Join the Miguel Delaney Inside Football Get exclusive insights and behind-the scenes access to the Miguel Delaney: inside newsletter Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter Football England may not be the World Cup champions they are confident they will be in two more years, but this was still a positive step forward on their long journey towards Australia 2027. The Wallabies were beaten by England after a fierce defensive performance and a second-half surge. Australia’s victory here 12 months ago had been something of a heist, snatched at the last in an autumn of discontent in which England seemed to have forgotten how to win. It was a different game, but there were some positives. After conceding 42 points last year, the Wallabies only scored a 95 metre intercept try. open image in gallery(AP)Clearly, the New Zealand clash in a fortnight shapes as the key contest in assessing this developing side’s top-tier Test credentials but one could see the pieces that Steve Borthwick is trying to put into place. England’s battalion of back rowers caused havoc at the breakdown on a day of the jackal in which they spoiling and stealing proved crucial, while their band of British and Irish Lions lurking among the replacements made their presence known in a final quarter as they tasted victory over the Wallabies once more. Their impact was hefty, and crucial – as Borthwick perhaps intended.open image in galleryHenry Pollock scored one of England’s tries (PA Wire)It was a shame, of course, that Australia were missing a few key cogs, Joe Schmidt unable to select the Europe-based Will Skelton, Len Ikitau, Tom Hooper and James O’Connor with this game falling outside of World Rugby’s stipulated international window. England had learned their lesson from last season and would not have taken a Wallabies side that was weakened lightly. The hosts’ backline selection had looked one made with designs on controlling the air, Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck providing plenty of backline stature and spring for Alex Mitchell and George Ford to utilise. But Australia had come armed for aerial assault themselves – shotgun shells were fired up repeatedly with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii sent off like a gun dog as a roaming retriever. It was a tactic that threatened to threatened to bring joy, with even Steward struggling to combat Suaalii’s unique threat.By contrast to the kick-happy visitors, England began looking to play with pace, breaking from deep whenever Australia erred with their strategy and testing the edges with the ball. Hooker Jamie George, however, may reflect that he was too hasty in taking a quick tap penalty after a sustained spell on the Wallabies’ line; front row chum Joe Heyes was soon held up, releasing the pressure valve.Ford got the scoring started from the tee after an Australian ruck infringement before England beat their opponents at their own game. Roebuck, who was pursuing Suaalii, beat him to the ball when it fell down. Sam Underhill and Ben Earl were on hand to capitalise, Roebuck ferrying to the former before a quick transfer to the latter allowed the uber-athletic No 8 to stride under the posts.open image in galleryBen Earl raced to England’s opening try (Getty Images)England began to find their flow, challenging the Australian defence with big ball carriers at funky angles even in the face of some thumping hits from Taniela Tupou and co. – and a healthy half-time lead might have been theirs if Harry Potter hadn’t conjured two try-saving interventions. A rampaging Earl seemed certain to snare a second score from Ford’s short ball only to find Potter, somehow, beneath him as he went to ground, before the Wallabies wing shot out of the line to intercept a foolishly thrown pass from Fraser Dingwall five metres from the Australia line. Harry Potter scored an intercept score. (AP). He raced away from east Twickenham towards west, resulting in a 14 point swing. Australia was now only three points behind. Potter had been a favourite of Borthwick’s during their time together at Leicester; not so now. England thought they had a lot of reserves, with six Lions on the bench. Five players, including Luke Cowan Dickie, were waiting for the half-centurion at the 50 minute mark, like trick or treaters, to swing the game in their favor. Australia’s confidence was building, if not their tally – Cowan-Dickie came up with a crucial jackal turnover metres from his own line soon after his introduction to keep the Wallabies out.Also among the new quintet was Henry Pollock, making his Twickenham debut. Not that you’d have known it. Pollock almost strutted like a peacock, but soon, as he always does, he backed up his confidence. Roebuck was once more the aerial architect of his 20-year-old’s teammate try, tapping back an up-and-under, yet Pollock’s clean collection on the run down by his bootlaces showed some skill. A tap tackle prevented him properly strutting home, but a third try in 36 minutes of Test rugby was celebrated with trademark swagger.open image in galleryHenry Pollock scored off the bench (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)The presence of those bench forwards began to tell; if not quite South Africa’s “Bomb Squad”Their impact was also significant. The two mauls that were launched resulted in two more tries. Mitchell scored the first after a cynical swipe from Lukhan Salkaia-Loto (the replacement Australia lock), and Cowan-Dickie completed a 25-metre attempt which involved 12 of his team-mates. Steward was injured, and Pollock had been sent to the sin-bin. But they still held on for one final goalline stand. This week, Captain Maro Itoje said that no mountain was too high for his team to climb.
2025-11-01 17:20:30
How England’s bench ‘Bomb Squad’ decided hard-fought Australia clash
