England 30 Australia 6: Michael Cheika fumes at disallowed tries as hosts run amok in closing stages
It was a day of affirmation for England, a day of rueful contemplation for Australia who had little of the rub of the green but contributed hugely to a high-octane occasion only to leave deflated by a blow-out scoreline as Eddie Jones’ side touched down three tries in the final eight minutes.
No matter the good fortune. No matter fine-line decisions, this was a result that cements England’s credentials as World Cup contenders. True, one TMO decision for Elliot Daly’s try in the 55th minute went their way while Marika Karoibete’s was ruled out for crossing 15 minutes later. Earlier a Michael Hooper try had been adjudged offside. And Australia at one stage just before half-time were down to 13 men.
On such margins. But no quibbling. No more grumbling about sub-par performances. England may not even have been at their most assured or slickest but they are spurred by a raging inner belief that will take them to significant places. This is a result that resonates. It was no fluke, even if the scoreboard flattered them. They did the spade work that enabled them to take advantage with stand-out performances in particular from lock Joe Launchbury and the late-arriving, replacement scrum-half, Danny Care.
The pressure was all on England’s shoulders. This was the clutch-game of the autumn schedule, a fixture with real consequence. The fact that Australia might have leap-frogged England into second place in the rankings was the least of it. England had to deal with outside scrutiny. A loss would have set them back six months. As it is, the manner as well as the measure of the outcome sends them towards 2018 (assuming that Samoa are dealt with next week) with a justifiable sense of themselves and the possibilities that lie ahead. This was a seriously impressive result, the sort of resounding finale that used to be the preserve only of the All Blacks.
The late rattle of tries owed much to the arrival on the field of Care who brought an injection of pace and alertness that ripped apart what had been a stern and resilient Wallaby defence. The Harlequin rounded off a superb 11-minute cameo with a try himself at the death, taking advantage of Australia’s desperation to come away with something, Jonny May pouncing with Care on hand to finish off. May himself had done well to latch on to Care’s clever grubber moments earlier to touchdown, while Care’s eagle-eyed, over-the-shoulder hook-kick in the 72nd minute opened up the field for Jonathan Joseph to touch down.
‘The Finishers’ is how Jones terms his late substitutes and they certainly were true to that soubriquet. But they can do little if there is nothing on which to build and the hefty figure of Launchbury had done so much to ensure that foundations had been laid. Launchbury was terrific in all elements, a rock. No wonder that Jones had the luxury of preferring him ahead of World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Maro Itoje.
There are, of course, still blemishes in England’s play. Their discipline was patchy, with some silly penalties among the 10 conceded, and their scrum engagement was also off-kilter. Handling was slipshod at times but conditions were filthy. These are fault lines that are easily repaired.
What cannot be denied is that England triumphed against blue-riband opponents. The Wallabies played to recent form, undefeated in seven, and were far from the raggle-taggle bunch that began their international season with a loss at home to Scotland and a shellacking from New Zealand. They were fitter, tougher and smarter, and had a monstrous presence in Koroibete, a handful all afternoon. Half-backs Will Genia and Bernard Foley were sharp and elusive while Kurtley Beale has been rejuvenated by his stint with Wasps, a full-back only in the sense that he wears the No 15 shirt, popping up all over the field to trigger attacks.
Beale was at the heart of everything, including, contentiously, his silly lunge for the ball on the stroke of half-time when May was trying to find Joseph on the inside. It was a one-handed contact and adjudged a yellow card by referee Ben O’Keeffe. He did pop up in midfield in the 27th minute to create an overlap on the left from where Tevita Kuridrani’s kick-through almost led to a try for Michael Hooper only for the TMO to rule (correctly) that the flanker had been offside.
England rode their luck. The bounce of a ball can make fools even of the wisest. If Beale had his time again in the 55th minute (or Clement Poitrenaud along the self-same Twickenham touchline in the Heineken Cup final) he would not have dithered and assumed a rugby ball behaves logically. It looked as if Ben Youngs’ rushed clearance was rolling into touch only for the ball to hold up, causing Beale to look on in astonishment as his one-time Wasps’ teammate, Elliot Daly, came steaming through to toe-poke the ball downfield from where he was able to hack on and score. It was a border-line decision, as the countless TV replays indicated, but the try was awarded.
This ball is in touch. #ENGAUS#rugbypic.twitter.com/G6EGjO4CcE
— Conor Collins (@McLeuven) November 18, 2017
There were errors – Nathan Hughes losing control of a ball too easily from a flick-tackle from the magnificent Hooper – but the constant buzz of the crowd was enough to tell you that a dank, filthy afternoon was being illuminated by the cut and thrust of a Test match.
England had their moments, too, notably when they mauled their way to within a metre of the try-line following a line-out, stemmed by the Wallabies but at a cost as their captain, Hooper, was sent to the sin-bin for the second week in succession for constant infringement to become the most heinous offender in Test rugby following this eighth card.
That Itoje was on the field within 17 minutes when Sam Underhill was taken off following a head knock in a tackle did England’s cause no harm. Itoje was busy and involved throughout, a focal point in the line-out, at no time more so than when stealing a Wallaby throw within England’s 22 after they had opted to go for touch.
England led 6-0 at the interval. The second half was played to a similar tempo until that dramatic denouement. It was a breathless conclusion. And a real tonic for English rugby.
Player ratings
Ben Coles was at Twickenham for us.
Dylan Hartley
"We're very happy. We asked for an 80-minute performance and there were a few dips but we came out the other side."
Michael Hooper
"We were right in it but it got away from us in the end, didn't it?"
Unbelievable restraint, really.
Eddie Jones
"We got the bounce of the ball a few times"
Jones goes on to praise England's replacements, and says England were deserved winners in the end.
Full-time | England 30-6 Australia
That is probably as flattering a scoreline as you ever see.
Try, Danny Care! England 30-6 Australia, 80 minutes
Australia look for a final flourish but a pass goes loose in midfield. May chips the ball into his own hands and Care is in support to score. Farrell misses the conversion and it's over.
Try, Jonny May! England 25-6 Australia, 78 minutes
Lovely from Danny Care again. Sam Simmonds goes off the base, Australia rush up flat and Care slides through a grubber for May to dive on. Farrell misses the conversion but the game is done.
Man of the match
Joe Launchbury has been phenomenal, even if Australia have been the better side in this second half.
Precisely
#ENGvAUS This is hilarious...the Aussies will get back to their coach and have a parking ticket, they'll get a flat tyre getting home, have a fire drill in the middle of the night and get to the airport and have their flight cancelled and lose all their luggage
— Vindictus Veridian (@Vindictus13) November 18, 2017
74 minutes
Michael Hooper is not giving up. He charges down an attempted clearance from Owen Farrell...but then England scramble back to win another turnover.
Try, Jonathan Joseph! England 20-6 Australia
Danny Care is on for England and this try is all about him. He spies some space in behind the ruck and hooks a box-kick over the top. Joseph chases, dots down and Farrell converts.
This has been a remarkable rope-a-dope from England. They are 14 points up.
NO TRY
Wow. Owen Farrell has just milked an accidental offside from Ben O'Keeffe. He was telling the referee to check Stephen Moore's running line while the TMO was checking the grounding and O'Keeffe rules that Moore blocked Robshaw. Penalty to England.
Calling it early: this post-match press conference with Cheika will be the best of all time.
— Tom Decent (@tomdecent) November 18, 2017
TMO
Wow. The Wallabies lacerate England with a strike-move that sees Marika Koroibete storm through from an inside ball off Kurtley Beale.
Koroibete links with Foley and then gets the ball back on the next phase and, despite the best efforts of Chris Robshaw, looks to have scored...we're looking at some more replays.
68 minutes
The Wallabies give up a free-kick at the scrum. Harry Williams is on for Dan Cole at tighthead prop.
"This is the game right here"
Michael Lynagh builds it up on Sky Sports. Stephen Moore hits Michael Hooper and the maul edges towards the England line...but Courtney Lawes forces the maul turnover.
66 minutes
England are wobbling here. They need to grasp this game. Simmonds concedes a penalty now for failing to roll away and Foley is going to the corner.
Penalty, Bernard Foley! England 13-6 Australia, 64 minutes
Joe Marler replaces Mako Vunipola after Foley adds three points.
63 minutes
Now Robshaw is caught offside. O'Keeffe has a stern word with captain Owen Farrell. The next England player to infringe is heading to the sin bin. Foley is lining up a shot at goal and Nathan Hughes is leaving the field, replaced by Sam Simmonds.
61 minutes
Big error from Chris Robshaw, who'd been having a decent game up until then. He runs through and tackles Kurtley Beale after the Wallabies full-back had cleared. Australia cough up in midfield from the lineout, though, and Courtney Lawes initiates a counter with a gorgeous spin and offload.
58 minutes
England give up another scrum penalty for a pre-engagement. Reece Hodge misses touch. That sums up the game, right there.
Think what England are experiencing today is known as the rub of the green ��
— Alastair Eykyn (@alastaireykyn) November 18, 2017
Jamie George is on for Dylan Hartley, by the way.
Just 24 minutes to go
Yeeeeesssss!!!!!!! Come on England. What a game!!! #ENGvAUS
— Maggie Alphonsi MBE (@MaggieAlphonsi) November 18, 2017
Conversion, Owen Farrell! England 13-3 Australia, 55 minutes
Breathing space for England.
Try, Elliot Daly! England 11-3 Australia, 53 minutes
That will go down as one of the oddest tries in Twickenham history. Bernard Foley slices through the hosts' defensive line but spills, England clear and then Samu Kerevi counters, beating numerous chasers. His offload to Kuridrani goes to floor so Ben Youngs can hack down-field...
...the ball bounces slowly, slowly towards the touchline and Australia full-back Kurtley Beale gives it up but it stays in! Daly did not give up the chase and dribbled through to score. After a few replays and his TMO's approval, O'Keeffe awards the try!
50 minutes
England chase hard to force a handling error from the restart and have a scrum on the edge of Australia's 22. Kurtley Beale is back with us but England run a lovely backline strike move and are suddenly within five metres.
The hosts spread the ball right but Farrell is clobbered by Koroibete. Australia pile through, win the penalty and clear to touch. Maro Itoje ships a maul penalty, now...
Penalty, Reece Hodge! England 6-3 Australia, 48 minutes
Fine strike from Hodge.
46 minutes
Michael Hooper hunts down Jonny May, who clears to touch. The Wallabies skipper really is some player. Now England have conceded a breakdown penalty.
England are completely butchering this yellow card advantage. #ENGvAUS
— Paul Cully (@whiskeycully) November 18, 2017
42 minutes
Two lovely touches from Courtney Lawes in attack and England get up to the Australia 22...they come back to the left and Mako Vunipola spills. Michael Hooper is back with us.
Second half
We are one minute into the second period and already the teams have exchanged three kicks. Here come England on the counter, though.
"The penalty count's not going our way..."
Adam Coleman tells Sky Sports that there is a bit of frustration with how Australia have contrived to concede nine penalties.
Can England make it count?
Australia will have 13 men for the first two minutes of the half until Michael Hooper returns, when the Wallabies will be up to 14 until the 49-minute mark. It's an opportunity for Eddie Jones' men.
Match action
Maro Itoje has been typically imposing since replacing Sam Underhill.
Fund-raiser
I’d love to have a swear jar in either coaches boxes.. ����
#����#AUSvENG— Matt Giteau ���� (@giteau_rugby) November 18, 2017
It's fair to say Michael Cheika has been launching a few expletives.
Half-time | England 6-0 Australia
England go to touch, looking for blood just before half-time. The lineout is stolen, though. Foley clears into the crowd and O'Keeffe finishes the half.
Yellow card, Kurtley Beale!
Michael Cheika is RAGING! A hugely fractured piece of play goes from end to end with both sides hacking at the ball in the wet. Maro Itoje gets over the ball to win a penalty and Ben Youngs is off straightaway.
England's scrum-half combines with Jonathan Joseph, who throws a pass in-field looking for Jonny May and Kurtley Beale flies in the deflect the ball!
Beale protests but referee O'Keeffe brandishes another yellow.
36 minutes
Big defence from Courtney Lawes, who shackles Sean McMahon, and then Nathan Hughes and Maro Itoje, who smash Rob Simmons. They win a penalty and England have a lineout on the cusp of the Australia 22 all of a sudden...
...George Ford drops creeps back into the pocket for a drop-goal attempt, but he hooks it to the left.
Permanent replacement
Sam Underhill did not want to leave the field, but medics insisted.
Penalty, Owen Farrell! England 6-0 Australia, 32 minutes
Easy kick for Farrell, who wants to know why a penalty try wasn't given.
Yellow card, Michael Hooper!
England's maul surges towards the line before stalling. It was stalled illegally, according to referee O'Keeffe. He beckons Michael Hooper towards him...and brandishes a yellow card!
True blue language
Michael Cheika has been gobbling Eddie Jones' sweary pills. #ENGvAUS
— Paul Cully (@whiskeycully) November 18, 2017
30 minutes
Will Genia creeps offside from an England scrum. Michael Cheika is fizzing, as captured by Sky Sports' coach cam.
Sam Underhill is staying off we hear. Meanwhile, Maro Itoje rises to take a lineout on the edge of the Australia 22 and Ned Hanigan is penalised....England are going to the corner. Big roar from Twickenham.
28 minutes
Michael Hooper made full use of the greasy surface just then.
Michael Hooper like #ENGvAUSpic.twitter.com/j5pqHJGxOX
— Nic Darveniza (@NicDarveniza) November 18, 2017
Disallowed try, Australia!
Australia find fluency and go through a few phases. Samu Kerevi's take-and-give is delicious and Tevita Kuridrani threads a grubber through...Michael Hooper slides over to score but Ben O'Keeffe wants to check if the Wallabies skipper was ahead of Kuridrani when the grubber went through. He was. No try.
24 minutes
A clever chip from Foley allows Australia to pressurise May and England's wing spills. Australia win a penalty from the scrum...and Reece Hodge will go for the corner.
It was kickable...and Maro Itoje nabs the lineout!
21 minutes
Australia squeeze England really well, there. They kick to May, mount a strong chase and Sean McMahon is over the ball to win a penalty...
McMahon chirping at every breakdown. Well, why wouldn’t you?
— Alex Shaw (@alexshawsport) November 18, 2017
...wow. Then Foley shanks the kick from more or less straight in front.
19 minutes
Jonny May makes a hash of a Foley kick and Anthony Watson compounds the error with a errant offload. However, England force a turnover when Chris Robshaw fires through to hack a loose ball.
Ben Youngs kicks down-field and May hares after it but goes off his feet at the ruck. Australia can go to touch.
Well, well, well
Sam Underhill is coming off for a head injury assessment...and Maro Itoje is on. Itoje goes to lock, Courtney Lawes moves to blindside flanker and Chris Robshaw is at openside.
16 minutes
Wet and not very wild so far. Wallabies will be pleased with that rush defence wrecking England's set-play attack.
— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) November 18, 2017
Owen Farrell skims a left-footed grubber into touch, forcing Australia to play from deep....the Wallabies clear and Nathan Hughes spills.
14 minutes
Two more handling errors to tell you about. First an England set-piece strike-move breaks down and then Australia's forwards over-run Will Genia again. England's scrum following a forward pass.
12 minutes
It's quite manic. Courtney Lawes smashes Kurtley Beale but Australia still work the ball to Marika Koroibete, makes ground on the left edge. England then win a breakdown penalty and Ben Youngs goes quickly, kicking down-field after a tap.
10 minutes
Jonny May steals in to attempt an intercept but drops the ball, then Bernard Foley throws a horrid forward pass from first phase. England's put-in close to halfway.
8 minutes
England's looks robust and proactive early on. Joe Launchbury and Dan Cole combine for a muscular hit in midfield.
Filthy conditions at Twickenham and completely different feel to last week. Edge back to England's game, more of a snap to everything. They'll need it mind. 3-0 (Farrell pen).
— Alex Spink (@alexspinkmirror) November 18, 2017
Penalty, Owen Farrell! England 3-0 Australia
The Saracen bisects the posts from about 40 metres.
6 minutes
Encouraging from England. Nathan Hughes picks from the base and quick recycling forces a breakdown penalty. Under advantage, Chris Robshaw breaks through and Joe Launchbury rumbles up to the 22. The attack breaks down but we come back for a shot at the posts...
4 minutes
Interesting from Australia. After a bout of kick-tennis, the Wallabies try to run from deep and England's defence forces a knock-on. The hosts have a scrum on the Australia 10-metre line.
1 minute
Some intent from England, who go wide from their first lineout. Elliot Daly is found in space by Jonathan Joseph and then the hosts switch back to the right.
George Ford launches a high kick but Courtney Lawes, who took the initial lineout, spills. Scrum to Australia.
Kick-off
And, after one more huddle for England led by Dylan Hartley, we're off. Ben O'Keeffe blows his whistle and Bernard Foley kicks high. Jonny May takes, Nathan Hughes carries and Ben Youngs box-kicks.
Bucketing down
It's wet at Twickenham.
Tip
As we head into the anthems, starting with Advance Australia Fair, here's our man Callum Davis.
Fancy Australia here. Either way, Aus +8 on the handicap looks generous. But then I'm brilliant at losing money
— Callum Davis (@Callum_Davis89) November 18, 2017
Here they come
We await the anthems
Ten minutes until kick-off
Eddie Jones was prominent in the England warm-up, as always.
Punditry duty
Telegraph columnist Will Greenwood is with Sky Sports today as well.
Slip and slide
Slippery underfoot today regardless both sides are looking sharp & fired up in their respective warm ups. Big game sea of noise around Twickenham too. #ENGvAUSpic.twitter.com/uHTuDBOpnA
— Emma Thurston (@EmmaThurston23) November 18, 2017
About 15 minutes until we get going.
Eddie Jones
The England head coach gives his final pre-kick-off thoughts to Sky Sports.
"Probably this game is going to be more open, even given the conditions.
"We've just been working on the fine detail. We need to get some more finesse in our attack...and a lot of aggression."
Twenty five minutes until kick-off
Nifty graphic from the RFU, here.
Your starting England XV ��#ENGvAUS#CarryThemHomepic.twitter.com/tmy02QfvIb
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 18, 2017
Michael Cheika
The Wallabies head coach has been speaking to Sky Sports.
"This is all about us, our ability to overcome adversity - we've lost a few players on this tour. "
Daly on Beale
Earlier this week I spoke to Elliot Daly about how he reckons Kurtley Beale developed during his season at Wasps. Beale himself believes he became a "more rounded" player.
This is what Daly, starting on the left wing for England once more, said.
Coin-toss
That's referee Ben O'Keeffe, the 28 year-old New Zealander, between Dylan Hartley and Michael Hooper.
Over 150 caps of experience here in the Twickenham tunnel. pic.twitter.com/jCkDfHjSZQ
— Chris Jones BBC (@chjones9) November 18, 2017
Around the grounds
Less than 45 minutes until kick-off now. It's a full programme of autumn international fixtures today. In Florence, Italy are taking on Argentina. Wales are hosting Georgia, which my colleague Kate Rowan is covering here.
Later on, Ireland are facing Fiji with Scotland welcoming New Zealand. Is this Anglo-Aussie clash the pick of the games? I'd say so. It's number two versus number three as far as World Rugby's official rankings.
Predictions
England have been given an eight-point start by most bookmakers.
If the bookies are right, this will be a walk in the park for England. I don’t see it that way, hope I’m wrong of course #EngvAus
— Tim Mackenzie (@SW20Macca) November 18, 2017
What do you reckon? Adam Coleman's withdrawal yesterday is significant, in my opinion. The lock was exceptional against Wales.
Fashionably late
Australia are in the house as well.
We have arrived at Twickenham!! Where are you watching?? #ENGvAUSpic.twitter.com/92NOjDIHyS
— Qantas Wallabies (@qantaswallabies) November 18, 2017
England's arrival
The hosts have reached Twickenham. It's pretty grey and dreary, but this one is poised to be extremely intriguing.
Need for speed
Jonny May is another man to return to the England line-up. He's been in prolific form for Leicester Tigers - which we have explored here - and has been setting personal bests in England's speed testing.
Gavin Mairs caught up with his this week.
"Give me a break"
Eddie Jones was in a slightly prickly mood yesterday. Some of these quotes are great.
One hour until the rugby finally arrives, though.
Team news
A quick reminder of England's match-day 23...
Your England squad for Saturday's #OMWSeries clash against Australia.
Full story ➡️ https://t.co/z9RoDwX6P8#ENGvAUSpic.twitter.com/AcPK5SaXRo— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 16, 2017
...and the squad that Michael Cheika has selected, too.
#BREAKING | Blake Enever to make his #Wallabies debut against @EnglandRugby. #ENGvAUS READ: https://t.co/vgnR8pT7qkpic.twitter.com/jlxFV48fn5
— Qantas Wallabies (@qantaswallabies) November 17, 2017
Analysis
Backline intuition is Australia's traditional strength. But against Wales last weekend, on the back of some some tough carrying from their tight five and heavy midfield, they showed real precision with their kicking game.
Here is a run-down of how they put boot to ball in Cardiff.
Will Greenwood column
Australia arrive at Twickenham unbeaten in their last seven Tests, a sequence that includes a superb win over New Zealand.
Here is Will Greenwood's take on Michael Cheika's team and where their threats lie.
All eyes on Owen Farrell
Owen Farrell returns to England's starting line-up today at inside centre, putting his waterboy commitments on hold for at least a week.
We have also asked legendary Wallabies wing David Campese about England's progress under his compatriot Eddie Jones. He has a rather different take on the Saracen, which has caused a bit of a stir.
Great entertainer
Eddie Jones has joked that he will provide the entertainment if England fail to ignite Twickenham in Saturday's showdown with Australia.
A laboured 21-8 victory over Argentina delivered the 20th win of Jones' 21-Test reign, but it was a disappointing start to the autumn that at one stage enraged the head coach.
The camera in front of the management box showed Jones slam down his notebook and mouth "'F***, how f****** stupid are we?" - an outburst for which he subsequently apologised after being scolded for swearing by his mum Nellie.
"I'm sure Sky Sports are going to be on me the whole game. I'll try to provide some entertainment," Jones said.
"I've got a nice new white English pen. If I throw that it's going to create some great television. If the rugby doesn't entertain you I'll find another way to entertain you.
"The camera is part of sport these days. I reckon they could get a bit closer. We've asked them to get a bit closer and have more shots.
"Don't follow the rugby, just follow me. Didn't you see me against Argentina? What do I have to do this week? Jump from the grandstand?!"
Traditionally it has been Jones who wages the phoney war against his former paymasters, but leading into his stewardship's fifth meeting between the old rivals he has conducted a charm offensive.
PA