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Australia's dirt-trackers were thoroughly tested by an unheralded Gloucester side before claiming their expected 36-5 victory at Kingsholm.

First-half tries by centres Ryan Cross and Tyrone Smith sent the Wallabies on their way, before wing Drew Mitchell's late double and a Quade Cooper (pictured0 solo score finished Gloucester off.

Fly-half Cooper booted four conversions and kicked an early penalty, but Gloucester deserved so much more than full-back Freddie Burns' well-worked touchdown.

Gloucester gave as good as they got during the opening exchanges despite falling behind to a fourth-minute Cooper penalty.

Australia took a while to settle, yet they stung Gloucester through a 13th-minute try set up by a rampaging run from hooker Tatafu Polata. Retreating Gloucester defenders managed to haul him down just before the line, only for Cooper to kick a resulting penalty from hand straight to an unmarked Cross, who applied a neat finish by cutting back inside for the touchdown.

Cooper converted, giving the Wallabies a 10-0 lead and suggesting they were already on their way to an emphatic success.

Gloucester were determined to maintain a high tempo, despite the deficit, and their adventurous approach reaped its reward on the fourth occasion when Carlos Spencer rejected a kickable penalty. The home forwards powerfully drove the resulting lineout, before Spencer launched one his trademark cross-kicks that found wing Charlie Sharples and he sent Burns diving over.

Gloucester were certainly in no mood to lie down quietly against such illustrious opponents, but Australia underlined their class with another quality score eight minutes before the break. Cross sliced through Gloucester's defence, and the supporting Smith finished off for a try that Cooper improved, giving Australia a 17-5 interval advantage.

In the second half it took an inspired run by Wallabies lock Dave Dennis to finally break Gloucester's resistance. Dennis powered deep into the heart of Gloucester territory, before a slick inside pass to Mitchell saw the wing sprint clear for a game-clinching try.

Cooper added the extras, putting Australia out of sight at 24-5.

Mitchell then stormed over for his second try, before Cooper had the final say with a touchdown and two conversions as Australia eased past 30 points.

Terence O'RORKE / Eurosport