Experimental Wallabies defeat Italy

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Adam Ashley-Cooper came off the bench to score a try in both halves as an experimental Australian side cruised to an emphatic 34-12 victory over Italy in the second and final test in Melbourne on Saturday.

After conceding three tries in the first half, Italy managed to hold the Wallabies scoreless for 30 minutes in an improved defensive effort in the second half, but was unable to score a single try in an often scrappy encounter at Etihad Stadium.

The Azzurri, who made 10 changes to the side who lost to Australia in Canberra the week before, clawed to within eight points late in the second half after Australian-born full-back Luke McLean scored his fourth penalty goal.

But tries to Lachlan Turner and Ashley-Cooper, who replaced Peter Hynes after the winger went off with an ear injury, snuffed out any chance of an unlikely victory and saved the blushes of Australia coach Robbie Deans.

"It was a good effort by a group who don't have a lot of background together," Deans told reporters of a win achieved without captain Stirling Mortlock and with regular fly half Matt Giteau warming the bench.

"There was some good stuff and some not so good stuff. You got George (Smith) whose had 97 caps and the rest of the team had 101 between them, so that gives you an indication.

"Once again, the Italians were successful in stymieing our game for the greater part, but there were occasions where the boys worked hard and we scored five tries and that's not an easy thing to achieve against a side with the physical presence of these blokes."

Deans changed more than half of his side from the first test, naming Berrick Barnes for Giteau and throwing a debut cap to Western Force's Pek Cowan who started as loosehead prop.