SYDNEY, Australia — Tries from Freddie Steward and
Marcus Smith powered England to a
come-from-behind 21–17 victory in the deciding third Test on Saturday to seal a
bruising series at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground.
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Eddie Jones’s men
slumped 10–3 behind, but bounced back with 18 unanswered points to take control
and hold off a frantic late charge from the Wallabies.
England’s
fiercely tackling defense thwarted the Wallabies to claim the newly-minted
Ella-Mobbs Cup with a 2–1 series victory.
Jones’s team
became only the second England side to win a series in Australia after a
historic whitewash in 2016.
The triumph is a
much-needed tonic for Jones, who has been under increasing pressure ahead of
next year’s World Cup in France after an indifferent start to the year for
England.
“We fought for
each other, we have had a great four weeks here, really enjoyed ourselves,”
England captain Courtney Lawes said.
“The boys just
stuck together and found a way to win and that’s the big improvement, I
think.”
It was a bitter
result for the Wallabies, who have been trying to usher in a new era after a
period in the wilderness.
Dave Rennie’s men
were hit hard through by injury and suspension, which tested their depth and
resolve as they fell agonizingly short.
“We created good
opportunities tonight, but just not good enough to execute them,” Wallabies
captain Michael Hooper said.
“There were areas
that hurt us, like right before half-time when they got that try. But also some
pleasing elements, but it hurts.”
Prior to their
tense series opening win in Perth, Australia had lost eight straight games to
England since the 2015 World Cup and were desperate to wrap up a series against
their old rival.
After a dire
first-half proved costly in game two in Brisbane, the Wallabies lived up to
their vow of starting aggressively only for
Noah Lolesio to botch a penalty in
the opening minutes.
The pumped-up
Wallabies dominated territory but blundered away opportunities and failed to
capitalize on their early dominance.
England made them
pay in the 18th minute when former skipper Owen Farrell nailed a penalty.
But Australia hit
back superbly with a long-range try set up by a brilliant pass from Marika
Koroibete and finished off by Nic White, who crossed over in the right corner.
England remained
unperturbed and were rewarded on the cusp of half-time for their bold decision
to go for touch from a penalty instead of taking the points when Steward dived
over in the corner to give the visitors a narrow 11–10 lead.
England’s momentum
continued after the break and they pulled clear when Smith pounced after Noah
Lolesio spilled the ball from a scrappy Australia lineout and sprinted 60m to
score gleefully under the posts to stretch the lead to 21–10.
An increasingly
desperate
Australia went back on the attack and were rewarded in the 66th
minute when hooker Folau Fainga’a barged over for a try to reduce the deficit
to four points and breathe life into the contest.
But England’s indefatigable defense held firm against
Australia’s late rally to defy the rowdy SCG crowd in what was likely to be the
historic venue’s final rugby international.
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