Saturday’s game between England and Australia took place almost exactly 10 years on from England’s World Cup winning victory against the Aussies in their own back yard in 2003 – let’s just pause for a moment to remember Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal sail through the posts.
With many of that victorious England side in attendance at Twickenham the current crop of players, led by Chris Robshaw, were keen to put on a winning display while Aussie Captain, Ben Mowen, was looking to lead his side to a first victory against their English counterparts since June 2010.
Both fly-halves exchanged penalties early on and although it was Australia who were playing the better rugby it was England who were failing to capitalise on opportunities; Owen Farrell taking a leaf out of the England footballer’s book in missing three consecutive first half penalties. Clear cut openings were scarce in a physical contest (I back myself to have lasted approximately 4 seconds before being stretchered off to hospital) but it was Australia who made the first decisive inroads.
With Israel Folau bearing down on England Chris Ashton failed to halt the winger, instead giving his best impression of a drunk attempting to prop themselves up on a friend at the bar, and from the resulting pressure Australian centre Toomua bypassed a tame tackle from Twelvetrees’ to score the first try of the game on 32 minutes. And with Cooper converting the try Australia ended the half 13-6 up.
The second half was sparked into life by Mike Brown, whose jinking run from his own corner flag galvanised the crowd. He was actually in touch when he first collected the ball but who lets rules spoil the fun anyway! With the Twickenham crowd in full voice the pressure intensified on the Australian defence and from a line out on his own line, the otherwise impressive scrum half Will Genia saw his clearance blocked at source before the ball ran kindly to Robshaw who fell on it to score. As Farrell slotted the conversion the game was tied at 13-13 with thirty minutes to go.
England built on the momentum and were soon ahead on 58 minutes after good work Brown again. As the phases continued the ball made its way to Farrell who saw the chance and darted for the line to cap a solid display. That this gap may have been created by Dylan Hartley’s “inadvertent obstruction” is irrelevant now after the TMO saw no reason to disallow the try, but it is likely to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of the Australians (a bit like fosters then).
The final minutes were a tense affair as England looked to hang on. And with a strong defensive performance and extra forward power they were able to do so.
Next up for England is a game against Argentina.
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