed into the path of a charging Chris Latham to give the Queensland fullback his 31st Test try.

England continued to infringe at the breakdown and a fifth Australian penalty conversion extended the Wallabies’ lead to 22-3.

Inside back Clyde Rathbone had an immediate impact from the reserves bench. He turned on the afterburners in a 50 metre run from deep within his own half and then passed to winger Mark Gerrard, who crossed for a converted try on 73 minutes.

Another Australian attack resulted in Blake taking the ball about 10 metres from the line and shrugging off a tackle to cap a memorable debut.

Elsewhere, Biarritz held onto their crown as French rugby champions by demolishing Toulouse 40-13 in the Top 14 final at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.

Beaten in the European Cup final 23-19 by Munster on May 20, they salvaged some pride by winning their fifth championship by scoring five tries in the second half on the back of a devastating performance by their pack.

Leading 9-6 at the break, Biarritz wingers Jean-Baptiste Gobelet and Sireli Bobo then scored tries just three minutes apart. Another try by centre Damien Traille in the 58th minute pushed the score out to 30-6.

Toulouse cut the margin with a try by replacement flanker Gregory Lamboley, but touchdowns by August and lock Imanol Harinordoquy sealed Biarritz’s title in emphatic fashion.