Australia v England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as England win deciding Test

Follow live updates as England beat Australia in a huge series decider at the Sydney Cricket Ground

(AP)

England outwitted and outfought an error-prone Australia 21-17 to win their July series 2-, a second success for northern hemisphere rugby after Ireland’s earlier triumph over the All Blacks.

Young guns Freddie Steward and Marcus Smith scored the tries and England’s streetwise pack bossed the breakdown as coach Eddie Jones masterminded a second series victory over his own country after their 3-0 sweep in 2016.

Australia scored tries through Tom Wright and Folau Fainga’a in front of a sellout crowd of 43,274 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but the home side’s accuracy deserted them too frequently at crucial moments.

Australia won the opening test 30-28 in Perth but England struck back with a 25-17 victory in Brisbane to take the series to Saturday’s decider.

Follow live reaction from the Australia vs England series decider below:

Australia vs England

• 66’ - TRY! Fainga’a powers over to set up thrilling finish (Aus 17-21 Eng)
• 55’ - TRY! Great awareness and pace from Smith gives England a cushion (Aus 10-21 Eng)
• 50’ - PENALTY! Great work by Genge wins a penalty that Farrell slots (Aus 10-14 Eng)
• 40’ - TRY! Steward sneaks over in the corner (Aus 10-11 Eng)
• 33’ - PENALTY! Farrell adds a second England penalty (Aus 10-6 Eng)
• 25’ - TRY! Wright finishes off a stuning Wallabies score (Aus 7-3 Eng)
• England face Australia in series decider at iconic Sydney Cricket Ground
• England levelled the series at 1-1 with victory in Brisbane last weekend

[16 July 2022 12:38 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 10-21 England, 65 minutes

A try-saving tackle from Freddie Steward! Brilliant from the England full-back, attacking the ankles of Pete Samu as the replacement flanker rushes up the touchline, forcing Samu out before he can reach out for the line.

Courtney Lawes is warned about England’s discipline as Australia again kick for touch.

[16 July 2022 12:37 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 10-21 England, 63 minutes

Again there is nothing doing at the maul, but Australia manage to retrieve the ball from the middle of it, and they’ll try and bash through with close-in carries. Pete Samu provides a beefy one, and now the advantage is coming, allowing Australia more freedom...

[16 July 2022 12:35 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 10-21 England, 62 minutes

Another penalty to Australia. Lewis Ludlam jackals superbly, but Marcus Smith has failed to roll away. This time the Wallabies will visit the right corner in search of more fertile ground and their plough got stuck on the left.

[16 July 2022 12:34 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 10-21 England, 61 minutes

England’s scrum looks to be struggling again, but the officials are content to let them play on. Jack van Poortvliet’s clearance isn’t the best - a metre outside his own 22.

In a bid to steady the set piece, Eddie Jones introduces Joe Heyes. Will Stuart’s solid series, barring injury or incident, is over.

[16 July 2022 12:33 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 10-21 England, 60 minutes

England whoop and holler - turnover, scrum feed for the visitors! Tate McDermott is the latest Wallaby introduced and the scrum-half barks at his forwards, but the maul goes down under its own steam initially, and Australia then drive rather curiously right into the jumbled mound, from where the ball will not emerge.

[16 July 2022 12:31 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 10-21 England, 58 minutes

Changes for both teams. For Australia: Dave Porecki off / Folau Fainga’a on Harry Wilson off / Pete Samu; and for England: Ellis Genge off / Mako Vunipola on.

Vunipola and Fainga’a pack down in the front row for a scrum, and Vunipola is immediately under pressure from Allan Alaalatoa. Somehow the loosehead is not penalised, but a swarmed Jack van Poortvliet at the back is. Penalty to Australia - which Reece Hodge kicks into the corner rather than narrowing the gap from bang in front.

[16 July 2022 12:26 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! Australia 10-21 ENGLAND (Marcus Smith try, 55 minutes)

Marcus Smith won’t be caught! Away the England fly-half scampers and he slides over!

Australia’s lineout is disrupted by Jonny Hill, untidy ball scuttling across the SCG surface in to midfield. Luke Cowan-Dickie and a couple of Australian arms grasp at it, sending it onwards further, hopping invitingly for Smith.

He’s quick, the Harlequins fly-half, and Australia aren’t able to reel him in. Owen Farrell adds the conversion.

[16 July 2022 12:26 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 10-14 England, 54 minutes

Nearly for England! Tidy attacking play, Will Stuart pulling back niftily at the line and then Marcus Smith picking Ollie Chessum on the short line. Nic White does superbly to chop the long-striding lock down, and an isolated Chessum hurries back to his feet without releasing.

[16 July 2022 12:24 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 10-14 England, 52 minutes

Australia swap their props: Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa in; James Slipper and Taniela Tupou out.

Marcus Smith holds Samu Kerevi in a midfield tackle but the centre’s charge sets a nice platform for Australia to then play wide. Marika Koroibete has to stoop, though, to collect a pass, which just stalls him ever so slightly, enabling Jack Nowell to sprint across in time to force Koroibete’s boots acros the touchline.

[16 July 2022 12:22 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 10-14 England, 51 minutes

Australia win ball in the air, but Luke Cowan-Dickie somehow pilfers it at the resulting breakdown just before leaving his feet. There’s space in behind as Tommy Freeman looks up, but his prod towards it skews into touch on the roll.