Rugby: Wallabies in clear over gouging

By WYNNE GRAY

Veteran flanker David Wilson has survived an eye-gouging charge to leave the Wallabies with a complete squad for their Bledisloe Cup Tri-Nations rugby rematch with the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday.

Wilson escaped any censure yesterday after being cited by commissioner David Gray who, unusually, monitored the Wallabies' 26-6 victory against the Springboks on television in New Zealand.

Suggestions came from Australia yesterday that the citing occurred because of comments by the television commentators.

However, the judicial hearing accepted that Wilson's actions had been accidental.

The hearing gave Springbok centre De Wet Barry a yellow card for punching Wilson.

In many ways the test at Stadium Australia mirrored the All Blacks' test the previous week against the Springboks.

There was consistent niggle throughout as the Boks tried to arrest their losing streak. At one stage Wallaby skipper John Eales asked referee Ed Morrison to look at Stirling Mortlock's eyes after the wing had retaliated with a punch.

The test became more grim and physical as the teams slogged to the finish. The Boks had enough possession to threaten victory, but their backline lacked any decent flair to break a concrete Wallaby defence.

For winning skipper Eales there was pleasure in the victory and not conceding any tries, though he admitted the Wallabies had not played all that well.

Soon after Wilson, Richard Harry and Jason Little completed laps of honour in their farewell test on Australian soil before taking up overseas contracts or retiring, Eales' concern increased when Wilson was cited for the second-half incident.

But those worries evaporated when Wilson was cleared to play in the Wallabies' third Tri-Nations game this weekend.

The Boks have shown they have enough forward muscle to trouble both the All Blacks and Wallabies. They have an enveloping defence but an alarming lack of backline thrust.

The 77,048 crowd, anxious for a repeat of the 10-try thriller a fortnight ago, saw the sort of dour slog New Zealand found last weekend in Christchurch.

Mortlock rediscovered his kicking touch and also scored a try in his 21 points, while replacement hooker Jeremy Paul scored the Wallabies' other try after impressive work from Toutai Kefu and Little.

The video referee denied David Giffin an opening try for the Wallabies, but from the subsequent scrum Stephen Larkham looped to handle twice and extra man Joe Roff pushed a perfect pass to fellow wing Mortlock for the try.

In the second half, Kefu broke the midfield clutter with a 30m surge, Little carried the move to the shadow of the line before Paul grounded the ball.

After the judicial hearings and medical exams yesterday, the Wallabies reported no problems for their next assignment against the All Blacks.

The same 22 are likely to travel to Wellington, the only possible playing change being Matt Cockbain for Mark Connors as blindside flanker.

The Wallabies are expected to announce their team tomorrow, while the All Blacks, who reassembled yesterday in Palmerston North, will reveal their side on Wednesday.

Australia 26 (Stirling Mortlock, Jeremy Paul tries, Mortlock 2 cons, 4 pen) South Africa 6 (Braam van Straaten 2 pen). Halftime: 19-6.