Wallabies see off Gloucester

Cooper: Scored Australia's final try

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Australia were made to work hard by Gloucester before easing to a 36-5 victory over the Guinness Premiership side at Kingsholm.

The Wallabies managed tries from centre pairing Ryan Cross and Tyrone Smith in the first half but didn't move clear until the closing stages.

Drew Mitchell's late double and a try for Quade Cooper, who also kicked four conversions and a penalty, gave the final score a flattering look in favour of the tourists.

The home side had battled bravely throughout the contest and their efforts deserved more than just a try from Freddie Burns.

Lacking composure

The Cherry and Whites would have had more points at the final whistle had a much-changed side shown more composure in attack.

Australia, who also fielded a different line-up from the team that lost to New Zealand, with Cross the only survivor from the game in Tokyo, received a run for their money in the first 40 minutes.

Cooper's early penalty gave them the lead before the number 10 set up the opening try by kicking cleverly to an unmarked Cross, who applied a neat finish by cutting back inside.

With the conversion successful the Wallabies would have hoped the 10-0 advantage would prove the perfect platform for a one-sided rout.

Instead Gloucester continued to fight - quite literally at one stage as the two sets of forwards came to blows - to make sure the visitors didn't dominate.

Trademark Spencer

Carlos Spencer's decision to reject a kickable penalty paid off when he produced a trademark cross-kick to winger Charlie Sharples, who then sent the supporting Burns scampering away to the line.

Their hopes of a shock result were dealt a blow eight minutes before the break, though, when Cross sliced through the defence to set up Smith.

Cooper's conversion made it 17-5 and with both sides ringing the substitutions, the second half failed to hit the same heights as the first.

It took an inspired run from Australia lock Dave Dennis to finally get through Gloucester's dogged defensive line, his efforts resulting in Mitchell sprinting over.

The winger soon raced over for a second try before Cooper had the last word, his late effort along with two further conversions putting some late gloss on an solid but somewhat unspectacular performance from Robbie Deans' troops.