Match Details

England

VS

Qantas Wallabies

32

Twickenham, London Kick off times: 7:30am (Local) Sat 16 Nov

31

After a disappointing loss to Ireland the previous week, the Wallabies were looking to lift against the English. Again changes had been forced on the coach by injury with four changes made to the pack and Flatley starting at inside centre to provide more creativity.England entered this game at their peak - 16 wins on the trot at "Fortress Twickenham", their talented five-eighth, Jonny Wilkinson, had been declared International Player of the Year days earlier and they had defeated the All Blacks 7 days ago. The Wallabies were hoping to atone for losses to England over the previous two years and for drier conditions than they found in Dublin. The anthems were dispatched with gusto and a moments silence held for the Bali victims.

It was a dull and misty afternoon as Wilkinson kicked off short to start the game but it didnt go 10 metres so Gregan elected for a scrum back in the middle.Larkham sent Mortlock away and they made 30 metres before a grubber from Flatley bounced off Dawson and into touch. A succession of turnovers whilst the game was played at a hectic pace saw the Wallabies run it into the 22 down the right flank. Burke elected to kick from an offside penalty but the ball drifted to the left of the posts.Larkham was wearing number 10 but playing at full back, both sides were running the ball well. A Wilkinson chip down the right saw Hill thunder towards the ball but it just beat him into touch with the try line open and beckoning. Then a break down the left by Simpson saw him brought down by Sailor but he was able to hand off to Cohen who darted inside and dived over the line for the first points of the game in the 11th minute.

From the restart they came again , trying to run the ball out of defence and looking for the gaps in the Australian defence out wide. The Wallabies won a penalty a minute later and Burke added three points from a difficult angle. The turnovers were coming frequently as both sides gave the ball plenty of air. A fierce tackle by Gregan on Robinson won an important penalty for Burke, closer in and with less angle and he plonked it over to make it a 7-6 game with 16 minutes on the clock. In the first quarter of an hour Australia had laid 26 tackles to England`s 9. Wilkinson replied when he opted for a 52 metre shot on goal and slotted it over magnificently to show why he is held in such high regard. England again attacked down Sailor`s wing, again he tackled well to stop the move. Robinson showed his flair as he tried to weave through the defence but it held firm and forced another error. The tackling was fierce by the Wallabies as the English tried to come forward. A chip and chase by Herbert took the ball close to the line in the right corner. England tried to drive it back but the Wallaby tight five dominated them. The Wallabies kept the ball in the England half but couldnt put the phases together, each build up ending with a knock on. Then the English made a quick break from deep in defence with Dawson tearing off through the middle and being brought down 15 metres out by a desperate Sailor tackle but the Wallabies were pinged for killing the ball and Wilkinson added three more points.

As the half wound down the English were showing a lot of dash, happy to use the width of the field as they sought to break out time and again. It was only a succession of desperate Australian tackles that was keeping us in the game. The Player of the Year banged over another three points to stretch the lead further and the visitors were needing to lift as England put their foot on the gas. The Wallabies were spoken to by the ref for incurring too many penalties and they were struggling to hold onto possession. A break by Smith down the right wing saw him chip ahead for Paul to run onto the bouncing ball but the hooker didnt have any support and it broke down.As the half closed it was a Wallaby lineout only metres out from the England line - they drove for the line but the ref whistled it back for a lineout infringement. Gregan called "scrum" and it was set only a few metres out. Dawson was pinged for a foul, another scrum was set.Both sides considered tactics, then Flatley took the ball as it emerged and went straight through the defence who seemed to be waiting for the long pass outside and he was over for a fantastic try.The conversion made it 16-13 at the half time break and the Wallabies were back in the game!

The second half started with the Wallabies giving away another penalty, this time for holding on but then they turned on some champagne football with Larkham combining with Sailor down the right before it was moved back inside where Kefu chipped ahead and then courageously recovered the ball in a head on dive. Vickerman picked it up and made 10 metres before Larkham whizzed the ball over Mortlocks head and into the arms of Sailor who made the last 10 metres and crashed over for an important try. The English then attacked with determination moving to within 5 metres of the Wallaby line, some savage tackling saw the ball spill and Flatley picked it up and took off downfield, outpacing Robinson and bringing up the 3rd try in 10 minutes and an important 9 point lead. A late tackle on Larkham earnt Burke a penalty shot and he made it a 12 point lead with 50 minutes on the clock. The English then threw everything at Australia but the defence was fanatical. Wilkinson added three more points to his tally.From the restart the Wallabies won a lineout and ran it up, trying to do more damage. Offside once again in the ruck by the English and Burke had a chance to reply from straight in front and he restored the difference.

Wilkinson put on three more points as the last quarter commenced and it was still anyones game. A Greenwood pass out wide to Moody saw a certain try go begging as the ball was spilt and the Australian defence left exposed. England were trying desperately to attack, throwing the ball wide at every chance. Another infringement by the Wallabies, another shot on goal for Wilkinson, another three points - six from six shots - and the lead had been brought back into the danger area for the Wallabies. Sailor went on a jaunt from the restart but the ball was turned over as the support was lacking. Hill and Robinson charged it up and it was more desperate defence by the Wallabies until Cohen found the opening and ran it over next to the posts.The conversion put England back in the lead in a gripping and epic encounter. The English came again, running all over the paddock to find a gap but they lost the ball and it was a Wallaby scrum with onyl ten minutes to go.Australia had tackled 112 times to Englands 49 and needed to retain possession. Giteau came on for his debut, Herbert off. A poor clearance kick by WIlkinson gave the Wallabies an attacking chance on the 22, they lost possession but an offside ruling gave Burke a penalty shot in the 73rd minute - which just slipped past the left upright, a crucial miss.

A poor kick by Greenwood landed in Sailor`s arms and when he crashed forward they drew a penalty. Burke kicked for touch and it was a lineout on the 22 but the ball went straight into Englands arms and the Wallabies were throwing easy possession away. There were three minutes left, England were trying to slow the game down. Sailor made a bustling run, but the Wallabies were still in thier own half. There were thirty seconds to go and we had to hold possession and any score would do. The English defence was tenacious as the Wallabies edged into the English half but the ball was lost forward and from an England scrum the home side ran it up down the right wing as the crowd reminded the ref how to whistle.The final seconds saw England hang on for a thrid straight win.

It was an exciting match but in the end even though Australia scored more tries than their opponents it was the exceptional accuracy of Wilkinson that made the difference. He slotted 8 from 8 whilst Burke only managed 6 from his 9 shots.Well done to the Wallabies, it was a gripping contest to the last moment and a match that could have gone anyway.Congratulations to England for retaining the Cook Cup.

The Spring Tour ends next weekend with a game against Italy.