Barbarians dent French egos

WINGER Mitch Hardy, the hero of Australia's win over France in the first Test, returned to haunt the Five Nations champions yesterday in Newcastle as the tourists suffered another defeat in a bruising encounter.

Hardy, who ran in two quick tries as a replacement to lift Australia to victory on Saturday, scored the Australian Barbarians' only try as they clinched a 26-25 win with a late penalty.

But the French could take heart from scoring three tries to one in their last warm-up match before the second Test against the Wallabies at Ballymore in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Barbarians, effectively Australia's second-string Test side, collected the bulk of their points by kicking seven penalties in a match which saw several ugly clashes.

"There was a lot of niggling out there," said Barbarians captain and hooker Phil Kearns.

The home crowd jeered the former Wallaby captain on several occasions when he opted for a kick at goal instead of running the ball in search of a try in the Barbarian tradition of attacking rugby.

France scored their tries through centres David Dantiacq and Christophe Lamaison and prop Didier Casadei. Backs Sebastien Viars and Richard Dourthe both kicked one conversion and one penalty each.

Barbarians out-half Christian Warner kicked six penalties and his late replacement, Manuel Edmonds, landed the match-winning penalty in the final minutes.

The tourists, who were unhappy with the refereeing in the first Test in Sydney, stayed in touch with their opponents yesterday despite a penalty count of 26 to 9 against them.

Australia were dealt another blow yesterday when injury ruled full back Matt Burke out of the second and final Test against France on Saturday, while number eight Daniel Manu is almost certainly out of contention.

Wallaby coach Greg Smith has promoted full back Stephen Larkham and veteran back row Troy Coker.

Burke broke down in training with a recurrence of a groin injury while Manu failed a fitness test on a shoulder injury. However, there is a chance that Manu could be named as a reserve if he improves sufficiently before Saturday, according to a statement from the Australian Rugby Union.

Scotland will be hoping for big performances from their less experienced players for tonight's game against the Gauteng Falcons in Brakpan after losing three key members of their tour party.

Craig Chalmers, Rowen Shepherd and Ian Smith are all out, but Scotland coach Graham Hogg said: "We probably have just enough experience with five capped players in the side."

Hogg confirmed that stomach victims Derrick Lee and Andy Lucking would definitely play.