AS RUTHLESS AS ALL BLACKS
England’s clinical late demolition job proves they are world class
THE LATEST demonstration of All Black ruthlessness did not occur at Murrayfield, where the world champions were dragged to the precipice by Scotland — it happened 400 miles to the south, at Twickenham.
Just imagine that England’s performance had been delivered by New Zealand. There might be gripes about a distorted final scoreline, but there would also be a stack of admiration — however grudging — for staying in the fight and showing a clinical ability to finish off dangerous opposition.
That is precisely what Eddie Jones’s side did against the Wallabies on Saturday.
By claiming three late tries to turn a tense encounter into a recordbreaking fifth consecutive victory against Australia, England revealed a positive trait which has served the Kiwis so well for so long.
Having been under the cosh for much of the second half, three scoring chances came their way. Bang, bang, bang: three strikes and the visitors were down and out.
It was Jones who brought the All Blacks into it. When asked if a ruthless streak was a key habit to establish in the quest for World Cup glory, he said: ‘One hundred per cent. You’ve just got to go through New Zealand’s record in the last five or six years; how many Test matches they’ve won in the last 20 minutes. That’s when it counts. You win the contest in the last 20.’
Champion teams also make their own luck. England have a handy winning knack and the sporting gods were with them on Saturday. Time and again, vanquished opponents will bemoan how official decisions or the bounce of the ball have favoured the All Blacks, and the Wallabies were left similarly aggrieved.
Australia’s head coach, Michael Cheika, claimed that he received a ‘gob full’ of abuse from English fans as he came down from the stand just before half-time, having worked himself into a state of volcanic fury in his seat.
He was incensed by how Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe and his Irish TMO, Simon McDowell, agreed that a series of close calls should go the way of the home team.
Cheika was at pains to emphasise a ‘no-excuses’ mantra when he had eventually calmed down, but he couldn’t help adding: ‘I’m not sure who the TMO was, I probably should’ve found out his name. I’m just not sure about the process; how many replays for one incident and how many replays for another. He probably just makes his own mind up.’
A week earlier, it was Jones who had been apoplectic in his coach’s box as England laboured to beat Argentina. Asked if he felt some sympathy as Cheika let off steam, he said: ‘It’s the world we’re in. We choose to do this job and we have to find ways of controlling our frustration.’
O’Keeffe was harsh in opting to sin-bin Wallaby captain Michael Hooper in the 32nd minute, without prior warning, after two maul collapses. But he and McDowell conspired to make more correct calls than wrong ones.
The decision to rule out Hooper’s ‘try’ was the only howler, as Marika Koroibete appeared to play the flanker onside just before he seized the ball. But Kurtley Beale was rightly sin-binned — without a TMO referral — for knocking the ball forward when he had no prospect of catching it.
Elliot Daly’s 54th-minute try was fairly awarded, based on footage which suggested that the ball did not quite make contact with the left- hand touchline from Ben Youngs’s clearance kick, although it was mighty close.
And the decision not to approve Koroibete’s ‘try’ 11 minutes from time also appeared justified, as Stephen Moore’s blocking position meant he collided with Chris Robshaw and knocked the tackler off balance.
On the basis that the result was exaggerated but did not represent an injustice, it was a significant autumn statement by England. They had stared down the world’s No 3-ranked side, who could have snatched their second place behind New Zealand if they had won. While the hosts were far from dominant until the late try barrage orchestrated by Danny Care, there was plenty to admire.
Robshaw was a colossal presence, while Youngs was also outstanding before Care stormed off the bench to bury the Wallabies with his fancy footwork. His kicks set up tries for Jonathan Joseph and Jonny May, before he dived over from May’s offload.
Asked what his message to the players was on Saturday evening, Jones said: ‘Enjoy your time off, have a beer tonight and then get ready for Samoa because we’re going to have to train hard.
‘They’re the games that come and bite you and they’re not going to bite us.’