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
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:
PENALTY! Australia 10-14 ENGLAND (Owen Farrell penalty, 50 minutes)
The first points of the second half go England’s way - Owen Farrell bisects the uprights.
Australia 10-11 England, 48 minutes
Twice more in the movement a charged-up Genge leaves brawny imprint on the Australian defence, and England win a penalty inside the Australia 22.
Australia 10-11 England, 47 minutes
Cowan-Dickie’s first lineout throw is stolen, and Australia kick into England’s half.
OOF! That’s a massive collision between Ellis Genge and Samu Kerevi, with the England prop very much the winner! He tramples over the top of the Australia centre.
Australia 10-11 England, 46 minutes
Porecki’s opposite number goes off - Luke Cowan-Dickie replacing Jamie George. The Australia hooker gets his throw right, and a big midfield carry from Rob Valetini creates enough space for Nic White to kick away.
Australia 10-11 England, 46 minutes
Freddie Steward is just so good in the air, settling beneath the high bomb from his Leicester colleague Jack van Poortvliet, and somehow tumbling to deck with ball in his arms even as Reece Hodge appeared set to snatch it from him.
Another high kick tumbles into English hands as Noah Lolesio drops it cold. Owen Farrell pokes a diagonal grubber into the corner - pressure lineout for Dave Porecki to throw five metres out from the Australian line.
Australia 10-11 England, 44 minutes
But the England defence roars as Paul Williams awards them a penalty. Wilson again tries to make an impact, this time as a support player, needlesly smashing into Billy Vunipola beside a ruck that Australia appeared to have in hand.
Australia 10-11 England, 43 minutes
Powerful carry from Taniela Tupou, surging forth from a standing start and beating two defenders. He goes again soon after, boshing back Lewis Ludlam as Australia begin to build.
A loose offload checks their momentum, but Noah Lolesio sends Harry Wilson forth with a nifty inside pass.
Australia 10-11 England, 42 minutes
Two minutes, two penalties, as both Courtney Lawes and Ellis Genge tackle Dave Porecki a little high. Australia advance to about 25 out from the England line.
Australia 10-11 England, 41 minutes
And England are immediately penalised. Australia form a maul, which Lewis Ludlam bursts into illegally through the side door.
Second half...
Perhaps it is hasty, but you do wonder if that early hook might spell the end of Danny Care’s England career. Ben Youngs and Raffi Quirke will come back in, you’d think, ahead of the autumn and Jack van Poortvliet is clearly trusted by Eddie Jones.
Right, let’s hope for something slightly less clunky after the resumption. England get things back underway.
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