Finally a little respite for English rugby after some difficult months. The series has yet to be won, but it is still alive after a frantic, rocking contest on a quiet Brisbane evening. England faltered momentarily, but 20 points from Owen Farrell’s boot and a first try from his Saracen teammate Billy Vunipola was enough to secure his team’s first victory in four tests.
Since the Wallabies had not been defeated in their previous 10 games at their favorite spot, it was a result that will encourage England’s management to believe their team could still return home triumphant. A strong display of strikers in the first half propelled his team to a crucial 19-0 lead in the first half and despite a strong reaction from Wallaby, the large number of points was decisive.
It is probably ranked as the most satisfying victory for the visitors outside England since the 2019 World Cup semi-final, with a decisive one in Sydney on Saturday yet to come. With Ireland also beating Dunedin, the North has had a positive weekend and on the balance of both games there is no reason why they cannot enjoy a very satisfying conclusion from a long season.
There is already a lot to admire about England’s new half-scrum, Jack van Poortvliet, who had a good first international start. His Leicester teammate Freddie Steward was also excellent, with England winning without Maro Itoje, whose tour ended after a strong clash in the first half, and Sam Underhill, who followed the second.
The corpse count was extensive on both sides and the selection for the third test at the SCG can be largely a case of choosing who to stand. The home team lost their clearly stunned winger Jordan Petaia after three minutes and his replacement, Izaia Perese, was seriously injured in the knee. What hurt the Wallabies the most, however, was the lack of accuracy after they had closed at five points towards the end of the third quarter, the most costly being a crooked line throw when they really threatened to increase the pressure. of attack. .
At the time, England was even more grateful for her quick start. Barely five minutes had passed when a clever line-up change back to a frontal pod was combined to boost Vunipola, with Farrell converting and two more penalties that gave England a 13-point cushion during the first 15 minutes.
Things were about to go from bad to worse for Australia. Marcus Smith was ever so close to scoring after an excellent corner was met beautifully by Perese, but the ball bounced off the post to safety. Farrell has launched another penalty to further deflate the local spirit.
Owen Farrell shot 20 of England’s 25 points. Photography: Bradley Kanaris / The RFU Collection / Getty Images
It all looked like it was going to England all of a sudden: a rebound deflected very well down Underhill and only a good Hunter Paisami entry stopped Jack Nowell as he accelerated to the right corner. The Wallaby defense was being hit and stretched like a dough of fresh pastry.
Another ruck penalty followed and so inevitably he made another Farrell penalty. Australia needed something urgently and a scrum penalty for an illegal wheel from England finally gave them their first offensive possession in the 22 visitors.
To alleviate the support at home, they took full advantage, with the massive Taniela Tupou bouncing from close range.
Itoje’s evening ended shortly after, with the blockade a bit wrong from his attempt to tackle Paisami and received a severe blow that left him temporarily unable to recover. Outside was replaced by Ollie Chessum of Leicester, further increasing the number of tiger cubs in the field. His club boss, Ellis Genge, was also playing a good game, only hampered by a sly caress from the forearm to the head of Nic White who gave a penalty to Australia but nothing more.
The encounter full of wounds soon resulted in another casualty when the unfortunate Perese twisted horribly on the landing and was transported. Rugby may be an attractive sport, but its dark belly, both in terms of casualties and law-related inconsistencies, is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
It was Australia’s merit, then, that they regrouped quickly and scored a second attempt in the 48th minute, a good pass from Noah Lolesio that gave Samu Kerevi a chance to land right inside the ball line. dead. He really had the feeling that the tide was changing when Smith was sent to the trash to receive a blow with his fingertips, while Australia took the lead again and Lolesio overcame another three points.
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With Underhill and Australian reserve subsidiary Scott Sio the last casualties to leave the fight, it was very important when a penalty from Farrell in the 67th minute, his sixth of the game, restored England’s lead to eight points. Nothing was assured from afar, given the recent trend of visitors to disappear in the last quarter and three new catches on the field, but this time they have stood firm.
Eddie Jones looked like a much happier man, rightly praising the spirit of his young side and already enjoying a decisive series in his old hometown. It’s been a long season but suddenly those members of the English squad who can still walk have a renewed spring in their wake.