Australia 37 Canada 6
KEY POINTS:
BORDEAUX - Australia scored six tries in wet conditions here in Bordeaux to record a 37-6 victory over Canada in their final World Cup Group B match and emerge unbeaten from their first round battles a week away from a rematch of the 2003 final with England in the last eight.
The two-time champions missed four of their six conversions, though, and at times made hard work of breaking down limited opponents.
Canada defended gamely despite the Wallabies dominating ball and territory.
"We're happy to be here and get away with a win. It wasn't the greatest game to watch, the conditions played into it a little bit but we probably played into the wrong parts of the field a lot of the time," said Australia coach John Connolly.
"The Canadian defence was tight and good. But we were playing a halfback who's played mostly at 15 (fullback) and two wingers in midfield, the lack of teamwork was quite evident at times."
Captain George Smith said his team's defence had been pleasing.
"The conditions didn't help. In terms of the positives out of the game the defence was fantastic. We didn't allow the Canadians to get too much advantage line and possession. That's definitely a positive and come the quarter-final stage we'll definitely be on song."
Apart from a second minute Julien Huxley penalty, Australia had to wait until almost the half hour mark to break through the stubborn Canadian defence.
Having used their forwards to push to within metres of the line, they worked some space on the left wing and fed prop Al Baxter, who was left with a complete mismatch against Canadian captain and scrum-half Morgan Williams.
Williams got his arms around Baxter but he could do nothing to prevent a try.
Surprisingly, having talked up the Canadian pack beforehand, Australia concentrated their efforts up front and the second try of the half came from a big heave, with hooker Adam Freier touching down behind his pack.
Such was Australia's domination that Canada were put under sustained pressure but they refused to buckle, putting in the tackles and at one point early in the second period fending off Australia for several minutes inside their own 22.
They also managed to get on the scoreboard after a rare foray into Wallaby territory. Australian-born winger James Pritchard even offered himself a wry smile after slotting over a penalty against his countrymen.
However, Canada were the architects of their own downfall thereafter with a misplaced lineout from substitute hooker Aaron Carpenter presenting Smith with a gift of a try.
Pritchard slotted over another penalty to make it 18-6 but Canada were putting themselves under pressure by failing to win their own lineouts. But for frequent poor handling, the Wallabies could have racked up a much bigger score.
It was only in the final 20 minutes that the Canadians wilted, conceding three tries to flowing Australian back play, with Drew Mitchell scoring twice and Chris Latham touching down once.
"Credit to our guys, they got stuck in and didn't leave anything easy for Australia," said Canada coach Ric Suggitt.
"Speaking to a couple of the Australian players after the game they said we really competed well at the break down and put them under pressure, which they needed for their preparation for the next stage of the World Cup."
In the final five minutes George Gregan came on for Australia to extend his record international appearances to 140.
- AFP
