Incredible Australians! Despite a good start to the match, England suffered their second defeat during this November tour against a formidable Australian team, far from the mediocre level described in recent months. Despite a try in the last seconds scored by Itoje and converted by Smith, Joe Schmidt's men went for a prestigious victory full of promise thanks to a magnificent try from Max Jorgensen (42-37).
This Saturday, November 9, it was a test match of fear between England and Australia on the legendary Twickenham pitch (recently and officially renamed Allianz Stadium) as part of the Autumn Nations Series 2024. A week later a frustrating setback conceded against the All Blacks in this same stadium, the XV de la Rose, which even remains on a scathing series of three consecutive defeats against the New Zealanders, had to restart the machine. Australia, for its part, was coming out of a cataclysmic year between a major failure at the World Cup, the sudden departure of Eddie Jones, the arrival of Joe Schmidt, and the Rugby Championship, which ended in last place in the rankings with a meager victory. . In short, the Temple of Rugby hosted a meeting that smelled of gunpowder, at the end of which the loser would sink into crisis. All this while the English were the big favorites of the bookmakers.
The start of the match did not disprove the predictions, as England showed its superiority with two quick tries scored by Chandler Cunningham-South (5-0, 5th; 12-3, 13th). If the Wallabies scored a penalty in the meantime by Noah Lolesio (5-3, 10th), they were unable to enter the local 22 meters for more than 20 minutes. Finally, it was on their first foray into the opposing scoring zone that the Australians tried, by Tom Wright (15-10, 28th), perfectly found wide by Joseph Suaalii, 13th century prodigy who made his 15th century debut this Saturday. In the process, however, Taniela Tupou was penalized in scrum (30th), and Marcus Smith gave his team an eight-point lead (18-10, 31st).
Australian awakening before the break
It was from that moment that Australia really began to play its rugby. Before half-time, the Oceanians were unleashed and scored twice: on a try from their captain Harry Wilson after a lot of work from Tate McDermott (18-17, 35th), then on a penalty from Noah Lolesio after the siren ( 18-20, 42nd). As a result, the Wallabies returned to their locker room with the advantage in the score, which was not really in the English plans. From the restart, therefore, Steve Borthwick's players tried to sound a revolt. In vain. Australia restarted with the same intentions, and Tom Wright set fire to the defense of the XV de la Rose several times with his hand throws (45th, 46th).
The undermining work ended up paying off, and the Wallabies scored a second try through Jeremy Williams (18-25, 51st), completely in a corner on the left. If a long video referee tried to cancel this try for a piece of shoe touching the touchline, Mr. Ben O'Keeffe was not sure that this was the case. In the process, after another completely crazy restart from Tom Wright (52nd), Noah Lolesio worsened the score at the foot (18-28, 54th).
A crazy end to the match
This is how this test match entered another dimension. Led and up against the wall, the English did not want to stop there. Quickly, therefore, they managed to break the Australian lock on a try from the incoming Ollie Sleightholme, found on the foot by Marcus Smith (23-28, 57th). Entering the last quarter of an hour, the Northampton Saints player doubled the lead (30-28, 69th), and Twickenham was set alight for good. The English fans thought that the situation was returning to the right direction and that their players would win for the eleventh time in the last twelve matches played against Australia. Well no!
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