It has been 37 years since an English/Great Britain side defeated Australia in a test series. After last Saturday's defeat in Leeds, England will have to wait another year at least until they can have another chance to defeat the old enemy from down under.
Leaving Leeds there was a mixed feeling of emotion. On the one hand, for 60 minutes we played like marines. We were able to match Australia in every department. Our backs looked capable of handing the 'superstars' of Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne and Darren Lockyer. Even Kyle Eastmond's kicking game made Billy Slater look average at fullback. Then the tide turned against us.
Both teams were constantly trading scores and handing each other the lead for an hour. Sam Burgess' first try showed why South Sydney are signing him up. He was able to dummy both Petro Civoniceva and BILLY SLATER! Even with Eastmond on his side, it was a brilliant try worthy of any future star in the NRL. England piled on the pressure in the ten minutes. When England were on the Australian line again, James Graham's offload found Jonathan Thurston who immediately started the counter attack. Brett Morris finished off the resulting set in the corner.
Peter Fox scored a sensational try from Eastmond's kick which was expected to fall straight into the hands of Jarryd Hayne. Fantastic Mr. Fox outjumped the Dally M Medal winner, who has had an extremely quiet tournament not really living up to the hype generated in Australia.
Australia scored a again with arguably a very contencious try while Jonathan Thurston added a penalty goal just befire half time to take the game into half time 14-10 to the Australians. England were not out of this game yet. They had matched the Australian pack and threatened to tear apart their superstar back line. And things looked promising when Sam Burgess crossed for his second try to edge the hosts into the lead. But then the floodgates opened and Austrlian showed what they have been threatening to do all tournament, but had never achieved. They started to play to their real potential. And boy was it a pleasure to watch.
It was disappointing that England couldn't match the Australian level of fitness and skill. They had tried so hard for 60 minutes and done so well over the past 180 minutes leading up to the Aussie torchure that you couldn't help feel sorry for Burgess, Peacock and Smith at the end of the day.
Australia dominated with a couple of spectacular tries, and some shockers that england should have dealt with. Cameron Smith's try stands out when Billy Slater knocked the ball back allowing Smith to pounce on it. Slater's own try in the corner was demoralising. After some superb scrambling defence on England's line to prevent one try, Slater dived in over from dummy half less than one metre out for a disappointing try to concede.
But at the end of the day, Australia have redeemed themselves after losing the World Cup. They have been the best side in the tournament on the basis they didn't lose a match in the tournament. But they will know themselves that they could have performed better over the course of the four games. They didn't really get out of second gear for a large proportion of the tournament, excelling against England for a grand total of 60 minutes over the two games, and they got out of jail against New Zealand in London during their first game of the tournament. Against France, they were outperformed in the first half, despite fielding a weakened side. But in the second half they stepped up several levels and put France to the sword.
Like I said, deserving winners, but an Australian side at full strength and in top gear will be one that can enilate any team on the planet.
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