Australia 28
England 39
OWEN FARRELL SCORED 24 points as England beat the Wallabies 39-28 in a thrilling Test match in Brisbane on Saturday.
The 11-point win was the first ever by England in Brisbane and ensures the visitors head into next weekend’s second Test with all the momentum.
The Wallabies scored four tries to three but were second best for much of the game and were fortunate to get as close as they did.
Farrell kicked six penalties and three conversions in a near-faultless display in front of 48,700 fans at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
England, who led 29-13 midway through the second half, almost let the match slip as Australia came storming back to get within four points at 32-28.
But they held firm and when replacement winger Jack Nowell crossed in the 80th minute, the visitors were able to celebrate taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series for the Cook Cup.
A win looked far from likely after Australia launched a ferocious attack in the opening few minutes, resulting in tries to flanker Michael Hooper and fullback Israel Folau.
England could barely get their hands on the ball and found themselves 10-0 down after only 10 minutes of play.
But the English finally got some possession midway through the half and were able to tighten the play up and string some phases together.
They were rewarded for their effort when the Wallabies were penalised right in front and Farrell kicked a simple penalty.
He got his second minutes later to make it 10-6, but were lucky not to go further behind from the kick-off when Foley sprinted 40 metres to score in the corner.
However, after asking for a replay, referee Romain Poite ruled that Rory Arnold had obstructed Luther Burrell in the lead-up and penalised the home side.
England kicked deep and when the Wallabies infringed again at the breakdown, Farrell added the three points to get to within a point of the Wallabies.
The English were right back in the contest and they hit the lead after Folau threw a poor pass to nobody inside his 22.
Jonathan Joseph toed ahead and when Tevita Kuridrani couldn’t collect, Joseph gathered the ball to cross out wide. Farrell converted to make it 16-10.
Foley closed the gap with a penalty but Farrell kicked his fourth right on halftime to send the visitors into the break six points clear.
They started the second half as they finished the first, full of running against a flustered home side.
They were rewarded when Marland Yarde scored following a superb break up the middle from flanker James Haskell and a long floating pass to the right winger from replacement flyhalf George Ford. Farrell’s conversion made it 26-13 five minutes after the restart.
The English pack were dominating and Australia were rocked when front-rower Scott Sio, who was under enormous pressure from Dan Cole in the scrum, was yellow carded for persistently bringing the scrum down.
A fifth Farrell penalty made it 29-13 but the Wallabies hit back when they finally got some quick ball and some slick backline work saw Hooper cross in the corner for his second to close the gap to 11 points.
Farrell opened the gap with his sixth penalty and a first win seemed certain as the visitors led 32-18.
However, with nine minutes to go the Wallabies were in again when Kuridrani barged over. Foley’s conversion made it 32-25 to England.
A Foley penalty closed the gap to 32-28 but England held firm for a famous victory.
Australia scorers:
Tries: Michael Hooper (2), Israel Folau, Tevita Kuridrani
Conversion: Bernard Foley
Penalties: Foley (2).
England scorers:
Tries: Jonathan Joseph, Marland Yarde, Jack Nowell
Conversions: Owen Farrell (3)
Penalties: Farrell (6)
AUSTRALIA: Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Samu Kerevi, Rob Horne; Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Scott Sio, Stephen Moore (captain), Greg Holmes; Rory Arnold, Rob Simmons; Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, David Pocock.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Sekope Kepu, James Horwill, Dean Mumm, Sean McMahon, Nick Frisby, Christian Leali’ifano.
ENGLAND: Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Marland Yarde; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Dylan Hartley (captain), Dan Cole; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowen-Dickie, Matt Mullan, Paul Hill, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Danny Care, George Ford, Jack Nowell.
Referee: Romain Poite.
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As unlivable as England are, you have to hand it to them, they’re becoming quite the force under Jones.
Unlikable
Great team, big future.
Hats off to England, great win but don’t forget it was far from a first string Wallaby side…
& their first test since the WC final but whatever way you paint it, England were impressive
Not disputing that, just arguing it would have been closer with a stronger Wallaby side
Who were Australia missing?
Matt Toomua, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteua, Kane Douglas and Will Genia to name a few
You play with the team you have, lads. Australia don’t like to lose in Brisbane, great stuff from England to go down and do it in the 50th week of their season against a Fresh Australia.
Quade Cooper (impact player) and Wycliffe Palu also missing
Are The Fugees touring again ?
Cooper wouldn’t get near it on current form & Phipps is better than Genia at this moment in time, but other than that you’re spot on. I don’t think England can play much better, whereas Australia have a lot of room for improvement, next week should be another cracker!
Yes Phipps better than Genia but he’s a great player to have coming off the bench
There was no one missing better team won
Begrudgingly have to admit, England are looking like some force.
Maro itoje has to be a future lions captain. The man was immense today
One thing at a time, lad.
If he continues to improve as a player like at the moment then he can go on and become one of the best England has had . He seems a nice lad as well.
Great game to watch. England were the better team after they went 10-0 down
Oh ssshhhiiiittteee!
Hold my hands up I thought that back row would be schooled by Hooper/Pocock/Fardy. Never rated Haskell but he was fantastic and Itoje is an unreal prospect.
England have secured some respect for the 6N against the arrogance of the SH. Time for Ireland to show the same backbone against the Boks
I just don’t know what to say, great win for England and fair play to them but Australia played only 20-25 minutes of rugby. The rest of the series will tell us a huge lot but at this point England have made a statement as far as the result goes.