Rugby: Tier two Wallabies show test squad how it's done

CARDIFF - Robbie Deans has challenged his under-achieving Wallabies to show the same grit against Wales as his second-stringers displayed in their hoodoo-busting victory over Cardiff yesterday.

Against the odds, the Wallabies' mid-weekers restored some credibility to the gold jumper after Sunday's diabolical loss to Scotland with a spirited 31-3 victory that left Deans feeling proud as punch.

The tourists lost teenage five-eighths Matt Toomua in the third minute with a broken jaw, then played a quarter of the game with only 14 men while back-rowers Richard Brown and Matt Hodgson spent stints in the sin bin and also overcame an unfavourable 20-9 penalty count to notch an historic win in the Welsh capital.

In one of the more bizarre records in sport, the Wallabies had lost all six previous encounters with Cardiff dating back to the two sides' first meeting in 1908.

"It's a good fillip for the group, particularly because they played with spirit and played as one," Deans said.

"I would certainly hope this will rub off [on the test team]. We're lucky to have that opportunity, to be honest. To have to go into the summer on the back of that last performance wouldn't be pleasant."

Fullback James O'Connor, dual tryscorer Kurtley Beale, who played out of position on the left wing, flanker Hodgson and crash-tackling hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau were the stars for the Wallabies.

It was also a particularly memorable night for teenage sevens star Luke Morahan, who celebrated his Wallabies debut off the bench in style with a 25-metre try in the dying minutes.

Morahan was only drafted into the squad last week, but couldn't believe his luck after fellow debutant Richard Kingi sent him on a clear run to the line with a beautiful pass just minutes after being thrust into the Wallabies fray for the very first time.

"It's great for those blokes to get their careers under way," Deans said.

"Unlucky for Matty Toomua to break his jaw but I guess it's tinged with happiness as well; he wore the Wallaby jersey for the first time."

The Wallabies trailed 3-0 early after fullback Ben Blair struck a fifth-minute penalty goal for Cardiff, but went to the sheds in control leading 17-3 after converted tries to Beale and centre Ryan Cross, plus an O'Connor penalty goal. Aided by the whistle-happy referee, Cardiff kept the Wallabies at bay in the second half until Morahan and Beale crossed in the dying minutes.

- AAP