Wallabies 18 Barbarians 11

The Wallabies were savouring their brutal win over the Barbarians at Wembley Stadium yesterday, but the match was a disaster for the Waratahs, as they may have lost props Matt Dunning and Sekope Kepu for next year's Super 14 campaign.

Both front-rowers slipped when the soft Wembley surface gave way during a second-half scrum, and Dunning had to be carried off with a snapped Achilles tendon, while Kepu, who was in enormous pain, suffered a torn pectoral muscle. Both are serious, long-term injuries, and could possibly sideline the pair for the entire Super 14 season.

The sight of them leaving the field would have sent Waratahs officials into the depths of despair as they have already lost forwards Rocky Elsom, David Lyons, Al Kanaar and Dan Vickerman for next season, while Wycliff Palu's future is uncertain after he flew home from the tour last week for a shoulder operation.

The Waratahs could easily be the first Super 14 team to start the season with uncontested scrums because of a dearth of forwards. Maybe they should play the hybrid game.

Unlike traditional Barbarians fixtures, which feature bonhomie and carefree football, this was a mean and nasty affair, with plenty of wrestling and big hits. There was an unsavoury edge to this end of tour fixture, especially when the teams decided to trade blows during the first half after Wallabies five-eighth Quade Cooper put his elbow into Barbarians halfback Fourie du Preez's face during a tackle.

The elbowing, for which Cooper could have been sent off, prompted the Barbarians' Italian prop Federico Pucciariello to attempt to put the young pivot straight through one of the sideline advertising hoardings.

Elsewhere, other players traded blows, with the Wallabies clearly determined to show they were not intimidated by what was a World XV-quality opposition.

Old-time Barbarians must have wondered what was going on because punch-ups aren't the normal fare at these exhibitions. Maybe that's why there weren't many spectacular tries, and the contrast was made even more stark with the big screen showing several marvellous movements from previous Barbarians games over the decades.

The dazzling feats of David Campese and Gareth Edwards among many delighted spectators, before they settled in to watch the 2008 version, which dropped back several notches to become a demolition derby.

There were some good aspects to the game, and the players were right in saying that the crowd got their money's worth. But it was hard, intense gladiatorial stuff rather than a rare rugby night at the ballet.

At least the Wallabies could find no fault with the scoreline. That's understandable because any victory is cherished at the moment, but also because so many of their youngsters excelled against an opposition that included many stars but struggled having only been together for two days.

James O'Connor showed at fullback that at 18 he is an extraordinary young talent. He revelled in the atmosphere and handled the goalkicking duties with aplomb.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans knows he has found a star. "His effort was fantastic, when you consider some of the players he was up against," Deans said. "He's 18 years old and was playing three of the best wingers the world has seen [Joe Rokocoko, Bryan Habana and Shane Williams] for a decade. So you got an insight into some of his gifts."

Cooper held up well at five-eighth, while Tatafu Polota-Nau showed that when given the chance he can be an explosive hooker. He was often sighted in open play, with two special highlights being his backhand flick to keep the attack going and an extraordinary tackle on Jerry Collins. Adam Ashley-Cooper also showed that inside-centre is yet another back-line position he can play with ease.

Nonetheless, despite this froth and bubble, was it really worth adding another four days to a long tour for this gruelling match? The Waratahs would be among those who would say certainly not. However, NSW coach Chris Hickey said he was confident in his team's ability to fill the gaps.

"The experience we've lost you can't buy unfortunately but we've also got plenty of good young players who we're confident of their ability to step up," Hickey told AAP.

 Offers to play an offshore Bledisloe Cup fixture at Twickenham or Denver appear likely to fall by the wayside with Tokyo firming as the likely destination, AAP reports. "It would be fair to say our preference is Tokyo one, Twickenham two, Denver three," ARU chief executive John O'Neill said.

TOUR OF DUTY

For: 126, Against 98

Tries: Drew Mitchell 2, Lachie Turner 2, Quade Cooper, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stephen Moore, Peter Hynes, Mark Chisholm, Digby Ioane, Lote Tuqiri.

Top Pointscorer: Matt Giteau 51

 November 1: All Blacks 19, Wallabies 14 at Hong Kong

 November 8: Wallabies 30, Italy 20 at Padova

 November 15: Wallabies 28, England 14 at Twickenham

 November 22: Wallabies 18, France 13 at Paris

 November 29: Wales 21, Wallabies 18 at Cardiff

 December 3: Wallabies 18, Barbarians 11 at Wembley