Wallabies now favourites for Tri-Nations

Australia's come-from-behind series win over the Lions brings high praise from their defeated foes, as WYNNE GRAY reports.

SYDNEY - Forget protests about the length of their season.

The Lions, a side picked from the combined powers of four nations, were unable to beat one country, Australia.

There were no whispers from the Lions about fatigue when they thundered to the opening test win in Brisbane.

The test side were nurtured for their Saturday assignments and the excuses started to roll out only when things started to unravel in the final week.

But the Wallabies were good, damned good, and improved so much that they were able to cope with the withdrawals through injuries of their playmaker, Stephen Larkham, and seasoned lock, David Giffin, to win the pulsating finale 29-23 in Sydney on Saturday night.

The Lions are a great attraction, but are not due to tour New Zealand until 2005, and on Saturday the management were talking about playing only weekend games on that trip.

However, New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Murray McCaw wants a schedule of about 10 matches, including three tests and an "international" against the New Zealand Maori.

It would fit into the Sanzar-proposed international window in the middle of the year.

But the immediate task for the All Blacks will be the Tri-Nations series starting against the Springboks this Sunday in Cape Town, then the games against the Wallabies.

Lions coach Graham Henry suggested the Wallabies would start favourites for that competition, even though the All Blacks and Springboks would be fresher.

That view was shared by his captain, Martin Johnson.

"The Wallabies are the best-drilled, most prepared side I have faced," he said. "They get the best out of what they have got. They are a very good team."

The Wallabies will have some issues to deal with before they begin their defence of the Tri-Nations title. Eddie Jones takes over as coach, and while he has been part of the set-up for some time, he will bring different ideas and strategies for the team to absorb.

And if Larkham remains injured, the Wallabies look at little thin at pivot.

But they have looked vulnerable for some time and still keep winning - and did so on Saturday against a Lions team who retiring coach Rod Macqueen labelled the best side he had faced in his four-year term.

He fingered the Wallabies' ability to work through multiple phases of play as part of their secret, while the influences of John Eales, George Gregan, George Smith and Matthew Burke, among many, were profound.

"There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and for as long as the Wallabies are around I hope they respect that," Macqueen said.

He also mentioned composure and playing "smart rugby," a trait the Wallabies had to produce when they were down to 14 men after referee Paddy O'Brien sinbinned Daniel Herbert for a high tackle.

The total cost during his spell in the bin was three points from the penalty that had been awarded.

The Lions tried to play with width for much of the game, with the impressive Jonny Wilkinson throwing some superb cut-out passes, but the sliding Wallaby defence was too cute. How Wilkinson played so well after being carried off on a stretcher last week was a remarkable tribute in a beaten side.

There were many critical moments in this intense drama, none more so than the first lineout, where rookie Justin Harrison pinched the Lions' throw, and then repeated the robbery in the final minutes when the Lions were deep in enemy territory.

An impetuous quick throw-in to himself found replacement No 8 Colin Charvis nobbled and from a subsequent play, Herbert scored his second try to get the Wallabies square again after Wilkinson had scored soon after halftime.

The lineouts were Australia's strength. They attacked most Lions' throws and succeeded with a reasonable percentage to upset the planned driving mauls.

Smith, on his 21st birthday, repeatedly celebrated at the breakdowns. His speed, anticipation and strength on his feet were remarkable, as was the all-round work of Gregan.

Nothing much creaked for the Wallabies. They will certainly be the toughest side to crack in the Tri-Nations.