i think it was more when the fixtures were arranged one of 6 clubs (5 AFL and 1 NRL) would have had 1st dibs on the ground. With the game having to be Melbourne due to contractual reasons the Thursday was picked to guarantee the stadium.
Australia are 2nd as they have 2 wins with South Africa and Argentina with 1 win over the sides on the same points. but South Africa have a better PD than Argentina so are 3rd.
It was fine as both teams had set up for a line out (both need a minimum of 2 players in the lineout). So it was a quickly taken lineout as apose to a quick lineout.