Larkham’s class undoes Islanders

By Jeremy Duxbury

The Punjas Pacific Islanders never really found their running rhythm in Saturday's Test against the Wallabies in Adelaide, going down 29-14 in a tough encounter in slippery conditions. Sione Lauaki and Sireli Bobo scored second-half tries for the Islanders who put together some good phase play but struggled in the line-outs and were tactically out-kicked.

The quality of the Wallabies backs in particular set the tone of the game, which was played predominantly in the Islanders’ territory thanks to the pinpoint kicking accuracy of Stephen Larkham, Joe Roff and Matt Giteau.

Almost 20,000 fans turned up expecting to see the exciting brand of running rugby and slick passing that is the Islanders’ trademark, but the ball barely reached Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lome Fa’atau on the wings as the visitors opted to play ball-up-the-jumper rugby in the middle of the park.

Their retention of possession, however, was excellent, even though precious few line-breaks were witnessed. The Island backs played very flat, and, with the Aussie defence coming up quickly, had little space to step and shine.

The tight game was reflected in the low first-half score of 10-0. Sterling Mortlock crashed over in the corner on 15 minutes after a poor clearance kick from Islander halfback Moses Rauluni. And three minutes before half-time, Giteau beat Tanner Vili in the race to the corner after more poor kicking had turned over possession.

Rauluni, Vili, Seleila Mapusua and Seremaia Bai all took turns to miss touch with their kicks, and they had the superb tackling of forwards Lauaki and Alifereti Doviverata to thank in keeping the Wallabies from scoring more points.

The Aussie media took delight in implying that the Islanders tackling techniques were illegal, with numerous incorrect references to "high shots". The only dangerous tackle of the game came late in the second half when Mapusua dumped George Gregan on his neck.

In the first minute, South African-born wing Clyde Rathbone was bundled over off the ball by Inoke Afeaki in a collision that was clearly accidental. Rathbone went off for 10 minutes to recover.

And on the hour, Rathbone’s game was ended by a thumping but perfectly legal tackle from replacement fullback Seru Rabeni.

But while the Islanders stood up physically to the challenge, their game plan was suspect and execution weak. The line-outs proved a liability and they were perhaps fortunate not to receive further punishment from the Aussie pack for their mistakes.

The Islanders only really had one good chance in the first half when Vili broke from his 22, made it to halfway before off-loading to Bai, who didn’t have the pace nor support to get away from Mortlock.

Bai missed a couple of penalty kicks at goal, but in the 48th minute some good build-up work saw Lauaki force his way over the line for the Islanders’ first points. Bai converted, and at 10-7 things didn’t look too bad at all.

But Australia hit back almost immediately as hooker Brendan Cannon had the easy job over touching down from a drive following a line-out close to the Islanders’ line.

Seven minutes later, after two more Island line-out losses, Giteau scored his second try. Larkham punted a high ball into the in-goal area, Lote Tuqiri patted it backwards and Giteau reached the loose ball just ahead of Bai.

Roff kicked over his first conversion in four attempts, and the Wallabies led 22-7.

They should have gone further ahead entering the last quarter but first Jeremy Paul momentarily panicked and touched down short of the line, then Chris Latham lost control as he tried to ground the ball under the close attention of Rauluni and Rabeni.

Twelve minutes from full-time, Australia lock Daniel Vickerman was yellow carded for spoiling tactics. From the ensuing play, Bai neatly chipped over the defence for Bobo to catch cleanly and touch down in the corner.

Bai converted to narrow the deficit to eight points at 22-14, but from the restart Australia won possession and Mortlock ploughed through some weakish tackles to score a try that the Islanders will rue giving away.

The final scoreline of 29-14 reflected the cold, wet conditions. The Islanders, while putting on a creditable display in showing they can compete at this level, will surely hope for warmer, drier weather in Albany next week when they take on the All Blacks.

Australia 29 Pacific Islanders 14
Bundaberg Rum Series
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Half-time: 10-0
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)
Touch judges: Paddy O'Brien, Bryce Lawrence (both New Zealand)
Assessor: Jim Bailey (Wales)
Television match official: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)
Crowd: 19,266

AUSTRALIA: 15 Joe Roff (Matt Burke 61), 14 Clyde Rathbone (Chris Latham 2-11, 60), 13 Stirling Mortlock (Nic Henderson 79), 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (capt) (Chris Whitaker 63), 8 David Lyons, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Radike Samo (George Smith 63), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Justin Harrison (Daniel Vickerman 58, yellow card 68-77), 3 Al Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon (Jeremy Paul 63), 1 Bill Young.
Coach: Eddies Jones
Tries: Mortlock (2), Giteau (2), Cannon; Conversions: Roff, Burke

PACIFIC ISLANDERS: 15 Norman Ligairi (Seru Rabeni 59), 14 Lome Fa'atau (Sireli Bobo 63), 13 Seilala Mapusua, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Tanner Vili (Steven So'oialo 79), 9 Mosese Rauluni, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Alifereti Doviverata (Semo Sititi 65), 6 Sione Lauaki, 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4 Inoke Afeaki (capt) (Leo Lafaiali’i 62), 3 Taufa’ao Filise (Tevita Taumoepeau 65), 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Not used: Joeli Lotawa
Coach: John Boe
Tries: Lauaki, Bobo; Conversions: Bai (2)

Scoring sequence (Australia score first)
15min – TRY AUSTRALIA, Mortlock – 5-0
37min – TRY AUSTRALIA, Giteau – 10-0
Half-time
48min – TRY ISLANDERS, Lauaki, conversion Bai – 10-7
50min – TRY AUSTRALIA, Cannon – 15-7
57min – TRY AUSTRALIA, Giteau, Roff conversion – 22-7
71min – TRY ISLANDERS, Bobo, conversion Bai – 22-14
73min – TRY AUSTRALIA, Mortlock, Burke conversion – 29-14
Full-time

Bundaberg Rum Man of the Match: S Larkham (Australia)