Match Details

England

VS

Qantas Wallabies

	14	Twickenham, London Kick off times: 2:30pm (Local) Sat 15 Nov 1:30am (AEDT) Sun 16 Nov	28
	Head to Head: Played 35: Australia 20, England 14, Drawn 1 Last Time: 06/10/07 : England 12 - Australia 10 at Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

SOLD OUT

Match Review

The deadly accurate boot of Matt Giteau, committed defence and a magnificent scrumming performance from the much-maligned Wallabies pack led the Men of Gold to a convincing and sure to be well-celebrated 28-14 victory over England at Twickenham on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT).

A huge amount of turnovers won by the Wallabies saw countless England attacks break down despite the Wallabies having to make twice as many tackles as the hosts over 80 minutes.

As was ventured before the match, experience was going to be a key-factor and in the end it was the Wallabies big match players like captain Stirling Mortlock, Giteau and George Smith, who stood up when they needed to most to secure a famous victory.

Right from the kick-off the Wallabies more than matched it with the much talked-up England pack winning a free kick at the very first scrum.

From the free kick an infringement at the breakdown by English prop Andrew Sheridan gave Giteau a chance to open the scoring for the Wallabies and the brilliant young flyhalf made no mistake from 40 mretres out in front.

Two minutes later the Wallabies were further ahead when English captain Steve Borthwick came through at the lineout and Giteau made no mistake from thre resultant penalty on the England 22. Wallabies up 6-0 after six minutes.

The Wallabies had chances to go further ahead soon after, in an extraordinarily high paced opening to the match with both teams keen to play positive Rugby.

But first Ryan Cross held on a little too long and then Giteau’s inside ball to Mortlock went to ground when Australia looked dangerous.

The Wallabies had clearly edged the opening and when England did threaten flanker Hugh McMeniman won a brilliant turnover in the Wallabies 22.

England had a chance to put some points on the board after 12 minutes when Smith infringed at a breakdown but England flyhalf Danny Cipriani missed the penalty attempt from 35 metres out.

Cipriani made up for his miss on 20 minutes with a superb break from his own half and England looked set to score before England hooker Lee Mears was taken into touch by Giteau just metres from the Wallabies line.

England were on the board just a minute later when Giteau’s mis-cued clearing kick was put back over Australia’s post in the form of a well-taken drop goal by young fullback Delon Armitage.

A neat “falcon” by Mortlock stopped another promising England raid shortly after with English scrumhalf Danny Care looking dangerous.

From the “falcon” the play moved down field and another English breakdown infringement gave Giteau his next penalty attempt and once more the Force marksmen was successful from the 22 about 15 metres in from touch.

It was clear the Men of Gold were up for this one and soon after an excellent kick and chase from Drew Mitchell gave the Wallabies a good attacking position deep in the England 22.

Another penalty, this time for offside, gave Giteau his fourth penalty chance and again the flyhalf was perfect landing the attempt from his toughest angle. Wallabies up 12-3 after 30 minutes.

But then an error from Adam Ashley-Cooper gave England their best chance as the Wallabies fullback was robbed of possession on his own 22.

England drove towards the line but flanker Tom Rees was held up inches short. But from the resulting five metre scrum, despite the Wallabies pack screwing the scrum superbly, England drove again with this time No.8 Nick Easter eventually forcing his way over.

Cipriani missed the conversion and it was Australia 12 to England 8 approaching half time.

England had a chance to close the score up further when Cross was harshly penalized for not rolling away after he seemed to have turned Care in the tackle. This time Cripriani was successful, with perhaps his most difficulty attempt to make it 12-11 on the shadow of half time.

But the Wallabies had a chance to restore their lead to four points on the stroke of halftime when English wing Paul Sackey was penalized for offside giving Giteau another penalty shot but this time the kick faded just to the right and the Wallabies led by just a point at the short whistle.

The first half had ended with England on top and the Wallabies needed to start the second half well if they were to win. But one area where the Wallabies were on top was the breakdown where the Men of Gold had won 18 turnovers to England’s 7.

The Men of Gold were nearly in front by a greater margin just minutes into the second half.

After another powerful shove by the Wallabies at an England scrum, the ball came the Wallabies way and Mortlock charged towards the line only to be pulled down metres short.

Richard Brown was then replaced by Wycliff Palu due to a dis-located finger.

England looked dangerous again when Cipriani cut through on a forty-metre break that was only stopped by a superb Peter Hynes covering tackle.

Committed Wallabies defence again held England out and the move finished with Cipriani missing a drop goal from right in front.

But Cipriani put England in front on 51 minutes when Smith was penalized for coming in at the side of a ruck and the English flyhalf goaled from the Wallabies 22 to put the hosts in front for the first time in the game, 14-12.

Giteau had a chance to restore the Wallabies lead a minute later after a Nathan Sharpe charge down led to an Australian scrum five metres out from the English line. Sheridan was then penalized for not binding and from near the touchline Giteau landed his fifth penalty to put Australia back in front.

Another good kick and chase from the Wallabies on 57 minutes led to another goalable penalty for Giteau, this time for England holding on, and the Force flyhalf was again inch perfect from 10 metres in from touch and thirty metres out. The Wallabies had edged ahead 18 – 14 with just over 20 minutes to play.

England were now making the running of the game but the nine penalties conceded by the home team were proving costly.

Another magnificent Wallabies scrum on 63 minutes won yet another penalty for the Men of Gold as the much vaunted England scrum imploded spectacularly under fierce Australian pressure. Prop Al Baxter clearly enjoying the tighthead and the turnaround from 2005.

This time Mortlock stepped up with a superb 45 metre penalty to put the Wallabies up 21-14 and looking on the way to a famous victory as Dean Mumm came on for Mark Chisholm in the second row.

On 68 minutes the moment came which cemented the game for the Wallabies.

A poor clearing kick from England was brought back by Hynes, with the Reds winger regathering a clever grubber kick metres from the line.

The ball was recycled quickly and after Palu took the Wallabies within inches with a powerful burst the ball came wide with Cross flicking it up and the pass coming wide to Ashley-Cooper who dove over for the match sealing try.

And to add the icing on the cake Giteau eased the conversion over from off the post from the touchline. The Wallabies well clear at 28-14 with ten minutes on the clock.

England pushed hard for a second try with five minutes to go but again ferocious Australian defence turned back the ‘All Whites’ and the move broke down through a knock on against England replacement James Haskell.

McMeniman was replaced on 79 minutes after a whole hearted effort with Tatafu Polota-Nau coming on as the Wallabies once again held out a desperate England charge to confirm a gutsy, courageous and eventually well deserved victory.

Full Time Score

Qantas Wallabies 28 (Adam Ashley-Cooper try; Matt Giteau 6 penalties, conversion; Stirling Mortlock penalty) defeated England 14 (Nick Easter try; Delon Armitage drop goal; Danny Cipriani 2 penalties) at Twickenham, London. (Half time: Wallabies 12-11)