THE TAP!
second try didn’t come. Watkins added: “It was a really, really tough game, a proper Test match, on the biggest stage. “It was really difficult for us but we battled so well, especially in that first half when we were under pressure quite a bit, and the start of the second. “You get limited opportunities in international rugby, that’s why you have to execute them. “We did it at times with our plays but they defended really well. “There’s a real mixture of emotions. It’s more quiet than anything – just devastated at being so close to beating them.” Among several performances for England was prop James Graham who like most of his teammates slumped to the floor in exhaustion at the end. He said: “I thought the defence was through the roof from both teams. “From a game speed perspective it was off the dial as far as I was concerned. You talk heroic about a Test match – that tested us, don’t worry about that. “When you’re in a sporting contest like that and there’s two good teams going up against each other there’s got to be a winner and a loser. We fought hard but just couldn’t manage to get over the line.” Graham was one of several players to call for Bennett to stay in charge after the game.
Graham added: “I’d love Wayne to continue the job he’s doing, I think he’s been great for this group.
“We’ve come to Australia, away from home for seven weeks, and put in a performance like that where the game was on the line.
“For 80 minutes we were only one score away – he gets my nod.” Kallum Watkins