England 30-6 Australia: Eddie Jones' side put four tries past Wallabies in late flurry
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 19/11/17 7:42am
Tries from Elliot Daly, Jonathan Joseph, Jonny May and Danny Care saw England record a 30-6 victory over Australia at Twickenham in their second match of the autumn Old Mutual Wealth series.
The Wallabies had two potential tries ruled out from Michael Hooper and Marika Koroibete by referee Ben O'Keeffe in a controversial clash in rain-soaked conditions.
Australia also had two men sent to the sin-bin in the first half - Hooper for offside and Kurtley Beale for a deliberate knock-on - but saw out the period conceding just three points.
England next host Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday November 25, while Australia travel to Murrayfield to face Scotland on the same day.
England went ahead through an Owen Farrell penalty after seven minutes, but then had to weather a period of heavy pressure from the Wallabies.
First Sean McMahon won a superb breakdown penalty but Bernard Foley missed the kick at goal from straight in front and 40 metres out after an extremely poor strike.
Three minutes later and Australia had a five-metre attacking lineout after kicking a scrum penalty to touch, but Maro Itoje rose to steal a Tatafu Polota-Nau under-throw.
Just two minutes after that, Australia thought they had the lead as captain Hooper slid over for a try, but after consultation with his TMO, referee Ben O'Keeffe controversially ruled it out for offside.
On 31 minutes the game was turned on its head as England kicked a penalty to touch, and on a penalty advantage Hooper was again penalised for offside, this time close to his line, with O'Keeffe sending him to the sin-bin as a result.
Farrell knocked over the penalty from close range to double the lead to 6-0 and with 20 seconds of the half remaining, Beale was also sent to the bin after he was adjudged to have committed a deliberate knock-on with England on the counter.
England's lineout was stolen by Rob Simmons, however, denying the chance of an attack against 13 men and leaving the half-time score at 6-0.
Australia reduced the deficit to 6-3 on 49 minutes after Reece Hodge kicked a monster penalty with Beale still in the bin.
Five minutes later and England notched the game's opening try through Daly in thoroughly confusing fashion.
With Australia on the attack five metres out, England somehow turned the ball over on the ground and cleared, before Samu Kerevi counter-attacked in rip-roaring fashion.
His offload was knocked on by Tevita Kuridrani, however, and from there Ben Youngs hacked clear before Daly set off in chase, and with Beale nonchalantly expecting the ball to drift out, Daly regathered to scamper in for the score.
After an extensive review with the TMO it was decided the ball had just avoided the touchline when bouncing, and the try stood.
With 10 minutes left, Australia thought they were over for an equalising score through Koroibete but the try was ruled out by O'Keeffe, again in consultation with his TMO as replacement hooker Stephen Moore was penalised for obstruction.
Three minutes later and England sealed the match through Joseph, and added further gloss to the scoreline with late scores by May and Care, giving the game an unfairly dominant reflection.
Turning point
Undoubtedly the turning point of the match came with just 10 minutes left as Australia thought they had scored a try to level the game from 13-6 behind.
Koroibete appeared to get the ball down under pressure from Chris Robshaw, who Wallabies skipper Hooper argued was offside, but Moore was ahead of Koroibete and interfering with a potential tackle.
Should Robshaw have been penalised the result could have been a penalty-try, yellow card and 13-13 scoreline. As it was, the decision went the other way and put England on course for a dominant last few minutes.
Moment of the match
Daly's try was the moment of the match and one which put England into a position they never looked back from.
With Australia seemingly set to score a try of their own at one end, England turned things around and notched a try through Daly, with the ball fortunately bouncing and remaining in play.
It was a poor piece of play from Beale who gave it up, superb from Daly who did not. The ball was mightily close to nicking the line and may well have done, but it was a moment to savour nonetheless.
Man of the match
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