Australians are well aware that errant Poms used to be sent to their shores to endure a spot of hard labour and learn lessons for their misdemeanours.
Their sporting successors played to that script on this rather patchy, fractured but ultimately satisfying series. They suffered, they faltered, they recovered.
England came back from what might have been a terminal blow to morale when losing the first Test in Perth to win in Brisbane and Sydney, not exactly gimmes as venues in any code of football.
They may be far from the quality of side that triumphed in the southern hemisphere in 2003 prior to landing the Big One a few months later but this generation have come off the canvas following yet another inadequate Six Nations campaign to deliver a couple of telling blows.
They are nowhere near being nailed-on world-beating contenders but they are, at least, in the ball game again. You don’t fluke series wins in this part of the world.
Join The Roar experts Brett McKay, Harry Jones and Jim Tucker for their verdict on the third Test
While it’s true that comparisons with earlier events in Wellington would not be at all flattering – bread n’ water gruel to set against the champagne and caviar fare on offer at the Cake Tin – England have toughed it out on the scoreboard and also developed several players that will surely be prominent in white for several years to come.
The likes of fullback Freddie Steward, king of the skies yet again, wings, Tommy Freeman and, at some point, Henry Arundell, half-backs, Marcus Smith, who had his best match of the tour, his opportunist, fast-heeled try the icing, and Jack van Poortvilet.
Why oh why did Eddie Jones drop the young Leicester No.9 to the bench in favour of Danny Care only to unceremoniously hook the Harlequin off the field after 37 minutes?
International coaches sometimes have too much time to think and tinker. Van Poortvilet was terrific at Suncorp and showed that sort of form when he came on at the SCG. Jones was ruthless in what he did (as he has been before) although never quite holding his own hands up to admit that he got selection wrong in the first place.
There are a number of plus points that England can declare as they pass through Heathrow in the coming days, notably a change of captaincy. After an injury afflicted season, it appeared that the switch of armband from Owen Farrell to Courtney Lawes might just be a stop-gap appointment. Well, so much for that theory.
Lawes has been a revelation, in a typically laid-back sort of way, bringing his own brand of down-to-earth, hard-edged attitude to the group. England looked to be in decent spirits no matter that they were on the back foot after starting off with a whimper on the west coast. Lawes, along with the likes of Ellis Genge, another to have finished the trip in some credit, has managed to instil a feeling of camaraderie as well as toughness in the squad, crucially getting Jones to trust the players more and let them take responsibility.
You saw that at the SCG. England were ordinary in the first half and defied the run of play in going into the break with an 11-10 lead following a late try by Steward. At this juncture of a northern hemisphere season, particularly after a Lions tour last summer, heads can drop easily as bodies tire. Instead it was England who grew stronger, especially from the bench where the arrivals of hooker Luke Cowan Dickie, prop Mako Vunipola and lock Nick Isiekwe, were particularly impactful.
England will not get carried away by the series triumph, uplifting as it will be. They know that there were errors in their play, stodginess in their attack, occasional lapses in defence. Their pack was workmanlike rather than dominant. The maul was not as purposeful as it had been in Brisbane but it did enough. But they are back in business as far as results are concerned and that will stand them in good stead as the one-year countdown gun sounds shortly for the World Cup.
Courtney Lawes of England and teammates celebrate victory with the Ella-Mobbs Cup. (Photo by Jason McCawley – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
The justifiable question marks that were being raised against Jones continuing through to the tournament in France have now been stilled. Eddie had been feted during the week on his old stomping ground in and around Coogee. That love may be short-lived, (and Jones has as many critics in his homeland as has accumulated in England over the last 12 months), but it will do him good.
He knows that this is far from a vintage Wallaby side, one that was severely handicapped by injury across the opening Tests, and that France and Ireland are still setting the standards.
Australia were far more engaged and direct than they had been in Brisbane, newbie Nick Frost showing well up front while Tom Wright was causing problems behind. The Wallabies did not capitalise on their advantage, though, fretting and fumbling, allowing England breathing space.
It’s been a engrossing three week stint across the southern hemisphere with the north bouncing back from initial set-backs to set up mouth-watering finales in Wellington, Sydney, Cape Town and Santiago del Estero. It made for great viewing.
Enjoy it while you can as World Rugby has decided to set up a global Nations championship with one-off Tests in the July and November windows. As ever, rugby spends too much time meddling, with its laws and with its structures. (As a minor aside, how stupid did it look having water breaks midway through each half with the thermometer in Sydney under 10C? Perhaps they thought the game was being played in London where we await a 40C heatwave).
There has been real tension surrounding these Saturday fixtures. The new-fangled Nations Championship will be doing well if it manages to recreate that. I have my doubts.
England, then, return to sunny uplands, far, far from a finished article with doubts still about their best midfield line-up but in buoyant spirits. As for Australia, well at least the Kiwis are hurting even more.
Waspie
Roar Rookie
It's going to be a sensible coach that recognises how England won two close games, having looked lost in the previous game and for most of the last two 6Ns. Admitting change was needed is a positive. But only if it leads to improvement longer term. This seemed like a short term fix. England reverted to a gameplan that both suited and was trusted by the players. Fairly narrow, forwards based, and vs an Aussie pack that was short on power....They kicked lots, having a decent 15 to chase and didn't really run any backs moves. That's fine, the scrum was ok, the lineout often scratchy and work around the breakdown was "B" grade at best. The defence at least looked like they had met this game. But they were playing an Aussie team stripped of many key players, and with access to lots of regular starters/experienced Prem players, it wasn't quite the young and inexperienced England squad touted. It's a team still unsure of who to play in too many shirt numbers. Playing like that against Ireland or France or a practiced SA or indeed the AB's would be unlikely to yield a result. The carrying from the forwards would be more limited after engaging with the Ireland pack say, and as the England attack is a blunt thing of little imagination, there's work to do to provide puzzles for their opponents. After the first test, England had to "rest" their newish attack formations (really two 5/8ths stacked - like the coach did with Wasps....) and revert to the power and kick game. If they really are going to be contenders - RWC or otherwise - they will need to utilise the pace/experience of players like Ford, Slade and Watson (and Youngs?) and look to pick a backrow able to operated in the wider channels. Watching Wales play SA was to watch a mature backline with pace and confidence. Watching England...it wasn't....And hasn't been for a long time. Ireland dismantled NZ with a well delivered if not over complex game plan, suggesting that England are still lost between trying to be the best team ever....and recognising they play best when they accept their limitations and play like they did in beating France in 2021. The Autumn Internationals will provide us with a clue as to if England can move on from what too often has been a disappointing two years. Players will return, but England easily have two starting 15's plus spares that are closely matched - it's now which set we intend to select and what we intend do with them.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Thanks Muz. There is no doubting the talent pool Jones has available to him. But you’ve nailed the two big issues. Their coaching and most of all Jones’ erratic selections. He continues to make the whole smaller than the parts. Not enjoying watching them very much.
Double Agent
Guest
I'm struggling to think of any 10s in the history of Rugby that wouldn't struggle to tackle Kerevi.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
:happy:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Thank you Mick for the article, much appreciated. I am not a fan of the new competition with only one off tests, and no more 3, tests series. The Ireland and England series showed how great 3 tests are, nail biting with so much to play for.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Ooops has more excuses than Meagan Markle and the same publicist , Opera next ! Our version ! He has a PHD in losing and Rennie will have one as well if he persists with Hooper and Hodge. The English will be well pleased . They had injuries before they came and then lost their coal fired I power house Curry , Itoje and Underhill . Those who came in stepped up.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
"inconvenient facts". . :thumbup:
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Congratulations, Neil. However we may slice it and dice it all, England's series win is in the record books, the history books, and ever will be. This group of England players has the core of a very good team. I do think though that a series loss might have served England better, as now Eddie will stay, one would think. Marcus Smith....great player, who will only get better. With the best England can produce, and well selected and coached, he should be one of the standout players in France next year.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
One of your best ever thoughts goes up in smoke!
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Nope. It was none of those things Reframe. Just inconvenient facts.
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
Yeah England beat the Wallabies in Oz without ever really playing well, whilst that’s unsatisfying it gives a decent base to work from. Eddie needs to give himself a good shake and become a better SELECTOR. He has far too many toys to play.
Don
Roar Rookie
FFS. The bloke played very well. He got stuck in to defensive work, added speed and spark to the attack and was a genuine threat with the ball. Don’t get sucked in to a debate about something other than what was clearly visible to any biased or unbiased Rugby watcher. The statistics that tell the story of this test are the dropped ball, poor pass selection/ attack options taken by the Wallabies, and some sensational defensive efforts from England along with patience and composure.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Peter, I compared him to his opposite number, the guy closest on the pitch doing the same job, the rest of his teammates and the best on pitch for Australia. I’m not sure what you were expecting? I could have gone further and provided you with a comparative % overall tackle completed to attempted, which would have also put him on par or ahead of players on both sides whose key roles have more emphasise on tackling than his. I suspect there would still be some who would not accept his defence was more than decent last night.
Brad
Roar Rookie
Hope the win means England don't change. Compare the Ireland v AB's I'd be more concerned about the Irish. The Wallabies lost by 4 with errors and game management. France are strong AB's will improve S.A will get motivated The Wallabies don't have the depth at 10 but can play above themselves as shown in the past.
Reframe
Roar Rookie
Neil, Thank you. Yery funny. Highly insecure and a little passive aggressive but funny none the less. You can reframe all you want. I hope you read my definition and that helped you. Good on you. Empathy may be a stretch for you but your comparative analysis reference can only be viewed as cynicism. Yawn. England won, they played a much better game. Congratulations. I don’t have to be a fan because you are.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Missing 4/14 tackles isn't that good. Comparing him to the worst player on the wallabies sides doesn't mean much. Farrell has certainly played better as a playmaker and game manager than Smith.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Let me reframe that for you. Smith made 10 tackles, fifth highest of his 23 teammates, and missed 4. His opposite number made 1 tackle and missed 1. Hooper topped the tackle count for Australia. He also made 10. I look forward to your comparative analysis of the effectiveness of Smith’s tackles, or what other metric you used in forming your insight. Empathy?
Guess
Roar Rookie
What do you want them to do? Cry? Honestly it's good they aren't too emotional. It's fans job
Reframe
Roar Rookie
Ozinsa, Just to help you understand where I am coming from : Reframing is seeing the current situation from a different perspective, which can be tremendously helpful in problem solving, decision making and learning. Reframing is helping you or another person to more constructively move on from a situation in which you or the other person feels stuck or confused. Part of the process is playing empathy coin.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
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