England find their sparkle
England suddenly look like World Cup contenders after a magnificent performance in beating Australia 35-18 at Twickenham.
Last Updated: 14/11/10 8:26am
England suddenly look like World Cup contenders after a magnificent performance in beating Australia 35-18 at Twickenham.
The world's number two ranked side were swept aside by wave after wave of England attacks, as Martin Johnson's side finally found their cutting edge against one of the southern hemisphere giants.
Winger Chris Ashton scored both England's tries - the second one of the best Twickenham has ever witnessed - while Toby Flood was faultless with the boot, kicking 25 points.
But there were inspirational performances all over the field, with Ben Youngs outstanding in directing proceedings from behind the ruck and Mark Cueto a constant danger with attacks from deep.
This was England's first back-to-back victory over the Wallabies since the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, but England can now look forward with confidence.
They hinted at this sort of ambitious approach against the All Blacks without ever really following it through, but the Wallabies felt the full force of England's attacking intent.
For once it was not the set-piece which battered Australia into submission, but England's pace and power with ball-in-hand. The world's most vaunted back division was outshone by their England counterparts, who for so long have looked one-dimensional toilers.
England tore into the Wallabies from the outset, but despite their early pressure, which saw breaks from Flood and Mike Tindall, the hosts were fortunate not to fall 6-0 down as O'Connor missed two early shots at goal.
But England remained composed, winning a vital lineout in their own 22 and Tom Palmer then put in a huge tackle in midfield to win a turnover.
Youngs combined with Flood and Tindall to launch England upfield. When Tindall eventually was hauled down, Australia conceded the penalty and Flood slotted the points.
England were making yards with every carry, with Nick Easter and Palmer to the fore. And when Beale sliced a clearance into touch, England won clean lineout ball and took full advantage.
Shontayne Hape crashed across the gainline. Tindall and Mark Cueto carried it on. Tom Croft collected the popped pass and off-loaded to Ashton, who held off two Australian defenders to score.
O'Connor struck the post with his third shot at goal but he was soon given another chance which he took, after England were penalised at the scrum.
Momentum
But England still had all the momentum. When Matt Giteau was penalised for holding on, Youngs took a quick tap to launch another counter-attack from inside his own half.
Youngs exchanged passes with Flood and then poked a grubber kick through. O'Connor collected but he was immediately swallowed by England defenders who snatched the turnover five metres out.
With Twickenham roaring him on, Croft drove for the line. The England flanker was stopped short but a try was there for taking and Matt Giteau knew it.
The Australian centre stuck a boot in to prevent Youngs from swinging the ball wide and was rightly sin-binned, Flood accepting the three points on offer.
Flood and O'Connor exchanged further penalties before the moment of the match arrived three minutes into the second half.
Even down to 14 men, Australia mounted their first real assault on the England line and looked set to score.
But when Will Genia darted for the line he was swallowed up by a combination of Flood, Tindall and Tom Palmer. England snatched the turnover and scored one of the great Twickenham tries.
Youngs spotted the opening and sent Courtney Lawes away down the blindside. The lock then slipped the pass to Ashton who roared clear and skinned full-back Drew Mitchell to score from 85 metres and send Twickenham crazy. Flood knocked over a simple conversion and England led 26-6.
Australia found a toe-hold in the game when Beale scored a brilliant individual try, breaking England's line and then chipping over Ben Foden before touching down.
But Cueto surged through two tackles straight from the restart and when Nathan Sharpe was penalised for holding on, Flood slotted another penalty.
Scything through
Australia struck again when Hartley missed his lineout jumpers on halfway and the turnover ball was quickly shipped out wide where Beale crashed over.
But still England tore into the Wallabies, with Cueto scything through their defence from deep, and Flood sealed a famous victory with two more penalties.
England had not beaten a Tri-Nations team at home in four years, while Flood's 25 points was the highest individual score in the history of Tests between the two sides. England had never before scored more than 32 points against the Wallabies and this equalled their largest margin of victory against Australia. But it was the performance, not the records, which really stood out.
