England stay on top Down Under
A RUTHLESS England inflicted a first 3-0 home series sweep on the Wallabies since 1971 when they won a 44-40 thriller in Sydney yesterday.
Tries from prop Dan Cole, fullback Mike Brown, No 8 Billy Vunipola and replacement hooker Jamie George combined with 24 points from the boot of flyhalf Owen Farrell extended their winning streak under coach Eddie Jones to nine matches.
Wingers Dane Haylett-Petty and Taqele Naiyaravoro, flyhalf Bernard Foley, fullback Israel Folau and flanker Michael Hooper crossed for Australia.
The tourists showed they had come to play running rugby yesterday with sharp early phases and they scored first when, after a burst for the line from Mako Vunipola, scrumhalf Ben Youngs fed his other prop Cole for the opening try.
Australia responded almost immediately through their backs, Folau feeding Matt Toomua for a dash down the touchline with the centre’s pass inside setting up Foley to score.
Eight minutes later Australia were in front, quick ball from a ruck in front of the posts allowing the Wallabies to move the ball down the backline for Haylett-Petty to cross.
Farrell and Foley traded penalties before England scored their second try on the half-hour mark when Brown chased down winger Anthony Watson’s deft chip through.
The England flyhalf converted to put England back in front 17-15 but Foley’s second penalty on halftime gave the hosts an 18-17 lead.
Flanker Chris Robshaw almost gave England the perfect start to the second half when he snared an errant Wallabies lineout and crashed over the line, only to be held up in goal.
Billy Vunipola peeled off the ensuing 5m scrum to touch down, however, and the England pack stole Australia’s next lineout before rumbling up the park and winning a penalty, which Farrell converted.
The tries kept coming with Hooper snaking to the line after 51 minutes and allowing Foley to level the scores at 25-25 with the conversion.
Farrell kicked his third penalty after a dominant England scrum to edge the visitors ahead but Toomua soon cut through the visitor’s midfield and fed Folau for a score that restored Australia’s lead.
A fourth Farrell penalty, from a scrum, made it a one-point game again before George shinned the ball over the line and touched down for England’s fourth try and when his flyhalf kicked his fifth penalty, the visitors were 41-32 ahead with 13 minutes to go.
Another Farrell penalty extended England’s record tally and cool game management kept the Australians pinned back until Naiyaravoro crashed over after the hooter for a consolation try.
All Blacks pound Wales
NEW Zealand thrashed Wales with pace and intensity and a masterful performance by Beauden Barrett to sweep the three-test series with a 46-6 victory in Dunedin yesterday. Barrett, in a rare promotion from his regular super-sub role to starting flyhalf, commanded a relentless attacking game by the All Blacks as he seamlessly took over from the injured Aaron Cruden. His control in partnership with scrumhalf Aaron Smith allowed Israel Dagg and Ben Smith to make decisive incursions wide out. —