Rusty Wallabies struggle to Tune up

The Wallabies opened their seven-match tour of Europe with a hollow win at Welford Road yesterday.

They were made to work surprisingly hard by a scratch English National Divisions XV and looked rusty for most of the game.

But coach Eddie Jones gave 22 of the 30- strong touring party valuable match practice ahead of the serious tests to come against England, France and Wales.

And he will have been delighted with the form of winger Ben Tune, who made a try-scoring comeback from injury.

The 24-year-old, plagued by ankle and shoulder problems for the last two years, scored his first try for his country since the 1999 World Cup Final and pressed his claims for a Test recall when he supported a break by centre Elton Flatley in the 49th minute.

Lock Justin Harrison made his towering presence felt in the line-out, an area of particular domination by the tourists, and flanker Phil Waugh also took the opportunity to push for a place against Spain in Madrid on Thursday.

The English lower division players, to their credit, battled remarkably well and lively forwards Neil Spence (Rotherham) and Richard Baxter (Exeter) managed at times to puncture a few telling holes in the Wallaby defence.