Well-deserved win: Deans and Rocky Elsom (l) celebrate in the sheds. (Getty Images: David Rogers)
Australia coach Robbie Deans said his side had "got what they deserved" after ending its grand slam tour with a crushing 33-12 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday morning (AEDT).
Victory saw the Wallabies wrap up 2009 in fine style, running in four tries - from centre Digby Ioane, lock James Horwill, flanker David Pocock and replacement hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau - to Wales's none.
Australia arrived in Europe hoping to emulate the 1984 Wallabies by completing a grand slam of wins over England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
But those dreams were dashed by a 20-20 draw with Six Nations champions Ireland and then came last week's astonishing 9-8 loss to Scotland - its first defeat by the Scots in 27 years.
In both those matches Australia had more than enough chances to win the game but against Wales it took them.
"I'm hugely pleased for these boys," Deans, Australia's first foreign coach, said.
"They got what they deserved," the New Zealander, whose position was being questioned after a run of just two wins in 11 Tests prior to this match, added.
"They forced things to come, they didn't wait for them to come like last week. It was a pretty special effort.
"We're stoked for this group they've taken this step. The boys got it done today."
And he insisted his joy at this victory was in no way tempered by thoughts of what might have been against Ireland and Scotland.
"There's no point trying to connect the dots between games, you play Test rugby on the day," he said.
"Progress has been made, maybe it's not always evident on the scoreboard. Maybe they [Wales] underestimated us and thought we were there for the taking."
Australia captain Rocky Elsom praised his largely youthful side's defence.
"It has given us an enormous lift in every game we had," he said.
"It has been tough for us but things happen for a reason. The reason we didn't win these two matches [against Ireland and Scotland] was because we didn't nail them even though we had enough dominance to bring them home.
"But here we felt like we had the ascendancy in attack and defence all game."
Deans's clear delight was matched only by the dejection of his compatriot Warren Gatland, the Wales coach.
The former Ireland and Wasps boss said this had been the "most disappointing performance" in nearly two years of coaching Wales.
"It's the most disappointing performance since I've been in charge of Wales," he said.
"We played against a team who were a little more desperate than we were."
Wales had tried to present itself as favourite to win this match but ended it by being booed off the field by its own supporters.
It all emphasised how in this November series the Welsh were beaten in both their matches against Tri-Nations opposition, after starting the month with a 19-12 loss to New Zealand.
And this defeat was made worse by injuries to wings Shane Williams (hamstring) and Leigh Halfpenny (dead leg) as well as hooker Matthew Rees (groin).
Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards had no qualms in saying Wales had been outclassed by Australia.
"Their defence was magnificent. All three tries came from turnovers. Some of our tackling the in first half was very disappointing."
The former Great Britain rugby league international added: "That's the modern game, the aerial game and the breakdown - and that's where we came second-best."
- AFP
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