Australia A top Baa-Baas

Nov 2, 2005

Australia A beat the French Barbarians 42-12 in the opening game of the European tour on Wednesday.

The Australians absorbed some early pressure from a heavyweight Barbarians pack to run out winners by five tries to two.

Fullback Cameron Shepherd kicked three early penalties, but the Baa-Baas - captained by former All Black halfback Justin Marshall - hit back with a pushover try claimed by hooker Benoit August.

In-form Toulouse outside-half Jean-Frederic Dubois missed the conversion but was successful after August notched up his second try in the 36th minute.

But the young Australians hit back with some crisp attacking rugby, inspired by hefty centre Lloyd Johansson, scoring a try through captain and flanker David Croft and hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau.

Successful conversions by Shepherd gave the Australians a 23-12 half-time lead.

The Barbarians remained scoreless in the second period, their hardworking pack let down by their butter-fingered backline.

But the Australians scored three more tries through centre Adam Ashley-Cooper after a break by impressive winger Digby Ioane, experienced international Mat Rogers, who was on for the last 15 minutes, and replacement scrum-half Brett Sheehan.

Shepherd kicked two more conversions to end with a personal tally of 17 points.

Australia coach Eddie Jones said he was pleased with the result and predicted that some of the players on display in Bordeaux would be playing in the 2007 World Cup in France.

"We showed enough to indicate that that group players have potential to go further in the game," Jones said.

"How further the next 12 months will decide, but there is some good raw potential in that group.

"Our defence was very good, the Barbarians had a lot of the ball but we only allowed two tries, maulish-type tries.

"In attack, we played with a bit of conviction and tried to move the ball around. There are some nice individuals skills among that group. Some of them are ready to play Test rugby, some other aren't.

"A guy like Lloyd Johansson made a strong case, and he has the potential to be a much better player. We saw today a lot of players who will be in the World Cup squad".

Australia plays France in a test match on Sunday.