June 11 (Bloomberg) -- Australia beat England 34-3 in the first of two Cook Cup rugby Tests to give John Connolly a winning start as coach and hand the world champion its fourth straight defeat.

Full-back Chris Latham, winger Mark Gerrard and rookie prop Rodney Blake scored second-half tries for the Wallabies at Sydney's Telstra Stadium. Center Stirling Mortlock kicked the other 19 points, while Olly Barkley struck a penalty for England.

Connolly, nicknamed Knuckles because of his uncompromising approach as a player and coach, was appointed in February to replace Eddie Jones, who was fired in December after the Wallabies lost eight of their last nine Tests of 2005.

``It was a bit of a jump into the unknown,'' Connolly said at a post-game news conference. ``It gives us a line in the sand we can work from. We're satisfied with the result but we know we can get considerably better.''

The teams meet again in six days' time at Melbourne's Telstra Dome. England, which has won only three Tests away from home since lifting the 2003 World Cup, currently holds the Cook Cup after its 26-16 victory in London seven months ago.

That defeat, during which the Wallabies pack was shunted around Twickenham, precipitated Jones's firing and a focus on improving the Wallabies' forward play.

Starting with its most inexperienced front row in 23 years and a back-row featuring Rocky Elsom and Daniel Heenan, Australia led 9-0 at halftime on three Mortlock penalties.

Losing Possession

Both sides squandered earlier chances, with England throwing the ball away on several occasions. Latham scored the game's first try in the 54th minute when he cut in on an angle to take Mortlock's pass and score by the posts.

``The opportunities we created we bombed,'' England coach Andy Robinson told reporters. ``We have to be more ruthless when we have the ball in hand. We were sloppy.''

Gerrard added the second with seven minutes remaining after a break from substitute Clyde Rathbone. Blake, a 6-foot-2, 286- pound prop nicknamed Rodzilla, completed the scoring four minutes from the end when he collected Phil Waugh's pass before thundering over the line.

``We're not getting too far ahead of ourselves but it was a very positive start,'' said Wallabies captain George Gregan after played his record-tying 119th Test. ``We've got something to work off.''