Australia v England Match Review

Australia v England - 'Cook Cup' returns home!

England took on the Wallabies in their own backyard in front of a capacity Australian crowd baying for blood and beat them in a momentous match.

What a performance by both teams, end to end stuff. England scoring first with the ball popping up from a tackle on Cohen and in went Greenwood to score the first try 6mins into the game. Wilkinson coverted. England always looking the better side in the first half. Lots of flair and every England player on the park wanting to be involved and get the ball. England's second try came from a sublime piece of ball play, three single handed passes Wilkinson to Thomson to Greenwood and then Tindell in for the try. Wilkinson failed to convert, hitting the posts. England had so many chances but the speed of the ball at times forcing ball handling errors. England using the driving maul to move up the field from almost the half way line, then Wilkinson kick across field and a try almost came. England should have had more tries they mixed up the game and produced moments of sheer genius. Half time score Australia 3 - England 12.

Wendell Sailor, proved to be Australia's main threat in the first half and it was to be so in the second, he scored Australia's only try of the match the rest came from penalties. What a talent this man is, we will need to watch him in the World Cup.

Second half saw a different Australia come onto the park, they upped the gears and England fought hard to keep them out. On occasions England defence looked a bit wobbly, but they re-grouped after some marvelous play by Australia, really pushing forward at pace. Wendell Sailor scoring a fantastic try, but Roff unable to convert.

Nerve racking moments if you were an England fan, then a lovely pass from Wilkinson to Ben Cohen, Ben cutting in field to score a wonderful try to the side of the uprights - Wilkinson converted. The clock ticking down, and Mat Rogers had the ball and in came Lucy with an crunching tackle, left Rogers winded for sometime. England's defence again awesome today, hard tackling all round. What a match, what individual performances. The 'Man of Match' in the stadium was announced as Martin Johnson - to the howls of the Australian crowd.

This was an epic game and again a historic one. England had never won on Australian soil - but we have now. We could of said unlucky for some going for 13 straight Test wins - but the boys did it and how! Three Tries, Two Conversions and Two Penalties. Australia had One Try and Three Penalties.

Of course that begs the question. Who says England can not score tries?

Well done 'The Red Rose' of England - We are all so proud of you and everyone from this forum salutes you. Thank you boys, you have made many English men & women happy today.

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