By Nick Powell
Australia 40-44 England
England broke their record points total against Australia for the second time in 3 games as they won a pulsating game to seal a 3-0 series whitewash and cement their status as a top two team in the world.
England broke through early through Dan Cole, but Australia hit back with two tries in quick succession to lead England for the first time since the early stages of the first test.
England scored again as Australia's defence lapsed, but it was the hosts that headed in at the break ahead after Bernard Foley's penalty in over time.
Australia 40-44 England
England broke their record points total against Australia for the second time in 3 games as they won a pulsating game to seal a 3-0 series whitewash and cement their status as a top two team in the world.
England broke through early through Dan Cole, but Australia hit back with two tries in quick succession to lead England for the first time since the early stages of the first test.
England scored again as Australia's defence lapsed, but it was the hosts that headed in at the break ahead after Bernard Foley's penalty in over time.
After Vunipola went over from the back of a scrum, Farrell made up for his missed conversion for that try by slotting a penalty that gave England a 7 point lead.
Michael Hooper and Israel Folau tries cancelled that lead out, but England remained within 1 points thanks to another two Farrell penalties.
After Jamie George scored a fortunate 4th for England, the sides exchanged penalties before Farrell gave England the nine point lead that would see them home.
Naiyaravaro had the last word for Australia, but it was merely consolation for a dejected Australian side.
Ding Dong first half gives Aussies lead
Both sides were both utterly desperate to win, despite the fact that England had already wrapped up the series in Melbourne last Saturday.
The visitors burst out of the blocks, England controlling most aspects of the first 10 minutes to give Dan Cole the position to barrel over for the lead. But soon after a bit of luck, the ball landed in the hands of Folau who beat Nowell before finding Foley whose try and conversion drew the hosts level.
Dane Haylett-Petty finished a simple chance as Australia began to dominate, but disorganised defence down the blindside allowed Anthony Watson to chip through for out-of-form Mike Brown to put England back in front.
But it was the hosts that went ahead, they did superbly well to work their way up the field, through the England tackles to earn a penalty in the 22 which was easily slotted by Foley.
But England come through yet again to humiliate Wallabies
It was England again who came out fast, the hosts botched a line out to hand England a 5 metre scrum. Vunipola showed his strength to finish from the back of it, and England's 7 point lead was back through the boot of Farrell.
Once again however, Australia had a response. Farrell's third penalty was sandwiched in between to tries. The first, showed Australia's fierce power as they made it over through Michael Hooper after several brutal carries got them into the 22 and the second showed their attacking class as Leicester-bound Matt Toomua burst through the midfield and fed Folau to give Australia the lead again.
But after another Farrell penalty, Jamie George dotted down fortunately to give England the lead. The ball dropped to his foot and he reacted quickly to dot down. A penalty exchange ensure England kept the 6 point lead and after Farrell slotted yet another, England were home and dry.
Australia won the try count in the end but there is no doubt that this is a truly shocking result for them. England doubled their number of wins down under in the space of 14 days and after the feel good factor of the World Cup, this result has massively checked Australia's progress.
It was England again who came out fast, the hosts botched a line out to hand England a 5 metre scrum. Vunipola showed his strength to finish from the back of it, and England's 7 point lead was back through the boot of Farrell.
Farrell's boot did not allow Australia to dominate the scoreboard
Once again however, Australia had a response. Farrell's third penalty was sandwiched in between to tries. The first, showed Australia's fierce power as they made it over through Michael Hooper after several brutal carries got them into the 22 and the second showed their attacking class as Leicester-bound Matt Toomua burst through the midfield and fed Folau to give Australia the lead again.
Australia's fifth try was excellently taken
But after another Farrell penalty, Jamie George dotted down fortunately to give England the lead. The ball dropped to his foot and he reacted quickly to dot down. A penalty exchange ensure England kept the 6 point lead and after Farrell slotted yet another, England were home and dry.
Australia won the try count in the end but there is no doubt that this is a truly shocking result for them. England doubled their number of wins down under in the space of 14 days and after the feel good factor of the World Cup, this result has massively checked Australia's progress.
Desperate defence becomes amazing attack
England's 23-7 win last time out was seen as one of the great defence performances in their history as they had just a quarter of the possession but ran out convincing winners on the scoreboard.
But this game saw them show their attacking game, both sides were moving the ball wonderfully and passive, disorganised defending allowed there to be chances all over the place.
Nine tries were shared between the two sides, with England finishing more from close range, and the Australians going over from all over the park.
Whilst England will look at their defence as something to work on in this game, with the Australians making it through to the line with ease at times, the Australians will be vastly more concerned with their defence, conceding 106 points. The average, 35.3 points, is more than the record number they had conceded against England in a game, prior to the tour.
England were clinical, getting at least three points from every foray into the Australian half, exploiting every hole in their opponents' defence to run in four tries and take their overall tally to 10 for the tour.
Australia: Israel Folau 8, Dane Haylett-Petty 7, Tevita Kuridrani 7, Matt Toomua 6, Rob Horne 6, Bernard Foley 7, Nick Phipps 7; James Slipper 7, Stephen Moore 6, Sekope Kepu 6, Will Skelton 6, Rob Simmons 7, Scott Fardy 6, Michael Hooper 7, Sean McMahon 7
Total: 100/150
England: Mike Brown 7, Anthony Watson 7, Jonathan Joseph 7, Owen Farrell 9, Jack Nowell 5; George Ford 8, Ben Youngs 7; Mako Vunipola 8, Dylan Hartley 8 (captain), Dan Cole 7, Maro Itoje 8, George Kruis 6, Chris Robshaw 6, Teimana Harrison 5, Billy Vunipola 8
Total: 106/150
Australia: Israel Folau 8, Dane Haylett-Petty 7, Tevita Kuridrani 7, Matt Toomua 6, Rob Horne 6, Bernard Foley 7, Nick Phipps 7; James Slipper 7, Stephen Moore 6, Sekope Kepu 6, Will Skelton 6, Rob Simmons 7, Scott Fardy 6, Michael Hooper 7, Sean McMahon 7
Total: 100/150
England: Mike Brown 7, Anthony Watson 7, Jonathan Joseph 7, Owen Farrell 9, Jack Nowell 5; George Ford 8, Ben Youngs 7; Mako Vunipola 8, Dylan Hartley 8 (captain), Dan Cole 7, Maro Itoje 8, George Kruis 6, Chris Robshaw 6, Teimana Harrison 5, Billy Vunipola 8
Total: 106/150
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