Luis Suarez might say their performance lacked bite, but Uruguay avoided disgrace in Villa Park this afternoon.
Beaten 65-3 by the Wallabies, the Teros can be proud of a courageous showing that was almost rewarded with a try near the end, only for their rumbling maul to be deemed held up by referee Pascal Gauzere.
Considering the Wallabies track record against the minnows (their 142-0 spanking of Namibia in 2003 remains the biggest ever Test win), the South Americans may have feared a defeat to rival the 111-13 shellacking England handed out 12 years ago.
While there was no try to celebrate, the sacrificial lambs of the “Pool of Death” can be proud of a second half showing that saw them hold onto plenty of possession.
With five tries scored by half-time, the game was well and truly over, but Australia managed to add six more as Quade Cooper put on a creative masterclass.
Sin-binned early in the game, the fly-half returned to have a huge say on affairs. First he threw a bullet-like flat pass for Drew Mitchell’s second try.
Before a superb midfield break and step allowed him to fire another superb pass out right to help set up Tevita Kuridrani for a great team try.
However, after managing just five from 11 attempts, the Queensland Reds man must not have been happy with the goal-kicking as he stayed out on the field after the final whistle to practice.
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Michael Cheika’s men have now dispatched of the two smaller teams in Pool A. They face England on Saturday at Twickenham before facing Wales at the same venue a week later.
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