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:
Australia 0-0 England, 1 minute
A brilliant beginning on his first Test start for Nick Frost! The big second row gets his arms up to block Danny Care’s box kick, and very nearly latches on to his own charge down, just fumbling as his Wallabies teammates looked to charge through after him. A nervy opening from Care - England scrum.
KICK OFF!
Paul Williams blows his whistle, and the third Test between Australia and England is underway!
Welcome to Country and Anthems
For the third time this series, we are in for another delayed start in Sydney, though Lloyd Walker gives a fine Welcome to Country, before two very accomplished performances of the anthems.
Australia vs England
Nic White, on his 50th cap, will lead Australia out, after being described as the “biggest niggler of all time” by Eddie Jones this week. It’s a label that certainly isn’t far from the mark, but this is a proud day for a scrum-half who has developed into a more complete nine with age. He’ll have to again control things.
Before the anthems, the ground remembers Andrew Cole, the former Australian referee who passed away last weekend. The match officials in all of today’s games are wearing black armbands.
Australia vs England
James Slipper, a man of such experience, delivers some final words to the Australian team in the changing room. Michael Hooper looks around his team, nodding his head as they affirm their readiness to go at England. It’s time for the decider.
Clad in fetching white jackets, England weave through the SCG’s underbelly, and out into the crisp Sydney evening air, through a throng of children and out onto famous, fabled sporting turf.
Australia vs England
The intensity of the rivalry has definitely been ramped up this week with both sides engaging in a little more pre-match verbal sparring. There have been a few flashpoints in the first two Tests, but I reckon this opening quarter is going to be rather fierce. Australia, particularly, have said they took note of how Queensland and New South Wales went at one another from the first whistle in the deciding State of Origin clash earlier in the week - expect Michael Hooper and co. to charge out of the blocks.
Eddie Jones, back in a city he knows well, also has a natter with Sky
“It’s a fantastic occasion. We are honoured to be playing at such a prestigious ground.
“With the New Zealand referee we think there might be a lot of quick ball at the start of the game, and Danny Care is good when the ball is quick.
“We have got to be more consistent with our play. Defensively we have got to be a little bit tighter on the edge of the ruck.
“It is always an important game for the team. A young team gains a lot of experience from playing these consequential games. We are going to enjoy the occasion.”
The England head coach has also had a pre-match catch-up with his former assistant Scott Wisemantel, now Australia’s attack coach:
Dave Rennie gives his pre-match thoughts to Sky Sports
“It’s going to be amazing. Unbelievable ground, the first Test was played here in the late 1800s and it could be the last Test here, so it’s pretty special.
“We have got to bar up. We are going to try to control possession and territory.
“We tend to talk more about who we have got rather than who we haven’t. It’s massive for lots of reasons. We let ourselves down last week so we have got to better.”
Australia vs England
The Sydney Cricket Ground really does look a picture. A place of such history, and it’ll be packed to the rafters this evening for the first Test here since 1986. It could well be their last at the SCG, too.
Australia vs England - Talking Points
England and Australia clash in a series decider on Saturday in what is likely to be the last Test played at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Here the PA news agency examines five talking points leading into a clash that will see the newly-created Ella-Mobbs Cup lifted for the first time.
Talking points ahead of England’s series decider against Australia
The clash on Saturday will see the newly-created Ella-Mobbs Cup lifted for the first time at Sydney Cricket Ground
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