After several months of adversity, the English rugby team has finally found some relief. After a hectic, back-and-forth match on a calm Brisbane evening, the series is still alive but has not yet been won. Owen Farrell’s 20 points from the tee and Billy Vunipola’s early score for Saracens were enough for England to win its first Test in four attempts.
Given that the Wallabies had not been defeated in their previous 10 matches at their preferred site, this result will encourage the England coaching staff to feel that their team may still return home victorious. Despite a gallant Wallaby comeback, the early onslaught of points proved decisive due to their team’s dominant forward performance in the first half, which catapulted them to a 19-0 advantage.
It is likely the most rewarding victory for the visitors outside England since the 2019 World Cup semi-final, with Saturday’s showdown in Sydney remaining. As a result of Ireland’s victory in Dunedin, the north enjoyed a successful weekend, and there is no reason why they cannot enjoy an extremely satisfying climax to a lengthy season.
There is certainly much to love about Jack van Poortvliet, England’s newest scrum-half, who had an impressive debut on the international stage. His Leicester teammate Freddie Steward was also consistently outstanding, with England reeling after their triumph without Maro Itoje, whose tour is over after a first-half collision, and Sam Underhill, who followed him off the field in the second.
The casualty count was high on both sides, so selection for the third Test at the SCG may largely be a matter of choosing the survivors. The home team’s disoriented fullback Jordan Petaia was lost after three minutes, and his substitute, Izaia Perese, had a catastrophic knee injury.
What harmed the Wallabies the most, however, was a lack of accuracy after they had closed to within five points near the end of the third quarter, with a wayward lineout throw when they were threatening to increase their offensive pressure being the most expensive.
At this moment, England was even more appreciative of their quick start. A combination of a savvy lineout switch back to a front pod and Vunipola’s touchdown within the first five minutes gave England a 13-point lead within the first 15 minutes. Farrell’s conversion and two more penalties gave England a 13-point advantage.
Australia’s situation was set to deteriorate worse. Marcus Smith’s optimistic long ball came dangerously near to being intercepted by Perese, but the substitute’s one-handed attempt failed and earned him a yellow card. Farrell kicked another penalty to further depress the local spirit.
Everything appeared to be going England’s way all of a sudden: a ricocheted deflection dropped sweetly for Underhill, and only a brilliant tackle by Hunter Paisami prevented Jack Nowell from reaching the right corner. The Wallaby defense was being battered and stretched as if it were fresh pie dough.
Another ruck penalty was surely followed by another Farrell penalty. Australia desperately needed something, and a scrum penalty for an illegal England wheel handed them their first attacking possession inside the opposition’s 22.
To the relief of the home fans, they made the most of the opportunity, with Taniela Tupou crashing in from close range.
Shortly thereafter, Itoje’s evening came to an end as the lock slightly misjudged his attempted tackle on Paisami and took a strong blow that rendered him briefly unable to return to his feet. Ollie Chessum of Leicester replaced him, so boosting the number of Tiger cubs on the field.
Ellis Genge, the captain of their club, was also enjoying a fantastic game, tarnished only by a subtle forearm caress to Nic White’s head that resulted in an Australia penalty but nothing more.
Unfortunate Perese twisted horribly upon landing and was afterward taken away, adding another fatality to the encounter’s body count. Rugby may be a captivating sport, but its dark underbelly, both in terms of injury rates and law-related anomalies, is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Consequently, it was to Australia’s credit that they rebounded quickly and scored a second try after 48 minutes, with Noah Lolesio’s throw allowing Samu Kerevi to score on the dead-ball line.
When Smith was relegated to the sin bin for a fingertip knock-on and Australia again surged forward and Lolesio kicked another three points, it felt like the tide was shifting.
With Underhill and the replacement prop for Australia, Scott Sio, being the most recent injuries, Farrell’s sixth penalty in the 67th minute, which restored England’s eight-point lead, was therefore of great importance.
Given the visitors’ recent propensity for fading in the fourth quarter and the presence of three new international on the pitch, nothing was certain, but this time they stayed fast.
