Eddie’s England wallop the Walla Bies to raise hopes for World Cup year
THE blues of early 2018 have been banished by England, who have the chariot back on track as this comfortable win over Australia rounded off a fine autumn campaign. And with key personnel to return in the New Year, 2019’s World Cup in Japan again looks a realistic target for Eddie Jones’ men to shoot for. England were too strong all round for the Wallabies with what they had at Twickenham. Throw in the Vunipola brothers and a restored Manu Tuilagi, who tip-toed his way back into Test rugby after a two-year gap with 12 minutes off the bench, and there is an air of genuine menace about England again.
England are not the finished article – they should have put a poor Australia side away by more – but with nine games to build up a head of steam before the World Cup optimism is building once more.
Jones said: “We had a tough Six Nations. We got some things wrong in planning, in terms of where we were going as a team. We needed to regroup and we did that.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted in the South Africa series but in terms of the togetherness of the team, how we want to go forward, this series was a step forward and the 2019 Six Nations will be another.”
England’s second half had Twickenham on its feet as Jones’ men ran in three tries after the break. Elliot Daly struck in the 44th minute, speeding through on an arcing run from Owen Farrell’s offload. Then Joe Cokanasiga bounced off Dane HaylettPetty to score in the 56th minute. Farrell completed the rout with four minutes left, taking
substitute George Ford’s pass to score. Cokanasiga has been the find of the autumn, the giant Bath wing making it two tries in as many starts.
The 21-year-old said: “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. I just love it and there will hopefully be more to come. This is definitely a step higher than club rugby. It’s quicker and I’m trying my best to adapt. But I’m confident in what I do and I just try to back myself.”
Kyle Sinckler was man of the match for a powerful all-round display, although the quality of his sledging may also have been taken into account. The Harlequins prop baited the Wallabies during one first-half dust-up by calling them “snitchers” in apparent reference to the suspension of Adam Ashley-Cooper and Kurtley Beale. The pair were shopped by team-mates for having three women in their hotel room after hours.
Brad Shields was not far behind Sinckler in what was his best game for England so far and Mark Wilson was a relentless presence.
There could have been more tries in the second-half avalanche. Cokanasiga (right) was only denied by a last-ditch tackle from Michael Hooper after a great run from almost the halfway line.
And Jonny May, who opened the scoring in the third minute, had a breakaway touchdown chalked off by the TMO because Henry Slade’s kick kissed the touchline.
Israel Folau’s second try in injury time was an irrelevance as the Wallabies were well beaten.
Coach Michael Cheika moaned justifiably about referee Jaco Peyper denying Australia a penalty try for another illegal charge by Farrell which stopped Izack Rodda.
Cheika said: “The idea that the referee would say our player would shoulder-charge the opposition was ludicrous. Maybe we should move Australia up to the northern hemisphere.” But even he had to admit England were the better side. Comfortably.