Australia v England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Wallabies win despite Darcy Swain red card
Follow all the reaction from the first Test of England’s summer tour
England went down 30-28 to Australia in a rollercoaster first game of the three-match series in Perth on Saturday.
The Wallabies’ win snaps an eight-match losing streak against their old rivals despite the loss of lock Darcy Swain to a red card before half-time.
Winger Jordan Petaia, hooker Folau Fainga’a and loose forward Pete Samu scored tries in the last quarter as Australia recorded their first win over England since knocking the co-hosts out of the 2015 World Cup.
Samu’s try took Australia to a 30-14 lead but England debutants Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet scored tries in the dying minutes to make the scoreline more respectable.
The series continues over the next two weeks with tests at Brisbane’s Lang Park and the Sydney Cricket Ground. Follow all the reaction with our live blog:
PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 9-6 England (Noah Lolesio penalty, 43 minutes)
Virtually a copy and paste of the penalty that drew Australia level on the stroke of half-time - Noah Lolesio pushes the home side into the lead for the first time.
Australia 6-6 England, 41 minutes
A half-time change for England - Lewis Ludlam is out there in the place of Tom Curry, and immediately in to his defensive work as Marika Koroibete arcs infield with intent straight into the replacement flanker.
Maro Itoje is penalised for going off his feet. Jonny Hill’s period in the sin bin comes to an end as Noah Lolesio again looks towards the posts.
Back out there
The two sides pop back out there. England have already lost once this summer to a 14-man team after an Australian second row had been sent off - what price on twice?
H/T: Australia 6-6 England
I think Eddie Jones will be relatively pleased with the way his side won their collisions in that half, but he’ll be hoping that they can more certainly crack Australian open as they begin to tire. His half-time messaging will be key - England probably don’t want to be dragged into something increasingly scrappy, but their attacking tempo has generally been good.
Australia, conversely, might value more messiness. Samu Kerevi and Michael Hooper had excellent halves.
H/T: Australia 6-6 England
There was a fair bit between Darcy Swain and Jonny Hill even before that incident. I reckon a two-handed push to the face of the Australian by Hill went unspotted earlier.
H/T: Australia 6-6 England
Six apiece as the teams trot back into the sheds. You would say that is about fair after a physical half that never quite clicked into gear.
It may be all square, but Australia are certainly up against it. Having lost Quade Cooper five minutes before kick-off, Dave Rennie has also seen Tom Banks and Allan Alaalatoa depart with arm and brain injuries respectively, before Darcy Swain’s moment of madness saw his evening ended by the flourish of James Doleman’s red card. Jonny Hill will be back amongst things after his yellow about a minute into the second 40 - and England will thereafter have a player advantage, which feels like it may be key in a battle of attrition.
PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 6-6 England (Noah Lolesio penalty, 43 minutes)
A second penalty for Noah Lolesio and that is that for the half.
Australia 3-6 England, 41 minutes
A penalty to Australia and they will have a last go at the English defence, opting to keep play going by kicking directly for touch.
Tom Curry thinks he has won a turnover, but his initial effort goes unrewarded and his second effort at nicking the ball from Rob Leota comes when he is off his feet. Another penalty to Australia, this time bang in front, and I reckon we might just be all square at the half.
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