England beaten by Australia in Autumn Nations Series
Joe Schmidt's men ended a three-game losing run, beating England 37-42 at Allianz Stadium to claim the Ella-Mobbs Trophy.
Two tries from Chandler Cunningham-South, two from Ollie Sleightholme, one from Maro Itoje and 12 points from the boot of Marcus Smith was not enough, as the Wallabies scored at the death to subject England to a second loss of the autumn.
England struck with a try inside the opening five minutes, started by a neat Smith grubber behind the Australian defensive line, it was collected by Ollie Lawrence just outside the visitors’ 22.
Quick-ball was recycled and distributed through the hands of Tom Curry, Jamie George, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ben Earl before Cunningham-South was found out wide - he collected and dived into the corner to claim his second Test try.
Wallaby fly-half Noah Lolesio bagged a penalty in response, but Cunningham-South bulldozed over scrum-half Jake Gordon on 12 minutes - after a five-metre quick tap penalty from Ellis Genge set up the Harlequin. Smith converted the effort for a 12-3 lead.
Smith then extended England’s lead to 12 points with another penalty shortly before Tom Curry was forced to leave the field, after taking a knock in a tackle. Alex Dombrandt replaced him, moving to No 8, and Earl shifted to the flank.
Full-back Tom Wright bagged the Aussie’s first try of the afternoon as half hour approached on the clock. Debutant Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii showcased smart footwork to draw in the English defence, before floating an offload over the head of George Furbank, and providing the assist. Lolesio converted the score.
Smith was on hand to fire over his second penalty shortly after, but the Wallabies forced their way back into the Test courtesy of a Harry Wilson try - the captain’s first international score - and Lolesio’s extras preceded another penalty in front of the posts on the stoke of half-time, as Australia took a 18-20 lead into the break.
The half-time stats proved how the Wallabies wrestled back into contention, as they boasted more metres, carries, defenders beaten and clean breaks.
The Wallabies had a try 10 minutes into the resumption, though lock Jeremy Williams’ one-handed finish in the corner took some time for the TMO to confirm. As Lolesio missed the conversion, Luke Cowan-Dickie replaced captain George to feature in an England shirt for the first time since 2022.
Australia’s fly-half pinged another penalty over the posts, but England answered with a try as the hour mark neared - Smith switching the point of attack off the base of a scrum before drilling a well-weighted grubber toward the visitor’s line. Replacement Sleightholme collected and touched down for his first Test try.
England levelled the affair with 12 minutes left in the Test match - Dombrandt providing the assist for Sleightholme's second in the same corner - and Smith's extras restored the lead 30-28.
Wing Andrew Kellaway scooped up a drop ball with five minutes left on the clock, and cantered away to score - replacement Ben Donaldson landed the conversion as Schmidt's men made it 30-35.
England remained energised and focused, and Itoje powered over from close range on 78 minutes. Smith converted for a 37-35 scoreline, but replacement Max Jorgensen scored in the final play of the game to snatch victory.
