Winger Max Jorgensen’s last gasp score sealed Australia’s first victory over England at Twickenham since 2015, heightening pressure on England Head Coach Steve Borthwick.
Australia headed to the recently re-named Allianz Stadium unfancied underdogs following their woeful underperformance in last years’ Rugby World and this year’s Rugby Championship, in which they endured a record shellacking against Argentina. England, whilst winless in four of their five previous games, were nevertheless fancied favourites, due to the closeness of these reversals.
England dominated the early exchanges, scoring two close range tries courtesy of flanker Chandler Cunningham-South. However, as the game threatened to turn into the non-contest some had predicted, Australia dragged themselves up off the canvas with smart scores from fullback Tom Wright and Captain Harry Wilson, to take a shock 20-18 lead at Halftime.
A controversial score from lock Jeremy Williams had appeared to put Australia beyond England. However, two tries from England speedster Sleightholme, created by Marcus Smith magnificence, completed a remarkable turnaround, with England now ascendant.
The final period of an already pulsating contest was manic. A poor pass, emblematic of England’s error strewn effort, intercepted by Australian Andrew Kellaway, led to a breakaway try, which, when converted, restored Australia’s five point advantage.
England talisman Maro Itoje’s 79th minute try surely meant the game was over bar the shouting? Despite England briefly regaining possession, a knock-on from Itoje, followed by an outrageous offload from Centre, Len Ikitau, allowed Jorgensen to crash over the whitewash to complete a hoodoo-ending 42-37 win that will go down in the annals of Australian rugby folklore.
Whilst the intoxicating, see-sawing nature of the final five minutes underlines how the result could have gone either way, England will rue their 35 missed tackles. Australia owe their victory to man-of-the-match debutant Rugby League convert, Joseph Sua’ali’i, who looked as though he was playing a different sport, such was his quality.
Whilst, at time of publication, the next round of fixtures will have occurred, England will likely be brushed aside by a ‘bomb squad’ aided, all conquering, Springbok side. Australia are expected to annihilate a wretched, winless in 10, Welsh side, in Cardiff.
“USO – Saracens – 20151213 – Maro Itoje” by Clément Bucco-Lechat is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.