Muddled England crumble under the pressure

England 13 Australia 33


England coach Stuart Lancaster spoke about 'small margins that at this level have big consequences'. He was referring to the specifics of his team's defeat to Australia that had catastrophic ramifications for the tournament hosts but it also serves as an analogy for the flawed decision-making that compromised their prospects.

Chris Robshaw’s decision to go to the corner with a late penalty against Wales, compounded by the poor execution that ensued is the prime example but it shouldn’t gloss over decisions in the team room that were equally undermining.

Lancaster became muddled in his team selection during the tournament, specifically in respect to the midfield axis, a shortcoming revisited at Twickenham on Saturday.

Prominent roles

Owen Farrell, Sam Burgess, Brad Barritt, Jonathan Joseph and George Ford have been central characters in England's Rugby World Cup narrative and again enjoyed prominent roles, villains and heroes.

An injury to Jonny May necessitated a reshuffle of the England backline for the second half that far from having a destabilising effect offered the home side a pathway back into the game. Farrell plays by rote; Ford understands that the playbook doesn’t have to be a rigid document.

England, who were receiving the last rites at 20-3 behind, clambered back to 20-13, before Farrell and Burgess, in acts of petulance and misguided aggression respectively, handed the Wallabies a free run to the to the finish line.

For all of the home side’s travails – seven scrum penalties, nine turnovers at the breakdown, opposing an Australian side that played quite beautifully at times – they were still just a score behind entering the final 10 minutes; cue the brain fart as the Aussies might say.

The pre-match discussion about England loosehead prop Joe Marler’s scrum technique bore fruition as referee Romain Poite penalised him on three occasions; he was replaced soon after the interval.

Australia’s victory was thoroughly merited. They dominated the set piece, the scrum a weapon, despite conceding the odd penalty, and the lineout pinpoint.

The pilfering of the outstanding David Pocock and the excellent Michael Hooper at the breakdown may be used in instructional material, the scored three sumptuous tries, scrambled superbly in defence and boasted the game's outstanding individual contributor, Bernard Foley; he was for the most part, unplayable.

Australia’s clarity in every facet of the game was obvious from clever variance of exit strategies from their own 22, the way in which Foley and Matt Giteau shared the role as first receiver to employing Foley and his halfback partner Will Genia as sweepers in behind the first line of defenders.

England managed an impressive number of line breaks but with the exception of Anthony Watson’s try they could not conjure definitive breaches.

First try

Foley and Farrell shared early penalties before Izzy Folau dithered, allowing England fullback Mike Brown to deflect his pass, thus denying wing Rob Horne the formality of a run to the corner.

Foley continued to threaten, the quality of his range of passing, footwork, punting, placekicking and distribution at odds with a player who had recently been struggling for form.

His first try came from a brilliant offload from Sekope Kefu who got his hands free through the tackle. Foley slalomed his way past the remaining defenders. His second came via the training ground as he invited Kurtley Beale – a 10th minute replacement for Rob Horne – onto a beautifully weighted inside pass and the Aussie outhalf supported his wing to take the return and scamper over.

He added two conversions and a penalty soon after the restart had England staring into the abyss at 20-3 behind. but the the home side, marshalled by Ford, found a new energy and rhythm, responded with Watson’t try, converted by Farrell, who added a penalty.

The Wallabies were wobbling slightly. England had reinvigorated themselves but that momentum dissipated in the moment of stupidity. The manner in which the home side carelessly threw away the lifeline will have grated.

Foley kicked a penalty following Farrell’s indiscretion and then added another for a scrum offence before Giteau raced down the touchline to touch down. Foley’s touchline conversion was a perfect epitaph to the night individually and collectively for Australia.

Lancaster will consider his future: “Yeah, obviously I have got to; it’s not going to be my decision but it is not one for now. As I said during the week the responsibility and the accountability lies with me.”

A man of principle but perhaps one that wished he had stuck to the principles that guided his selection at the start of this tournament.

ENGLAND: M Brown; A Watson, J Joseph, B Barritt, J May; O Farrell, B Youngs; J Marler, T Youngs, D Cole; J Launchbury, G Parling; T Wood, C Robshaw (capt), B Morgan. Replacements: G Ford for May half-time; R Wigglesworth for B Youngs 49 mins; M Vunipola for Marler 50 mins; K Brookes for Cole 53 mins; N Easter for Morgan 57 mins; R Webber for T Youngs 60 mins; S Burgess for Baritt 64 mins; G Kruis for Launchbury 68 mins. Yellow card: Owen Farrell (England) 70 mins.

AUSTRALIA: I Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, T Kuridrani, M Giteau, R Horne; B Foley, W Genia; S Sio, S Moore (capt), S Kepu; K Douglas, R Simmons; S Fardy, M Hooper, D Pocock. Replacements: K Beale for Horne 10 mins; J Slipper for Sio 56 mins; G Holmes for Kepu 56 mins; N Phipps for Genia 61 mins; T Polota-Nau for Moore 64 mins; M Toomua for Folau 64 mins; D Mumm for Simmins 64 mins; B McCalman for Fardy 75 mins.

Referee: R Poite (France).