England captain Dylan Hartley made a monumental blunder by not saluting his coach Eddie Jones after the men-in-white had whitewashed the Wallabies three-nil for the first time Down Under.
Jones took over the coaching job from Stuart Lancaster after England had been humiliated by failing to qualify for the Rugby World Cup quarters last year – the first host country to do so.
More of the wash-up from Wallabies vs England
» Five talking points from the match
» Match report: Wallabies go down in points-fest
» DIY Player Ratings
» Roar Forum: Wallabies to-do list for the Rugby Championship
» How hard does a Wallabies forward hit?
» Re-live the match with our live blog
» WATCH: The full match highlights
Since then Jones has set up an unbeaten record by winning the Six-Nations grand slam for the first time since 2003, and now he’s coached England to an historic 3-0 series win.
The nine successive wins has catapulted England from eighth in the rugby world rankings to second, and dumped the Wallabies to fourth behind South Africa.
In the process England has scored 265 points to 157, and 27 tries to 15.
They won the first Test against the Wallabies 39-28, the second 23-7, and last night, in front of a record Aliianz Stadium crowd of 44,063, England ran out 44-40 winners.
Before Wallaby fans start knifing their team, England didn’t win the first two Tests – the Wallabies gift-wrapped them with a series of unfathomable basic errors any coach would be upset with an under ten side making the same mistakes.
But last night was very different.
England played the better rugby, and even though the Wallabies scored five tries to four, England was genuinely the better side for the first time in the series.
And to the Wallabies’ credit they gave the Test their all, nothing was left in the tank.
The big difference was man-of-the-match Owen Farrell, a master goal-kicker.
Last night he accumulated 24 points by landing nine from ten attempts, and 66 points in the three Tests.
If teams like the Wallabies keep getting pinged off the paddock, they will lose thanks to Farrell’s unerring right boot.
For mine, Farrell was man-of-the-series.
So while Jones has every right to feel well-pleased with himself, impishly adding the team will celebrate with ice-cream last night, his opposite number Michael Cheika has some home truths to face.
He will need to do so before the Wallabies take on the All Blacks, Springboks, and the Pumas to defend their Rugby Championship, kicking off in August.
For starters, the Wallabies will never be at their peak without David Pocock.
And Cheika will be crossing all his fingers and toes Israel Folau will always be fit and ready to strut his incredible stuff – he is the most talented Wallaby with Pocock and Michael Hooper right behind.
Lock Adam Coleman was a find last night, he has amazing mobility and genuine rugby nous for such a big unit of 204 cms and 122 kgs.
Winger Dane Haylett-Petty is another find in attack and defence, he will be around for a long time – very impressive.
But Cheika’s main problem is the pack.
Last night the Wallabies scaled in at 919 kgs, England 907, and boasted 413 caps to 240, but England was a far superior pack.
Scrum-wise the Wallaby front row boasted 245 caps to 98, but again England was superior.
There has to be a message in those stats.
Out the back Cheika has precious little option but to stick with halfback Nick Phipps because Will Genia isn’t around.
But Phipps is quite capable of making half a dozen big blunders that could so easily cost 42 points – game, set, and match.
His pivotal partner Bernard Foley could be a 50 per cent more effective footballer if he had a halfback who gave him swift, and accurate support.
Foley can make a break, and he’s an excellent support player, but all too often the Phipps service puts him on the defensive, negating one of his strengths.
So Michel Cheika has a lot to worry about over the next two months.
But there’s one facet of the Wallabies he doesn’t have to be concerned about – their ticker.
Fighting spirit can often overcome shortcomings of which there are many.
But last night the true Wallaby spirit surfaced, and as a result the Wallabies very nearly pinched the Test.
One thing for sure, the 44,063 at Allianz really got value for their hard-earned.
Timbo (L)
Guest
What was wrong with Haylett Petty? I thought he was great and did a bit of moonlighting protecting the ruck (Who's job is that again?) Sounds like you might have been watching test 2 - Was the turf all ripped up? Moore got bumped by a linesman during his infamous throw. I am a Fardy fan, I love his work but I agree his penalty count is getting a bit high. Might be time for an intervention, perhaps another kick in the plums would set him straight? Frisby, Gill, Yes, Yes. Genuine #8 - not fit in the current squad, bet there are a couple, I like Jordan Smiler but I am not sure he is eligible. There are others but you will have to look outside the Brumbies or Tah's squads which is a bit of a faux pas.
Timbo (L)
Guest
Maybe if it was in ALL CAPITALS?
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Ryan, having grown up with Samoans & having a very good friend who is Fa'afafine I think I have a pretty good grasp of the context. If Pita was talking among a group of Samoans then I could understand that but that's not the case. For him to make the comment in context of the other posts he has put up it is obvious that he is using the term about Skelton in anything but a derogatory sense.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
Shane D - if you read Pita's 1st sentence, he correctly refers to Faafafine being smart cookies which is true in Samoa. They're now CEO's and produce the best grades on the island. Physically some faafafine may look imposing, but lack strength and agility. Colloquially and with zero malice, Samoans would refer to a bloke who isn't as strong & fit as they look or should be, as a 'Faafafine'. So don't over think it and place it in a Samoan cultural context, which you obviously lack.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Pita - nothing I need to aspire to. I am a Kiwi and an AB fan. It's just I understand humility which seems beyond you. Any response to your comment about Skelton at all? Or would answering my query be to intelligent & constructive for you?
Goatee
Guest
'Play those two and they’ll be torn apart.' Really? Oh wise guru? Wasn't it you who suggested (before the event) that England had no chance of winning the tests series in Oz? What your comments really suggest (both before the series and now in the aftermath) is that that you know next to nothing about the calibre of player that England are currently producing. Talk to someone like Fox Saker and he'll enlighten you, if you're prepared to open the other eye. While there is currently daylight between the AB's and the chasing pack, there is a lot of rugby to be played between now and when England and the AB's next meet. And if you really believe that EJ will devise a gameplan whereby our 10 and 12 will kick the ball down the throats of the AB back 3 - then you're even sillier than I thought.
Bushranger
Guest
Despite all these comments, you are right. Australia's poor performance in the first two tests, and to a degree in the third, allowed England to win. Australia played abysmally in the first two tests. In both cases, England constructed very little, but they didn't need to, they sat back and let the Wallabies give away penalty after penalty and make mistakes that they rightly exploited into to tries. Sure England pressure forced penalties and mistakes, but every team exerts pressure on the other, it's how you handle that pressure that matters and the Wallabies did not handle it well. There were a few times in the third test where the pressure was coming from the Wallabies that cause mistakes by England, handling errors and hurried poor kicks into touch. If only we had seen some of that pressure in the first two tests. Australia played better in the third test and England rose to match them. Perhaps they would have risen to match them in the first and second tests if Australia had played better. But Australia didn't so we will never know. What struck me most about the third test was how different England played compared to the second. The second was a master class in wet weather football, kick back and let them make the mistakes and the Wallabies fell into the trap. In the third test England kick much less (23 compared to 33 in the second) while Australia kicked more (20 to 18 in the second test). If any thought was given to the way Australia was to play in the second test, the brains trust came up with the wrong solution. What was the same about the third test was how Australia was on the right side of the stats again but still lost because they gave away too many penalties. As Dave Brockhoff, used to say 'a row of ministers in your own half' and the Wallabies would be well advised to take his advice.
Dekka
Guest
I was disappointed with Phipps' performances. The English halves were very impressive and outplayed Foley and Phipps. The team will be better served with one of Frisby, Stirzaker or Louwrens. I was very impressed with the performances of Dane Haylett-Petty and Adam Coleman and agree that they should be included for tests going forward. I would also like to see Kerevi replace Kuridrani and we sorely need Kurtley to be fit for the forthcoming tests.
Pita
Guest
..more a statement of fact at All Black success & greatness, so best you be more optimistic and view it as something to aspire to. Chin up champ and see your schooner glass as half full.
harry
Guest
I think the rugby championship is a bit stale. If they can work through the mess of hemispheres and clubs and come up with a global int comp every year where top say two sides from each hemisphere play a semi final then a final at end of year would get the blood going. Play for a shield or something
HARRY
Guest
They aren't playing the abs this year not on EOYT tests 2017 they are
Kane
Guest
Nearly beat the All Blacks in two out of three? You were close in the first but you never looked like winning the second. You converted a try after the hooter to bring it within 1 point. Just prior to that you were awarded a try after Mike Brown was held up because apparently the ball doesn't need to touch the grass if its touching your arm... It was a 15 point ball game made to look close by a balls up by the TMO and a try after the hooter that didn't affect the result.
Colin N
Guest
Those players won't be able to do anything if they are pinned back in their own 22, however good they are.
Colin N
Guest
That whole midfield axis was outstanding but, then again, it's not a surprise! Mallinder was a regular for Saints last season, Williams was first choice for London Irish and Marchant was on the fringes of the Harlequins squad. The props, both starting and replacements, were also impressive, while Will Evans was superb at openside. When I saw Kvesic at U20 level, I was impressed and thought he could potentially be a regular international but, for me, Evans was a level above yesterday; looks a top player in the making.
lex
Guest
Indeed I think it was obvious to everyone that the game plan for the second test was a disaster. - Sticking religiously to a running & passing attack in the wet was suicidal and England were quite happy to help Australia pull the trigger by kicking to them and letting them make the inevitable errors. - Engaging England in a niggle war with a ref that would penalize them for it was similarly wrong headed. -Winning teams adjust for the conditions and the ref. The off the ball stuff backfired badly. Lessons to be learned....
lex
Guest
Hartley has been a very good captain and has the confidence & respect of his team, his coach, and the fans. He served out the time for his transgressions and has emerged as a good leader and a guy who handles referees well. I would expect that the gratitude is mutual and unspoken between Hartley and Jones.
English Pom
Guest
Dave, totally right. This English side has been about 5 years in the making. Two years ago, we nearly beat New Zealand at home, in 2 out of the 3 matches. The World Cup -at which Wales and Australia deservedly beat us Poms- reflected an under cooked and under prepared English side. As a Pom, I watched the world cup match in a Cardiff pub, alongside most of Wales plus my new Australian uncle. It was not pretty, though a Welsh lad bought me a beer after the match for my bravery -wearing a white England shirt in that pub. Anyway that world cup English side was not that different to the one that has 0-3 you guys. This series was always going to be close. the difference is that we have a good hooker, and an experienced coach. Thanks to Australia, we've got a great coach who has helped the English Team rediscover a glint of its 2003 form.
Jeremy Williams
Guest
David, you call yourself a journalist. Please then give the dignity that profession deserves? Your one eyed commentary makes you no better than the unintelligent Phil Kearns and the one eyed Fox Sport Rugby commentary team. The Walllabies were beaten by a better team and it would not hurt for you and the Fox Sports Rugby Commentary team to be just a bit more objective and real. We would all really appreciate that in rugby land.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah seriously the All Blacks seem to have the biggest flogs as fans. Not that the collective group are necessarily worse, but just the stand out flogs are huge flogs. E.g. Pita
taylorman
Roar Guru
Interesting comment, I'd have to ponder that one. Perhaps 12 months non stop rugby is getting to you? But it's been interesting Jimmy. Well done on the series win. Didn't quite expect the result. We have our Super series to finish then onto our own championship so enjoy the win, but in the words of the great Jason Bourne from the Bourne Supremacy, in my opinion the best of the series by the way....'Get some rest Pam, you look tired' ...cue that fantastic rolling credits music.??