UPDATE: Wallabies coach Michael Cheika says his team has to focus on giving away fewer penalties after an ill-disciplined start to a big 45-10 win over Uruguay.
Australia’s win was their second of the tournament, putting them on top of their pool for now with Wales and Fiji yet to play, and on track for a top two spot when the dust settles next week.
Saturday’s clash shaped as a chance for the Wallabies to make an emphatic statement about their World Cup credentials but they certainly didn’t do that from the outset.
Australia held a 16-point lead by the half-hour mark but also had to play for 20 minutes with just 14 men after two yellow cards for high tackles.
By the 35th minute, the Wallabies led the penalty count 8-4 and the tally ended up 12-5, a disparity that Cheika said post-match his team couldn't afford to continue.
"We’re just giving away too many penalties full stop," he said.
"No matter what it's for. You can’t be winning a game by 45 and still losing the penalty count.
"We've got to stop giving away penalties.
"Especially in the first part, that's part of, I don’t know what the actual breakdown of some of them were.
"For example there was one for kicking the ball out of the ruck, that’s a penalty, we know that.
"So, just those little things, we definitely need to tidy up. I don’t know if that's correlated through the three games but it feels a little bit like it and then when we start getting our flow going, we're giving away less penalties.
"But yeah got to give away less penalties."
Cheika was less expansive when asked whether he felt they needed to change their approach specifically when it came to high tackles.
After Australia's loss to Wales, Cheika fumed about high tackle decisions saying he felt he didn't know the rules anymore but on Saturday, he was careful to steer clear of any commentary on the issue.
"I'm not going to talk about it, I think it's pretty clear why not. Just steer clear of it and everyone will be good," he said.
Despite that ill-discipline, the Wallabies were well and truly on top for much of the half and that dominance continued in the second as they piled on 26 points in the final 40.
One of the major bright spots was the performance of Jordan Petaia, who scored a try on debut and looked right at home on the international stage after a year of false starts.
Petaia played just 40 minutes, a time that was always part of the Wallabies' plan for him, but was able to make his presence known in that time.
The Queensland back had a try in the 25th minute and helped set up another for Tevita Kuridrani six minutes later in some exciting signs for the future.
Cheika said the youngster had been "impeccable" in camp as he worked his way back from a hamstring injury in a pre-World Cup training camp to running out for the Wallabies on Saturday.
"I thought he made some nice touches and he’s been absolutely impeccable," he said.
"His injury in Noumea, where he was, we said downstairs, where you were down in the first or second day of camp to running on to make your debut and having a significant involvement.
"Scored a try, had a big part in another and just did little things, like ran down the edge, bounced back in, stayed in touch, kept the ball alive for the next play. Played physical, got up and caught a few balls.
"We only ever wanted to play him for the first half of the game as he's coming back because he probably could have sued another week in prep .
"It was a significant injury, he's done supremely well to get back and make his debut."
Kuridrani, who was named player of the match, had a double for the Wallabies in a strong performance from the outside centre, who has slipped down the pecking order this season.
James O'Connor, who was a late withdrawal from the bench after suffering a cork, has been preferred at 13 this season but Cheika said the contest between those two could become more about their upcoming opponents each week.
O'Connor is expected to be available for next Friday's match against Georgia despite this injury.
"I think we’ve shown a bit more horses for courses in this tournament already and depending on the opponent there could be different options," Cheika said.
"We can have a James type player as well at fullback in he centre and James has been playing well too, so it's a good contest. Tevita's first game back he certainly did himself no harm at all in relation to selection going forward."
The Wallabies dominated early and used their strength in their forwards to build some pressure on the Teros.
Dane Haylett-Petty had the first try in the sixth minute after a helter skelter passage of play that saw the ball bounce of Uruguayan defenders and back over the heads of the Wallabies before they cleaned up that mess.
A quick switch gave the Wallabies an overlap and Lurtley Beale threw the last pass for Haylett-Petty to go over.
The early stages certainly didn’t go all the Wallabies way, though, with Uruguay mounting a spirited attack on Australia’s line.
A penalty from a lineout gave Uruguay a five-metre scrum and they peppered the Australian line before a high tackle gave the South Americans the chance to notch their first points.
Australia was left a man down in the 14th minute when lock Adam Coleman was yellow-carded for a high tackle, collecting a Uruguayan opponent above the shoulder.
The Wallabies looked to have scored again when Michael Hooper rolled over the line but with no clear grounding, Australia went to a five-metre scrum instead.
Debutant Petaia scored his first career try in the 24th minute, spinning out of a tackle to score and give the Wallabies somewhat of a settler as Coleman returned to the field.
Australia were at their full complement for just four minutes before another yellow card was handed out for repeated high tackles, this time to Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.
Tevita Kuridrani added to the Wallabies’ scoreline, finishing off a slick attacking move by Australia that went through multiple sets of hands before a Petaia step put Kuridrani through a hole to score.
Uruguay looked to have scored their first try in the 40th minute but Tomas Inciarte was ruled offside.
Taniela Tupou replaced Allan Alaalatoa at half-time and instantly made an impact in open play, crashing through the Uruguayan defence.
It was Kuridrani who scored first in the second half, bursting through a defensive hole and finding the line for his second.
Replacement halfback Will Genia added another, finishing off an opportunity created through some spectacular Jack Dempsey footwork and the Wallabies’ confidence began to rise after that.
The celebrations were raised a notch when loosehead James Slipper crossed the line, for his first Test try in his 94th Australian appearance.
Haylett-Petty scored his second in the 69th minute to stretch the margin out to 42 points and the Wallabies were heading into cruise control territory as Uruguay began to tire.
The Uruguayans weren't quite done yet, though, with Manuel Diana getting the side's first try in the 78th minute after heaping pressure on the Australian line.
Uruguay coach Esteban Meneses said the Wallabies "overwhelmed" his side with their attack as the match went on.
"The Australian side performed great rugby today," he said via a translator.
"Our defence were overwhelmed by their attacking.
"They played their own game. I believe they can advance to the quarter-finals, that’s what I’m pretty sure of.
"They are very physical and actually they also have speed and Australia deserve to be a ranking that they currently enjoy."
Meneses said he was proud that his team was able to show its improvement on the corresponding match four years ago, one that Australia took 65-3.
"I'm very proud of my players and our side wanted to show the improvement of Uruguayan rugby to this Rugby World Cup," he said.
"That’s the reason we are here for and we play against Australia as well as Fiji and Georgia, they’re a world class sides and we believe that we can be even stronger playing against strong teams and I believe that Uruguayan rugby can continue making improvements and I’m very satisfied with the players' performance."
Australia has just one pool match left to play, against Georgia next Friday in Shizuoka, while Wales will take on Fiji in Oita on Wednesday before facing Uruguay next weekend.
RESULT
Australia 45
Tries: Kuridrani 2, Haylett-Petty 2, Petaia, Genia, Slipper
Cons: Lealiifano 5
Yellow Card: Coleman (14’), Salakaia-Loto
Uruguay 10
Tries: Diana
Cons: Berchesi
Pens: Berchesi
