England A overpower Australia A
England A crossed the whitewash six times to claim a 38-17 win over Australia A at Twickenham Stoop.
Joe Heyes powered over from close range inside six minutes, following a fine attack from Gabriel Ibitoye 40-metres out. Subsequent pick-and-go carries saw England surge toward the line, and it was the Leicester Tigers prop who broke the Wallaby defence to score.
Flanker Luke Reimer struck back moments later, off the back of a 15-metre lineout rolling maul, and Tom Lynagh’s extras gave the visitors a two point lead.
The fly-half was on hand on the half hour mark to extend the Australian lead with a well taken penalty, and despite a late sustained attack from England where Ibitoye, Gabriel Oghre, Tom Willis and Henry Pollock all got close to the line, Australia’s defence held firm for a 5-10 lead at the break.
Mark Mapletoft’s men set a blistering start at the resumption, and soon levelled the match with a second try. Inside their opponent’s 22-metre line Henry Pollock hit Fraser Dingwall behind a dummy-runner, and the captain quickly fed Oscar Beard. The Harlequin drew in two defenders before firing an offload into the path of Ibitoye, who in turn set Cadan Murley away for an acrobatic finish in the corner.
England went the length of the pitch for their third try on 56 minutes, as Ibitoye and Pollock combined to go deep into Aussie territory. Brought down 10-metres from the line, quick ball from Will Porter found unmarked replacement Curtis Langdon to go under the sticks. Charlie Atkinson’s extras made it 17-10.
Greg Fisilau, only on the pitch a few minutes, bagged England’s fourth after some abrasive forward play, but not to be outdone Australia replacement Rhys Van Nek finished in a similar fashion on 67 minutes, and the successful extras cut the deficit to 24-17.
Will Muir snatched a Jock Campbell pass out of the air with 10 minutes left in the match, intercepting and cantering in unopposed from 40-metres, and Australia's fate was sealed with another Murley try in the 77th minute - replacement Jamie Shillcock converting both to confirm a 38-17 win.
England A will next be in action on Sunday 23 February, when they take on Ireland A at Bristol’s Ashton Gate.
Reaction
Henry Pollock: "Really happy after a short week, we've got to know each other really well, and we're really happy with that result. I love my rugby and I'm just trying to get better every week. I think I'm at my best when I'm enjoying my rugby - every day is a new day and I'm just trying to work to get better."
Fraser Dingwall: "The first 40 was disappointing, just felt we didn't have any energy about us and we were lacking physicality, so we came out in the second half addressing that and securing our breakdown a little more.
"That problem solving is credit to the squad - ultimately this week was about getting a group together in a short period of time, getting everyone to enjoy the week, build some connections and come away with a result so we're really pleased."
