England win Sydney
epic to take series 3-0
SYDNEY: England completed a series whitewash in Australia with a 44-40 victory
in a pulsating third and final Test in Sydney on Saturday. The Wallabies led by
a point at half-time courtesy of the boot of Bernard Foley, after Dan Cole and
Mike Brown had crossed for England, and Foley and Dane Haylett-Petty for the
hosts.Michael Hooper and Israel Folau tries cancelled out a Billy Vunipola
score.But Owen Farrell’s boot kept England in touch and Jamie George’s try
helped them to a record score and a 3-0 win.It was England’s biggest ever points
total against the Wallabies, and earned them the first 3-0 series win by a
touring side in Australia since South Africa in 1971.
After their defensive heroics in the 23-7 second Test win last weekend the
tourists were keen to show more of their attacking game in Sydney, and they duly
delivered as what could have been a flat dead rubber turned in an epic encounter
as both sides looked to move the ball at will. It was not a day for the defence
coaches as the sides shared nine tries between them, and in the end the
difference probably came down to the narrow ascendancy of the English pack. |