Rugby Union: Wallabies loose

Western Transvaal. .13

Australia. . . . . .46

AUSTRALIA, the world champions, marked their first match in South Africa for 23 years with a resounding victory over Western Transvaal in Potchefstroom yesterday.

The Wallabies' six tries were scored by forwards, the No 8 Tim Gavin barging over twice to lift his chances of a Test recall after injury. Warwick Waugh, Andrew Blades, David Wilson and Garrick Morgan scored the others but the tourists, 33-3 up at half-time, faded slightly in the second half.

Western Transvaal are the first of three provincial opponents for the Wallabies before they meet South Africa in a Test in Cape Town on 22 August. The last time a Wallaby team played in the town, 140km south-west of Johannesburg, in 1969 they were beaten 18-6.

With South Africa's years of rugby isolation at an end, the locals in this Afrikaans stronghold were hoping for a repeat but the modern Australians were in no mood for that.

The best of the Wallaby tries was scored by Gavin after half an hour. Richard Tombs released Marty Roebuck and David Campese then appeared on the full- back's elbow to continue the move. As the ball bobbled in his hands, he still managed to flick it to the supporting Wilson who sent Gavin rumbling to the posts.

Western Transvaal: W van der Merwe; A Holman, N Engelbrecht, D Swart, G Bryant; G Bouwer, E Hare (capt); H Tromp, J Putter, R Lotriet (M Hurter, 69), L Swart, D Berry, B Rossouw, T Stewart, S Loots.

AUSTRALIA: M Roebuck; D Junee, A Herbert, R Tombs, D Campese; P Kahl, P Slattery (capt); A Blades, T Lawton, M Ryan, W Waugh, W Ofahengaue, D Wilson, T Gavin, G Morgan.