Sayonara Aussie
Cheika checks out after a rampant England crush Wallabies 40-16 to in a one-sided first quarterfinal
England sent Australia packing from the Rugby World Cup with a commanding 40-16 victory to likely end the tenure of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika last night.
In another compelling and potentially final chapter of the coaching battle between old mates Eddie Jones and Cheika under the roof at Oita Stadium, it was the former’s England side who hung tough for their first win in a World Cup knockout match in 12 years.
The Wallabies humiliated England on their turf when dumping the 2015 hosts out of their own World Cup in the pool stage, so England’s quarterfinal success – their seventh win in a row over Australia since that crushing low at Twickenham – in Japan avenges that defeat to a degree.
England progressed to their first World Cup semifinal since 2007, awaiting the winner of the second quarterfinal between the All Blacks and Ireland, and did so by punishing one Australian mistake too many, with every Owen Farrell penalty another kick in the guts for the Wallabies, who were outscored four tries to one.
The Wallabies lost their way in the second half as England gained control and a wild pass in the final minutes which fell into the arms of English wing Anthony Watson, who strolled in for the clinching score, was typical of Australia’s woes.
In the seventh World Cup meeting between the old foes, the Wallabies were counting the cost of their errors when trailing 17-9 at half-time after England punished them with two clinical Jonny May tries scored in quick succession.
It was an intense first half but one dogged by scrum resets which largely went in Australia’s favour as French referee Jerome Garces penalised England’s front row and it impacted the flow of an absorbing but frustrating spectacle.
Neither side could initially land a telling blow as Australia kept fighting back whenever England punched them into a corner, but the Wallabies kept tripping themselves up with costly mistakes, seemingly prompted by desperation as their deficit grew.
The Wallabies started with a ferocious tempo and spent the opening exchanges camped in England’s 22, winning the first scrum contest, then losing the next, but Christian Lealiifano’s penalty to break the deadlock after a tense 12 minutes was just reward following Kurtley Beale’s excellent run from fullback.
England coughed up the first clear try-scoring opportunity from the next restart and although Australia’s defence initially stood firm, the wall of white charged back and worked the space well for May to score the game’s first try down his left wing.
An Australian error had opened the door for England but then it swung open when David Pocock’s loose pass was superbly swooped on by Henry Slade, who calmly kicked ahead for a galloping May to gather, scoring his and England’s second try in three minutes.
It was a 14-point blitz that lifted England’s confidence after Farrell landed two touchline conversions and the Wallabies had only themselves to blame following a strong start. The gap narrowed to eight once Lealiifano slotted his third penalty on halftime.
The Wallabies hit back after the break as Marika Koroibete sprinted past Elliot Daly for Australia’s first try, but England responded immediately as Kyle Sinckler, a prop, timed an arching run with the skill of an outside back to score.
Australia stumbled, Farrell was perfect off the tee with further penalties, and Watson’s intercept iced it.