The Wallabies have suffered a 3-0 series whitewash after going down to England in a pulsating nine try Test in Sydney 44-40 tonight. It was a much improved Wallabies game after Melbourne with Sean McMahon a stand out but England took their chances to continue their winning streak under Eddie Jones to nine.
The Match
It was a great opening stanza as both sides felt each other with England coming out on top as they won the early territory battle.
George Ford and Jonathan Joseph were heavily involved for the visitors, keeping the Wallabies on the back foot, not helped by Bernard Foley failing to find touch from a scrum penalty.
The pressure proved too much for the Wallabies defence as Mako Vuniploa made some good metres and eventually his front row partner Dan Cole scored from close range to open the scoring.
The Wallabies only had to wait a few minutes to hit back as the Wallabies played to the whistle after Itoje appeared knocked the ball out of Haylett-Petty’s hands and some good awareness from Folau and Toomua saw Foley awarded the five pointer via the TMO.
The extra play making option in Toomua and some better controlled aggression from the forwards had England under pressure in their own half and a poor clearance from Youngs gave the Wallabies great field position and from that, Dane Haylett-Petty had his first try in Wallabies colours to put them in front 12-7 after 20 minutes.
Farrell reduced the gap to two points following a scrum penalty but that was negated right off the restart as McMahon jumped all over Joseph to allow Foley to restore the five point margin.
Will Skelton found himself in a bit of trouble after colliding with Anthony Watson in the air as he attempted to collect the restart but was let off with a warning from referee Nigel Owens.
England scored next through Mike Brown off a smart Watson chip down the left wing over the advancing Haylett-Petty but Brown got a perfect bounce and outran the covering defence and Farrell’s conversion put England back in front 17-15.
As the half wore down, there were some big hits going from both sides with Rob Simmons copping a shoulder injury and Scott Fardy rushing up to put Ford on his back. On the stroke of half time, Foley nudged Australia back in front 18-17 with his second penalty of the night to end a cracking half of rugby.
The second half saw Rob Simmons make way for Adam Coleman to make his Wallabies debut but he was immediately in the spotlight with a lineout on the Wallabies five metre line overthrown but Robshaw was unable to get the ball down.
But the resulting scrum saw Billy Vunipola run down the blindside off the back and caught the Wallabies scrum napping for England’s third try of the night and yet another change of leaders.
But the see sawing continued as the home side pushed to reduce the gap and good angled run from Adam Coleman set the Wallabies up with a good attacking scrum. With England’s defence scrambling, the Wallabies ran it through a few phases and Michael Hooper managed to reach out and graze the try line with the TMO giving the nod and Foley’s conversion levelled the scores.
Farrell edged England back in front off another scrum penalty but there was barely time to rest as Australia hit back with Toomua beating Vunipola and Jack Cifford to find Israel Folau to go over and put Australia back in the lead 32-28.
The Wallabies discipline which had plagued them throughout the series was again coming into play as Farrell landed his fourth of the night to make it a one point game then another penalty gave England an easy exit off the restart.
The Wallabies intensity dropped as the next period of play became very scrappy with Phipps and Folau getting themselves in a mess putting them on the back foot and replacement hooker Jamie George was awarded the try after the ball came off his leg as Michael Hooper attempted an intercept as the lead changed yet again.
With the game entering the final ten minutes, Farrell landed his fifth penalty goal of the night to put the visitors out by more than a converted try.
Sean McMahon was having an absolute cracker of a game and his tackle on Brown right off the restart earned a penalty but after previous experiences, the Wallabies took the three to make it a six point match with a grandstand finish looming.
But the Wallabies couldn’t find a way to get back in the game and a late Farrell penalty for a personal haul of 24 points saw England run out 44-40 winners despite a late try after the full time siren to Taqele Naiyaravoro and take the series 3-0.
The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]AUSTRALIA 40
Tries: Foley, Haylett-Petty, Hooper, Folau, Naiyaravoro
Conversions: Foley 3
Penalties: Foley 3
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]ENGLAND 44
Tries: Cole, Brown, Vunipola, George
Conversions: Farrell 3
Penalties: Farrell 6
[/one_half]
Cards
Nil
Crowd
44,063
