Internationals - Wallabies too good for England

Eurosport - Sat, 07 Nov 14:08:00 2009

Australia produced a dominant second-half display to defeat England 18-9 at Twickenham and spoil Jonny Wilkinson's long-awaited international comeback.

Jonny Wilkinson - England - 0

After weathering a decent start by the home side that saw Wilkinson kick nine points in the first half hour of his Twickenham return, Australia dominated long periods of the game and were deserved winners.

The tourists, who trailed 9-5 at the break, should have won by more as they let a number of try-scoring opportunities go begging but they will take consolation from the fact they improved on a recent record of six losses from seven matches going into the game.

Australia touched down in each half through man-of-the-match Will Genia and full-back Adam Ashley-Cooper to post their second successive victory in the Cook Cup, while the impressive Matt Giteau landed two penalties and a conversion.

Although Wilkinson looked close to the form that made him a World Cup winner in 2003, the truth is that England were laboured in attack, offering little variety and line-breaking ability, while their defence was found wanting for both of Australia's tries.

England started well and their lineout gave them an edge, with Tom Croft easily securing their own ball and skipper Steve Borthwick challenging the opposition throw with some success.

Wilkinson needed just three minutes to get England on the scoreboard when he landed a well-struck drop goal and made it 6-0 with a penalty from out wide when Australia wing Peter Hynes was penalised for not rolling away in the tackle.

But Australia's defence overall was strong and they showed their attacking threat on several occasions in the first quarter when they countered from deep through Hynes and Ashley-Cooper, while up front Wycliff Palu made his presence felt with a number of effective drives.

Wilkinson hit the upright with a penalty from halfway in the 14th minute that would have put them nine points ahead, but just after the first quarter the Wallabies threat turned into points after a concerted attack. Australia's forwards secured the ball five metres from the England line and Genia needed no further invitation to nip through a gap for their first try.

Wilkinson was again on target with another penalty after a decent drive from prop David Wilson set up an England attack in the 27th minute, and although the hosts went into the break with a 9-5 lead, the tourists looked the more dangerous side.

The signals had been there in the first half and Australia proceeded to dominate for long periods after the break. Wilkinson, assisted by 2003 team-mate Lewis Moody, lead the England defence with some impressive tackles but it appeared just a matter of time before the Wallabies crossed again.

Australia should have scored their second try in the 45th minute when skipper Rocky Elsom ignored an overlap five metres from England's line after a break from Digby Ione, but the home side were penalised for offside and Giteau kicked his second three-pointer to bring them within one point.

England were under pressure for long periods of the third quarter and the only surprise was that they were not behind by more points when manager Martin Johnson made a number of changes. James Haskell came on at number eight and Dylan Hartley replaced the returning Steve Thompson at hooker just before the hour.

The changes helped but still Australia dominated and nearly touched down through Palu after another scything break by Digby Ione, after the centre had been put clear by Genia.

England at least showed more ambition in the final quarter with Wilkinson and Shane Geraghty trying to vary the play and Haskell and Hartley adding impetus to the forward effort.

But they never looked liked crossing the Australia line and instead it was the tourists who extended their lead when Ashley-Cooper took the ball at speed wide out on the left wing and stood up well in the tackles of Ugo Monye and Mark Cueto to touch down in the corner.

Johnson's side threw everything they had at the Wallabies in the last 10 minutes but the tourists coped comfortably with the one-dimensional attacks.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport

Comment 13 - 32 of 32

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  1. Relax TONY, Donny is just an idiot. Ignore the fool.

    From WillemW, on Wed 11 Nov 8:27AM

  2. Andy, (13),
    Yes I do not rate Care that highly, but­ indecision was England's watchword on the day.­ Johnny played well, but he needed to do a bit more, I­ think. Borthwick did well in the lineout, but did­ little else. I don't think he is inspirational­ enough to be skipper. Monye was out of his depth at­ full back-back to the wing!
    With slow breakdown ball,­ the Aussies could spread wide to counter; we must move­ it a lot quicker and stop this kicking away of­ possession. I would rather, if we had to kick, to go­ for touch and challenge in the line-out, rather than­ gift it away.

    From TONY, on Mon 9 Nov 3:39PM

  3. dont bother watching England now and wont until they­ appoint a proper manager - did they lose? oh.... what a­ supprise!

    From gary, on Mon 9 Nov 12:43PM

  4. sathomas you must be a leicester fan ,

    From Iain, on Sun 8 Nov 5:40PM

  5. Johnny was the best English player by far, he tried­ encouriging where he could, defence was amongst the­ best on the day, had it not been for him Johnson­ would've been in the change room with his head­ betweeen his knees, halfway through the second­ half.
    Johnny I believe would also make a great captain,­ he reads the game well, and never gives up and does not­ show when he is down, like the rest of the plonkers

    From rory p, on Sun 8 Nov 4:55PM

  6. iian: moody dissapeared? the aussies had him in there­ pocket?
    moody i thought other than jonny was our stand­ out player, he was everywhere, he won us so much ball­ he tackle his nuts off, he was by far the best flanker­ on the field in that game, even the commentators said­ so, i think you where watching a different man to the­ one i was looking at,
    maybe you meant croft? he had a­ quiet game, but was strong in the line out.
    or crane?­ he had a weak game,
    but deffinatly not moody.

    From sam, on Sun 8 Nov 4:54PM

  7. i have been saying it all week onthis forum, england­ only know how to play 1 way at this tim edue to the­ direction they are being taken by the current coaching­ staff. to play only thru the forwards and if that­ doesnt work jonny is to kick the ball away. we only­ started to play thru the backs when we went behind.­ geraghty looked out of his depth and didnt look a good­ no 12 , i still couyldnt understand why monye started­ at no 15 as he is our best winger . banahan wasnt given­ any ball he stood a good 6+ inch over the aussie wing­ so why didnt they use this advantage. borthwick had a­ good game dissrupting the aussie line out thru out the­ game , moody dissapeared he isnt a ball winner and the­ aussies had him in their pocket . jonny wilkinson­ played very well especially in defence with his­ tackling his kicking was exceptionall aswell. in­ fairness it was obvious austrailia were going to win as­ they were more creative even in the first half as when­ they had the ball they kept going forward and we­ struggled. its anoying to say this but the best team­ and more adventorous team won

    From Iain, on Sun 8 Nov 1:09PM

  8. this is absolute rubbish the australians did not ruin­ jonnys come back. he played well despite the delivery­ being slow out of the break down. aswell as the younger­ players being to scared to offload in the tackle which­ is where australlia where able to exploit thier lack of­ experience. australlia were not the out and out better­ side but they did do the basics right to get across the­ game line and score. as for jonnys come back being­ ruined i think jonny was a ray of light coming from a­ new team that was just starting.

    From awregan, on Sun 8 Nov 11:57AM

  9. England would have lost by 30 points if it had'nt­ been for wilkinson yesterday-every other player looked­ to him for guidance, i have to say the lions would have­ won with him at 10 in the summer he's still world­ class without doubt. I really do wonder what­ england's strategy was,pick up and plod on seemed­ to be the order of the day, the game has moved on and­ England need to do the same? That English pack is the­ worst i can remember i almost started laughing when­ they brought the bath prop(bell?) on at 60 mins­ he's the worst scrummager in the premiership lmao.­ I know england have many injuries but it is also clear­ that despite winning the under 20 world cup this yr­ they don't appear to have ANY strength in depth­ either???? I'm not sure how in 4/5 yrs you've­ gone from the best(by a mile) pack in the world to­ proberley the worst in nh rugby????

    From Simon W, on Sun 8 Nov 11:51AM

  10. I thought one of Englands major weaknesses was­ Geraghty's passing, he was incisive with his­ running but just about every pass he threw went behind­ the man. You dont need that when your outside backs­ arent natural rugby players. In fact the only reason­ England didnt lose by 50 was because they have one of­ the most natural and talented footballers on the planet­ in wilkinson. I think he lifts the team because the­ other English players look at what he can do and think­ "Wow, England can produce talented footballers,­ maybe im not so @#$% afterall"

    From thenewpyes2004, on Sun 8 Nov 11:33AM

  11. Let's all be honest, 2 teams struggling at the­ moment and not really in much of a game to remember.­

    Australia lost 5 out of 6 in Tri Nations, then get­ beaten convincingly last week against All Blacks in­ Tokyo.

    England havent played together recently, but­ looked a team of individuals rather than a collective­ force working for benefit of team. Players are so­ worried about retaining position, they scarifice team­ preformance for indivdual reward

    From Joe, on Sun 8 Nov 5:52AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I came across an age-gap site called ~~~­­ Agegapmingle--C O M ~~~ It's a nice and free place­­ for Younger Women and Older Men, or Older Women and­­ Younger Men, to interact with each other. Age gap is­­ not problem there. You may check out or tell your­­ friends.

    From kalysmith28, on Sun 8 Nov 3:11AM

  13. were we beaten ? yes
    Did we try to play ? yes ( in­ patches)
    Did we realy expect to win with all the­ injuries? no
    good day at the office ? well not bad but­ could have been better.
    6 nations look our because we­ have a good platform!!!

    From STEVEN, on Sat 7 Nov 10:38PM

  14. I didnt mean it.
    england are hopeless.
    johnson is a­ dolt. rugby has moved on and on since his day.
    Still,­ it must be fun for foreingers having a laugh at our­ expense.
    doomed I tell you
    Doomed.

    From viconline, on Sat 7 Nov 9:29PM

  15. Agree with Tony's comment you only post what is­ favourable to your media pets and rubbish!All critism­ is deemed unsuitable !usual biased @#$% only!

    From GEOFF S, on Sat 7 Nov 9:23PM

  16. england shoed real guts.
    Come the next world cup,­ we'll be up there fighting.
    With Johnny Drop Kick,­ its ours for the taking... again!

    From viconline, on Sat 7 Nov 9:19PM

  17. andywytchard

    I agree about Care (amongst others) but I­ think it is just indecision. The decision-makers in the­ team seem weighed down by an over-complicated game­ plan.... or maybe it's just lack of confidence. No­ accident that most UK players play better for club than­ country, I reckon. Same could go for football.

    From Donald D, on Sat 7 Nov 9:15PM

  18. Different league. Thank God for Jonny Wilkinson for­ making it a bit less embarrassing.

    From Donald D, on Sat 7 Nov 9:11PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    17 - AAAAAAAAAAA S HAT APPA YER FACE.

    From Donney, on Sat 7 Nov 9:01PM

  20. gee's does anyone else think that danny care takes­ to long to get the ball away from the breakdown &­ when he does he takes a couple of steps as well,­ england looked much better when hodgson came on &­ moved the ball away quickly, care also didnt attempt­ any breaks which is the strengh of his game. australia­ played a great 2nd half & england looked a little­ lacking of ideas in midfield, though i thought their­ overall performance was encouraging.

    From andywytchard, on Sat 7 Nov 8:18PM
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