Coach Dave Rennie saidAustralia only had themselves to blame for not taking their opportunities.
“I reckon we’re better than the result tonight and the result last week,” Rennie said.
Test matches all have game-defining moments,and this match’s came on the 54-minute mark.
As the Wallabies failed to secure clean lineout ball,No.10 Noah Lolesio sprinted in to gain possession but fumbled the ball,not for the first time on Saturday night.
In a flash,his opposite number Marcus Smith swooped,sprinted 53 metres through the narrowest of holes and dived over to put England up 21-10.
His passionate celebration directed at the England faithful showed what it meant to the 23-year-old in his first series in Australia.
But the Wallabies refused to put up the white flag. England conceded four straight penalties before reserve hooker Folau Fainga’a one of his most important Test tries to ultimately reduce the margin to four points with 13 minutes remaining.
It wasn’t to be for Hooper’s men,whose attempt to claim their first series victory against England since 2006 fell flat.
This series had hair-pulling,a headbutt,a red card and injuries galore with twists and turns across three Tests of mostly top-shelf rugby.
But England were worthy victors. Make no mistake about that.
However,Marika Koroibete’s class shone through in a losing effort. One of Rennie’s three overseas picks,Koroibete not only darted around England’s big men with ease but also showed no regard for personal safety by trying to run right through the middle of some of them.
Tom Wright was equally impressive - he made 113 metres from 13 runs - but England seized their opportunities more often than Australia.
After some early aerial ping pong to begin the match,Lolesio had a chance to settle the nerves with a fifth-minute penalty but pushed it right. It was his first unsuccessful kick of the series.
Moments later,Australia’s rustiness,and lack of cohesion,came to the fore as the Wallabies fourth-choice fullback at the beginning of the series,Reece Hodge,threw an average final pass down the right edge that could have put Wright over.
When Taniela Tupou delivered a rushed pass at Nick Frost’s knees with a clear run to the line available,the second-rower’s subsequent knock-on summed up Australia’s early execution issues.
At the time,inconsequential. By full-time,two critically important moments and one could argue the difference on the night.
England pounded their way down the other end and opened the scoring with a penalty in the 18th minute to dent the confidence of the Wallabies,who failed to score a point in the opening 20-minute period of all three Tests.
But Australia finally hit paydirt in the 24th minute as White and Wright combined for the latter’s five-pointer down the right edge.
The Wallabies saw space,Koroibete put the burners on,before Wright and White held their passes for just the right amount of time to ensure the home side gained a valuable 7-3 lead.
That was extended to 10-3 but it was England who won the breakdown battle just before the break to keep the scoreboard ticking over and then bag a try courtesy of Freddie Steward,who exposed a one-on-one opportunity on Wright down the blind-side.
However,there was a suggestion Jonny Hill tugged on Samu Kerevi’s jumper as Australia’s No.12 prepared to sprint over as defensive cover.
Despite England missing 12 more tackles in the opening half,the visitors had,in keeping with Jones’ cricket analogies this week,taken a narrow first innings lead.
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By full-time,England had got their noses in front,dug deep,stuck to their game plan and can now leave Australia with a weight off their shoulders.
If you thought Jones couldn’t wipe the smile off his face this week,imagine what he’ll be like for the next month.
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