Australia v England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as England win deciding Test
Follow live updates as England beat Australia in a huge series decider at the Sydney Cricket Ground
England outwitted and outfought an error-prone Australia 21-17 to win their July series 2-, a second success for northern hemisphere rugby after Ireland’s earlier triumph over the All Blacks.
Young guns Freddie Steward and Marcus Smith scored the tries and England’s streetwise pack bossed the breakdown as coach Eddie Jones masterminded a second series victory over his own country after their 3-0 sweep in 2016.
Australia scored tries through Tom Wright and Folau Fainga’a in front of a sellout crowd of 43,274 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but the home side’s accuracy deserted them too frequently at crucial moments.
Australia won the opening test 30-28 in Perth but England struck back with a 25-17 victory in Brisbane to take the series to Saturday’s decider.
Follow live reaction from the Australia vs England series decider below:
PENALTY! NEW ZEALAND 3-5 Ireland (Jordie Barrett penalty, 23 minutes)
This one is as simple as they come - the All Blacks have their first points.
New Zealand 0-5 Ireland, 22 minutes
Unfortunate for Caelan Doris, who appears in outstanding jackal position with an All Black off their feet denying him access to the ball, but Johnny Sexton’s failure to roll away will undermine his back row’s efforts - and grant Jordie Barrett another chance to get New Zealand on the board.
New Zealand 0-5 Ireland, 21 minutes
And that one is a 50:22! Mack Hansen wins back possession in the air for Ireland but Sam Whitelock nicks the ball on the floor as Ireland fail to clear a ruck. David Havili puts his foot through it safely inside his own half and his forwards will trudge forth to the lineout with possession as it trickles over the touchline soon after crossing Ireland’s 22-metre.
New Zealand 0-5 Ireland, 20 minutes
Johnny Sexton now seeks space in the All Blacks backfield and finds it with a clever little diagonal lift, but the bounce is friendly for Jordie Barrett, who kicks upfield.
New Zealand 0-5 Ireland, 19 minutes
Ireland also kick on first phase, but Aaron Smith reads the danger like a holding midfielder, stepping across to intercept Jamison Gibson-Park’s threaded grubber through. The All Blacks kick up to near halfway.
New Zealand 0-5 Ireland, 18 minutes
Now it will be Ireland possession though - it’s a pretty basic error from New Zealand, mauling to create a bit more space but getting the ball to embedded in the centre of their All Black mass. Irish limbs pin it in - turnover, Ireland scrum feed.
New Zealand 0-5 Ireland, 17 minutes
Once more to the skies go the All Blacks and it is Will Jordan’s hands first to it inside the Ireland 22, but the right wing can’t quite gather cleanly.
New Zealand’s next lineout is a mess, again, and Ireland thump a long clearance downfield, which pitches and spins on the Sky Stadium surface, hopping into touch before Will Jordan can retrieve it. Jordan is grateful for a last pivot for the touchline about a foot outside the 22, meaning it will be New Zealand’s ball rather than Ireland’s, with no 50:22 despite an excellent kick from James Lowe.
New Zealand 0-5 Ireland, 15 minutes
Mack Hansen’s kick up the right touchline is charged down partially, sending it spinning dangerously for the All Blacks, but Sam Cane is quick to react. Savea takes up the charge, keeping those big quads pumping as he stays on his feet, offloading to Aaron Smith.
Smith switches blind, flicking a pass on for a dangerous triumvirate of Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett and Sevu Reece to advance up the left. Barrett prods a kick infield, but there are Irish hands waiting to collect, and the visitors clear.
New Zealand 0-5 Ireland, 14 minutes
Will Jordan is well-handled by an Irish defence fast up to him.
Akira Ioane makes a good charge in midfield, before Codie Taylor spins out of a couple of tackles. There is space apparent beside the ruck which Ardie Savea seeks, but he and Taylor tangle hands as Savea looks to pick-up, and the ball is knocked on.
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