Australia have made a disastrous start to their World Cup preparations after suffering a shock 32-23 loss to underdogs Samoa in Sydney. Robbie Deans's decision to rest several big names backfired spectacularly as the visitors scored two tries in each half to pull off arguably their greatest Test match triumph.
It was a dominant performance from Samoa, who outmuscled the hosts at the breakdown, battered them in general play and showed more enterprise in attack to seal a four-tries-to-two victory. Having trailed by 16 points midway through the second half, the Wallabies mounted a late challenge when Matt Giteau crossed in the 71st minute, but it was too little for the home side.
The visitors burst out of the blocks with 10 unanswered points to leave the majority of the 29,808 crowd in stunned silence. Tusi Pisi slotted a penalty in the third minute before the winger Alesana Tuilagi scored a runaway try from a Wallabies turnover eight minutes later. Matt Hodgson became isolated at the breakdown and Seilala Mapusua flicked the ball through his legs to Tuilagi who sprinted 75m and unleashed a spectacular dive for the opening try. Pisi added the extras for a surprise 10-0 lead.
The Wallabies turned down four kickable penalties in the opening 25 minutes and that strategy proved to be flawed as the visitors repelled several attacking raids to keep the hosts scoreless. Giteau finally opted to have a shot at goal in the 26th minute, but he pushed his 48-metre attempt just wide.
The nightmare continued for the hosts as Samoa increased their lead on the half hour when Paul Williams charged down a clearing kick from the rookie half-back Nick Phipps. Pisi again slotted the extras for a 17-0 advantage.
Momentum turned when Samoa were reduced to 14 men three minutes from the break when lock Daniel Leo was shown a yellow card for a cynical ruck infringement. Australia took immediate advantage when Digby Ioane sliced through from the ensuing scrum, with Giteau slotting the extras and a penalty goal on the siren to trim the deficit to 17-10 at the interval.
Giteau landed his second penalty two minutes in to close within four points – but when the visitors hit back with two tries a major upset was on the cards. The New Zealand-based lock Kane Thompson finished some strong lead-up work from the Samoan back-row to score after 46 minutes.
And when George Pisi scored off the back of a clever kick from Tuilagi, the visitors led 29-13 with 24 minutes on the clock. Deans brought the big guns Will Genia and Kurtley Beale off the bench but it was too little too late for the hosts.