Wallabies enjoy first half lead against Wales

Australia 18 Wales 3

Two tries from Australian winger Wendell Sailor killed off a determined first half assault from Wales at Sydney Olympic Stadium.

After five minutes of early Welsh pressure, with scrum half Gareth Cooper orchestrating the moves, Sailor ran the length of the field for the game’s opening try.

Picking the ball up inside his own in-goal area after Australian skipper George Gregan had fed him from the back of a maul Sailor beat three tackles and raced up the right hand side of the field for his five points.

Elton Flatley missed the conversion but three minutes later Sailor had his second after a clever run and kick from Australian fullback Chris Latham.

The Queensland fullback picked up the ball well inside his own half and cleverly kicked through for Sailor and Gregan to converge on it a yard from the Welsh line.

Sailor was first to the ball for his second try in a superb first half performance.

Flatley, who missed his second conversion attempt, got on the scoreboard six minutes later with a penalty in front of the posts and a minute later Wales were rewarded with their own penalty after a Wallaby defender had illegally joined the tackle in front of the last feet.

Fly half Stephen Jones duly converted.

In the 23rd minute Latham grabbed Australia’s third try running through a hole to beat Tom Shanklin to the line and again Flatley missed his conversion attempt.

Wales had another penalty four minutes later for a hands in the ruck offence but Jones missed with his 40 yard kick, the ball sailing wide to the left of the posts.

The Welsh were denied a deserved try late in the half when Number 8 Colin Charvis was stopped a yard short by a superb tackle from Gregan and Nathan Sharpe.

The resulting scrum was eventually turned over by Australia who went in at half time with an 18-3 lead.