The Wallabies have been taught a rugby lesson by an energised England, suffering one of their worst ever defeats to the old enemy, 35-18 at Twickenham. England out-enthused the Australians, who showed again there is a flip side to the unpredictable flamboyance of their talented backs.
The 17-point defeat equalled the margin of losses in 1973 and 1976, while the 35 points conceded were the most ever by an Australian side to England.
The much-vaunted scrummaging battle barely eventuated as an adventurous England threw the ball wide and counter-attacked at every opportunity in good conditions in London.
Winger Chris Ashton bagged a double for the home side, while electric Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale also scored two.
But it was England five-eighth Toby Flood who proved the difference, capitalising on his side’s absolute dominance to boot nine from nine for a personal haul of 25 points, bettering Jonny Wilkinson’s record of 22 by an Englishman against Australia.
By contrast, Australia’s goalkicking woes continued with winger James O’Connor, who took over the duties from Matt Giteau last week, managing just three goals from seven attempts.
“Two tries apiece but clearly England deserved their win,” Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said.
“A couple of critical moments where we were building pressure and it looked like a return for that was imminent and we turned over ball and England scored at the other end on two occasions.
“That was essentially the difference in the game.
“But England played very well.”
Australia’s defence and composure fell in a heap while the horror show continued with halfback Will Genia leaving the field in the 48th minute with a rib injury.
England led 16-6 at the the break and Flood increased it to 19-6 with a penalty goal three minutes after halftime.
When the home side then went a spectacular 98m for Ashton to score his second try, Australia were as good as gone at 26-6.
But an equally brilliant effort from Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale gave them some hope.
With Australia bumbling their way forward, Beale split the defence 40m out, chipped and won the race to dive over and score in the 54th minute.
Flood increased England’s lead to 29-13 three minutes later before Beale scored, and O’Connor missed, again.
A 70th minute penalty goal to Flood made it 32-18 and England passed that record-equalling points haul against Australia with another penalty from the No.10 in the 77th.
“We got that go-forward and that momentum,” Johnson said.
“The counter-attack was also sharp and we made good decisions and got to the edge when there was space to go there.”
Earlier, England had scored the only try of the first half through Ashton to lead 10-0 before O’Connor finally landed one on his fourth attempt in the 32nd minute to claw it back to seven points difference.
Flood stretched it out to 16-3 with penalties in the 34th and 38th minute before O’Connor narrowed the gap on the stroke of halftime.
The Wallabies’ run of two straight Test victories – and three consecutive wins away from home – is over and, with it, their dreams of an unbeaten spring tour.
Davina
Guest
Kurtley Beale does have flashes of brilliance but can play a very selfish game. Unlike League, Rugby is a team game. The try that Beale scored with a kick and chase; before he kicked the ball he had 2 very good and fast backs screaming for the ball. It would have been a much better decision to pass the ball to either of them, rather than risking a chip and bad bounce to score a try. Phil Kearns pointed this out during his commentary. I would hate to be a player on the outside of either Beale or Cooper. I feel that Cooper had a lot to answer for. He can't tackle for s**t and the England side was just running through him.Phil Kearns also pointed this out. His wallaby team mates must get jack of having to try to cover his crap tackles.We had very little possession of the ball and when we did finally get it, what does Cooper do? He kicks it and we lose possession again. He did this at least 4 or 5 times throughout the game. You would think that after the first 2 times it didn't work that you would stop kicking it. Get rid of him. Make room for Lachie Turner. He at least plays a consistent team game.
kerry
Guest
Deans will be forced to make changes for the 2011 RWC on the current team and some important players back in the 22 providing they are fit are the key to Aussie rugby getting back to winning the big tests. Winning WRC changes from 2010 would be Mortlock - 13 size & experience Shepherd - 15 size and experience also kicker beyond 50m Barnes - 10 or 12 could be best at 10 Beale 10 or 12 - could be best at 12 - stronger Vickerman - lock Howill- lock Eithyer to Bench/ Drop Adam A. Cooper - Possbile bench Q. Cooper - Paramatta Ells reserves at best Oconnor - Drop - could be worth a look in 3 years, with experence Genia - bench Mitchell - bench or jersey 23 Giteau - bench as his experience is invaluable Most of the player needed to bench/drop are from key positions and until released that the palyers above are no where near first class - the Wallabies will fail. Since Mortlock left the back have been dismal to say the least - he left a big gap and hope for the Wallibies he is available 2011. Shepherd is one of the most gifted rugby players in recent times and if can shake the injuries he would be a first choice at 15. Q . Cooper is hopeless and always was. He opposition have already worked out is few moves and I would not even start at all the other deficiencies. Genia- Above may have made him look better as a combination, but he is quite in the important matches.
warrenexpatinnz
Guest
Sorry about the late reply Moaman. Hard call after the let down of the 'battle of the packs' but after seeing these guys as a unit for the last three tests I would have Sharpe and Alexander with Mumm bench players only. This has Slipper, Humphries/Horwill and Vickerman as the preffered pack start. I like Moore and he is a good mobile forward but debate whether unleashing a fully fit TPN for the first 40 minutes or the last 40 is something to aim for as the pace of the game now needs more emphasis on changes being made to maintain tempo rather than wait for the signs of a drop in performance but that of course comes down to the coach and his understanding of the game in real time. Further more Giteau only off the bench and it wouldn't hurt to give Cooper a bench spot to show him that he is not indespensable.
Nick A
Guest
I noticed on O'Connors 3rd kick that hit the post, one of the English players was walking around and waving whilst O'Connor took the kick. It could just be my sour grapes but I was under the impression that whilst a penalty shot a goal was being taken the opposition are not able to do anything to put the kicker off. I was also frustrated by a few of Jouberts calls, such as when he pinged Robinson for not releasing the tackled player when he clearly released doing the chicken wing thing.. But credit to England, they were the better team on the day. If they continue to play like they did on the weekend I'm pretty sure they could roll any team in the world
Derby County FC
Guest
Parisien Judging by the jerseys the English are the Almost Blacks!
mcxd
Guest
There was one thing i noticed about england which made me sit up and take note and that i havent seen them do before. At one stage Flood had the ball outside him was and there was two different lines of attack (on one side) like waves leaving with Flood with multiple options and big headache for the defenders, ironically alot like the Aus league sides attack.
Bayboy
Guest
Yes i do agree the term running rugby is branded around a little too lightly. As has been stated above league is a running game and that match against the Kangaroos was an absolute thriller. It had everything you could ask for, big hits, tries, emotion (punch ups) and the game rested on the tip of a pin for the entirety of the match. The English vs Wallabies match whilst good still had a lot of kicking 35 of the 53 points scored were from the boot.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
"The consensus seems to be that the Poms have the team to win the World Cup next year"... really ??? ... so England turn up in one game against an over rated wallaby outfit and now they're going to win the W/cup ... unbelievable
Moaman
Guest
"Q: Do you think Dean’s would go into a test against the Poms at Twickers without a tuned up scrum? Anyone of the pack that puts in a sub par performance in this game will, in my view be dropped the following week and out of RWC reckoning and they will have that sitting in the back of their minds as they run onto the ground"----Warren.....How many of the starting pack from Twickenham will not,in your opinion, be going to the WC?
GoldenBull
Guest
yeah i am wondering what happened to the wallabies that held onto the ball, the times they did they looked brilliant as aklways not sure why they kept giving the ball away
betty b
Guest
Good win by England but not much to worry about. Their defence was excellent, ours was hopeless. Their goal kicking was excellent, ours was hopeless. But they weren't brillaint and have to improve a lot if they want to do well in 2011. Australia has to be consistent, play to their strength in the backs, learn to defend and kick goals.
woodster
Guest
my allblackness will not permit me to answer your questions
Lorry
Guest
So, the ABs don't have many big individuals, nor do the Wallabies? Ok then, tell me which team in world rugby does?? Ireland, South Africa, France, Argentina? The point is, sport is unpredictable - there is rarely or possibly never a 'perfect' team in international rugby union. Thank god for that, otherwise it would've ended up like the Aust cricket team (and by extension world cricket) a few years ago... And anyway as NZ have shown over the last 25 years, even perfect teams can get beaten!
woodster
Guest
big ask for this team to go undefeated. too much expectation from a team that really dosent have that many big individuals ala allblacks now they have been found out.
Danny
Guest
Said it before and I'll say it again - Quade is Carlos Spencer reborn. It'll be a roller coaster ride between brilliance and disgrace for Aussies. So much for the supposed Wallaby "momentum". Dingo oughta focus on which teams might beat his rabble rather than slopping cheap niggle about what other sides might or might not do.
GoldenBull
Guest
I agree for now and get chambers into ic when hes ready, gitaue has got to go now
GoldenBull
Guest
I have to agree it should have been a penalty to the wallabies that would have put them back into the game and get the momentum to maybe go on and win it but no excuses england played bloody well, it was definitely a turning point in the game and from there on i knew it would be over. If england play like that all the time the world cup is gowing to be a close competition by a few countries!!
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Getting this far in the game without being able or willing supports that theory, alright. Absent ticker, I say.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
But is that the seasonally adjusted ranking? I do believe the Chicanery Method takes into account windspeed and direction at 7 minute intervals, whereas the Obfuscation Doctrine rejects those measures in favour of roof on-ness or roof off-ness. The more sophisticated Sophistry School relies on many more iterations, as practicised by East Anglia University. It's a sort of cook it 'til you get the taste you were first seeking approach. In turn, these methods produce a world ranking of 1.333, 2.70975 and the default finding of "head for the hills now or drown (you can leave the keys to your waterfront with us for safe keeping, honest)". World rankings are about as important as who won the sixth at Rosehill last Saturday.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Jason - I couldn't agree more. The only culpability one can level at the coach is selecting the turkey. You can bet the ARU didn't segment his payments out against consistent demonstrable skill in attack, basic defence, team awareness (as distinct from self admiration), nous and crushability under pressure. By my reckoning he's due about 11% of his fee for Saturday's effort.