This year, Australia were heavily marked men. On Thursday, London’sTelegraph reported England coach Steve Borthwick had presented 40 examples of the Wallabies illegally entering rucks from the Rugby Championship. In terms of lobbying referee Nika Amashukeli, it was not subtle from England and would have made the political spin doctors down the road at Westminster blush.
One of the men highlighted in the examples was captain Harry Wilson, who was then penalised from ruck deep in the English half. England used the penalty to set up the perfect attacking platform for England, before the Wallabies managed to hold the ball up their line.
England’s next penalty for a side entry at the ruck, drew an ironic cheer from the Australian fans in the crowd.
Last November England had been stunned by the aerial dominance of debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and the decision to field 102 cap five-eighth George Ford, who specialises in pinpoint spiral bombs, was designed to make life as difficult for the Wallabies in the backfield.
What a difference a year makes. Suaalii normally so good in the air was easily beaten by England winger Tom Roebuck, before England No.8 Ben Earl ran through to give his team a 10-point lead, to add to an earlier Ford penalty.
Harry Potter of Australia scores his team’s first try.Credit: Getty Images
The Wallabies had opportunities to respond, turning down a penalty to go for the corner, and going for an attacking maul metres from the line, but getting penalised with a try in sight.
The Wallabies’ attacking strategy became narrowed, best summed up with Wilson alone of the wing and just missing a 50-22 by inches with a brilliant kick. The captain then uncharacteristically knocked the ball on, leading to England to break through the Wallabies defence, with Earl denied his second try by winger Harry Potter, somehow holding him up.
Under immense pressure, on his line, Potter then showed his ability to attack, intercepting a pass from Dingwall that would have led to a certain try, running the length of the field to score the Wallabies first try and bringing his side back into a game that looked far off the pace. Edmed’s conversion cut the lead to three.
Five months ago, Taniela Tupou had memorably told this masthead that he wasn’t sure how to play rugby, struggling to get the Waratahs team. At Twickenham, he was back to his devastating best, desperate for work in attack and defence. Similarly, Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight were both outstanding.
The Wallabies had been brave, but also fortunate to still be in the game at half-time, given the amount of attacking opportunities that England had butchered, perhaps more examples than opposition side-entries into the ruck. England had understood the Wallabies’ propensity to finish strong and had a bench ready with six British and Irish Lions.
The five-player English cavalry from the bench was led by the peroxide-haired breakaway Henry Pollock duly arrived on 50 minutes, giving the home side fresh legs and ideas that were desperately needed in the face of the Wallabies’ stubborn defence.
Pollock immediately made his mark with a try for England after Roebuck beat Edmed in the air, allowing the breakaway to sprint through to score to extend his team’s lead to eight with 20 minutes left.
Australia’s Harry Potter smiles as he races in to score a try.Credit: AP
England’s bench was designed to counteract the Wallabies’ habits of late victories, including last November in Twickenham. This year, it successfully squeezed the life out of the Wallabies’ defence, grinding down their energy.
England halfback Alex Mitchell stepped neatly to score his side’s third try and put the game out of sight, with hooker Luke-Cowan Dickie adding another.
The day had begun with hope and bright sunshine at Twickenham, and ended for the Wallabies with a scuffle in the rain as the Wallabies were unable to score despite late pressure, being held up on the England line. Next Saturday, Italy await.
