More tackle problems for Cheika's Wally-bies

AUSTRALIA cruised to a comfortable sixtry win over Uruguay but head coach Michael Cheika knows his side must improve if they are to be competitive in the quarter-finals.

- George Lawrence

The Wallabies lost an enthralling clash 29-25 to Wales in Tokyo last Sunday, having also suffered a scare in their opening win over Fiji.

First-half sin-bins for high tackles by Adam Coleman and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto contributed to another slow start before they cut loose in Oita.

“I thought we were just a little bit off the pace at the start and that’s three times now,” Cheika said.

“I’ll have to get my prematch speech a little bit better. We were reading the first half nicely but it looked like we were a click away. And then we got the pace up in the second half.”

Teenage wing Jordan Petaia was among the scorers with a try on his debut.

Dane Haylett-Petty and Tevita Kuridrani also crossed in the first half and Kuridrani added his second after the break to make sure Australia earned a bonus point.