England's autumn international against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, November 7, 2009.
Jonny Wilkinson’s vaunted return for England after 20 months in the international wilderness could not prevent Martin Johnson’s side crashing to a comprehensive defeat as Australia clinched the Cook Cup at Twickenham.
Wilkinson looked to have given England the platform to gain avenge for a heavy defeat by the Wallabies a year ago after kicking two penalties and a drop-goal to give his side the led for the first hour.
But even a huge defensive display by the England fly-half could not prevent Australia, who had lost six of their last seven Tests, pulling away in the final quarter having dominated the second half, with two penalties by Matt Giteau and a try by Adam Ashley-Cooper clinching victory.
England, who had enjoyed a solid start despite having 27 players unavailable because of injury, simply couldn’t match Australia’s high tempo and wide-running game, despite big performances by Wilkinson and Lewis Moody.
There was barely two minutes on the clock when Wilkinson landed his first blow, a sweetly-struck drop-goal after Tom Croft and midfield drive by Jordan Crane.
With England dominating possession, a dangerous tackle by Hynes on Ugo Monye then gave Wilkinson a penalty opportunity and he doubled England’s lead.
The England fly-half was unlucky not to extend his side’s lead moments later after a penalty attempt from the half-way line after Will Genia had been isolated rebounded off the lefthand upright.
Wilkinson’s out-of-hand kicking was not as assured however, which gave Australia opportunities to counter-attack and the Wallabies began to grow into the game, with Quade Cooper’s distribution and powerful running by Wycliff Palu forcing England onto the back foot.
The Wallabies’ pressure was rewarded when Genia sniped over from close range, darting inside Louis Deacon, for a try in the 21st minute. The penalty count continued to hamper Australia however, and after Wilkinson had found Matt Banahan with a cross-kick ball, the Wallaby backline were caught offside and the England fly-half opened up a four-point lead.
An unlikely break by Wallaby loosehead prop Benn Robinson after hooker Stephen Moore had broken clear from the base of a ruck gave England a fright just before half-time but two magnificent tackles by Wilkinson, one on Mark Chisholm and the second on Matt Giteau, allowed England to clear their lines.
Australia had shown enough in the first period to illustrate their running threat and it took a big tackle by Banahan on Elsom to prevent a try not long after the restart after Moore had again found a hole in the English defence. Giteau however was able to slot a penalty after the English backline had strayed offside to make it a one-point game again.
A poor chip-kick by Shane Geraghty out of defence landed England in more trouble but Adam Ashley-Cooper couldn’t reach the ball in the goal area from Drew Mitchell’s kick. Australia butchered another great chance when Digby Ioane hesitated with Elsom on his shoulder having hit a great line from a short pass by Genia and Palu knocked on over the line.
With the pressure building, Duncan Bell gave away a penalty at a scrum having just replaced David Wilson and Giteau knocked Australia into the lead for the first time in the match on the hour mark.
A break by James Haskell, on for Crane, and a perfectly-placed chip and take by Wilkinson gave England some rare momentum after weathering 20 minutes of sustained pressure. But Australia turned the screw. A huge hit by Elsom on Banahan forced a turn-over in the England half and the Wallabies did not leave without adding their second try, with Ashley-Cooper holding off tackles by Mark Cueto and Monye to score in the 71st minute.
Giteau added the conversion and there would be no way back for England.
England: U Monye; M Cueto, D Hipkiss (A Erinle 68), S Geraghty, M Banahan; J Wilkinson, D Care (P Hodgson 62); T Payne, S Thompson (D Hartley 56), D Wilson (D Bell 59), L Deacon (C Lawes 69), S Borthwick, T Croft, L Moody, J Crane (J Haskell 53) T: C: P: J Wilkinson (2) D: J Wilkinson
Australia: A Ashley-Cooper; P Hynes, D Ioane (R Cross 67), Q Cooper, D Mitchell; M Giteau, W Genia; B Robinson, S Moore (T Polota-Nau 60), B Alexander (M Dunning 77), J Horwill, M Chisholm (D Mumm 72), R Elsom, G Smith, W Palu (D Pocock 69).T: W Genia, A Ashley-Cooper C: M Giteau P: M Giteau (2)
Referee: B Lawrence (New Zealand)
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