RUGBY UNION AUSTRALIA FAZ AND
Test match animal Farrell drives
EDDIE JONES hailed his own Mr Angry as Owen Farrell hit the Aussies for six and took this series to a decider in Sydney next week.
Farrell has been sparky all tour after being stripped of the captaincy and was fuming after last weekend’s 30-28 reverse in Perth.
But the 30-year-old turned his fury on the Australians in Brisbane kicking 20 points, including six penalties, to set up the climax at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Farrell set the tone by stripping the ball off huge Australian centre Samu Kerevi as England got on the front foot early.
And he twisted the knife into the Australians with his boot before England’s kids survived a second-half Wallaby rally.
And Jones, who has been around the international coaching block for more than 20 years, revealed Farrell is the biggest
Test-match animal he has seen. “Owen is Owen, he never changes,” said Jones. “He is angry, hates the world and is the best competitor I have ever coached.
“He fights hard, loves the battle, drives standards and is an incredible player – incredible.”
Reborn
Farrell was not the only one on fire. His Saracens club mate Billy Vunipola looked reborn in only his second Test match since last March and Ellis Genge won his battle with Taniela Tupou – the so-called Tongan Thor.
Wing Jack Nowell was all over the pitch and flanker Sam Underhill had Aussie skipper Michael Hooper on the rack before being replaced after a head bang.
Vunipola’s carrying from No.8 was off the scale and he looks back to his best.
Jones, who has ruled out key
man Maro Itoje for the finale with a head knock and is sweating on the availability of Underhill, said of Vunipola: “He gets fitter every week, he is probably up to 95 per cent but I am pleased with his progress. We picked him on the back of his improving club form and he is getting better each week.
“With us he is getting fitter, his level of commitment to be the best player he can be is improving all the time and he had a good look in his eyes before the game today. He is only going to get better.”
England had new caps in wing Tommy Freeman and centre Guy Porter, plus a rookie scrum-half in Jack van Poortvliet, but weathered a second-half Australian storm.
England had led 7-0 early on after Big Billy crashed over the line and 19-0 just before the break. Then Tupou, the 21-stone Australian tight-head, scored.
That was the only highlight for
Tupou as Genge put him away all game after a week of trash talking.
Kerevi then edged the Aussies closer, Marcus Smith went to the bin for a deliberate knock-on and England were wobbling at 22-17 up.
Tactical
But skipper Courtney Lawes, who had another impressive game, rallied the troops and the bench shored up the defence.
Veteran scrum-half Danny Care was one of the cavalry and used his nous and tactical kicking game to get England over the line. The first 30 minutes had been breathtaking by England, the last 15 were backbreaking but just as impressive.
Jones added: “We had three new caps out there at the end of the game and to play with that level of toughness is really encouraging for the future.
“This experience will be one of the great experiences you have.
“You get a bit smarter, and you keep going up.”
AUSTRALIA: Tries: Tupou, Kerevi. Pen: Lolesio. Cons: Lolesio (2).
Try: B Vunipola.
Pens: Farrell (6). Con: Farrell.