Australia 67 USA 5:Australia today put their World Cup Pool C defeat to Ireland behind them with an 11-try rout in Wellington.
Still reeling from the 15-6 loss in Auckland, the Wallabies were intent to make a statement and Robert Horne, Rocky Elsom, Kurtley Beale and Anthony Faingaa crossed as the bonus point was achieved in the opening 40 minutes, with JJ Gagiano responding with a try for the USA.
Adam Ashley-Cooper then scored three tries in seven minutes midway through the second half, while Drew Mitchell, Pat McCabe, Faingaa and Radike Samo also scored, with Quade Cooper and Berrick Barnes kicking four and eight points, respectively.
Faingaa late on suffered an apparent head injury and was taken off on a stretcher as Australia climbed to the top of the table ahead of Ireland’s clash with Russia on Sunday. Beale and Wycliff Palu also appeared to withdraw early from the action due to injury.
Centre Horne opened the scoring with his first Test try after eight minutes, touching down in the corner following Cooper’s burst. A second came three minutes later as flanker Elsom waltzed over following a slick move which included Mitchell running into the line.
The USA, though, showed they were not to be taken lightly when number eight Gagiano crashed over after breaking off a five-metre scrum following persistent pressure.
Australia flexed their muscles again when Elsom burst out of his own 22 following a turnover, Ashley-Cooper forged forward and Beale went over. Cooper converted. Another try soon followed as Faingaa burrowed over following Horne’s strong run to secure the bonus point before half-time.
But there was a problem for Australia too, as Beale withdrew a minute before the interval with an apparent groin problem and was replaced by Barnes.
Mitchell crashed over early in the second period, with Cooper converting, before McCabe touched down in the right corner with his first touch moments later after coming on as a replacement.
Ashley-Cooper then enjoyed a purple patch and went over easily on the right in the 60th minute, touched down again four minutes later and powered his way to his hat-trick after 66 minutes. Barnes converted two of the scores.
Faingaa went over in the left corner for his second try of the night after 70 minutes but his evening was to end on a sour note after Samo had added the final try two minutes from time when he went round the US defence on the right and Barnes added another conversion.
Centre Faingaa required lengthy treatment after suffering an apparent head injury when attempting a tackle and was taken off on the medical cart.
