England had a great scrum - they really put Australia under a lot of pressure the whole game because of that.
And I have to concede the try by Robinson late in the first half was a great try from broken play. I really dig Laurence d’Laglio - he’s easily my favourite English player. And he was involved in that try too.
England’s lineout was superior as well. It’s hard to win a test match if you’re starved of possession.
All things considered a very fine and deserving win by England. I value the win tonight as being far more meritorious than the test match in June. That wasn’t a real contest back then - but tonight was and England played wonderfully. Very low handling error count, and great forwards cohesion.
Australia’s forwards were out muscled quite frankly - not by much obviously. You only have to look at the scores to see they weren’t outmuscled by much, but by enough for it to count. I’m pretty sure Wendell Sailor, for example had 3 touches of the ball all game - which is a reflection that the wonderful Australian backline weren’t able to function in the comfort of having lots of room - and that’s because the Australian forwards weren’t making too much ground where it counted.
Plus the fact that England maintained superior possession. A very fine and professional performance.
Now, all that being said - my fellow English Dopers - please note how gracious a losing Australian can be at times like this. Your team are deserving and worthy World Champions. I’d ask that as their fans, you might care to act in the same manner.
But I’m not holding my breath! You Poms are gonna gloat and gloat and gloat! And to be frank, I can’t blame you!
It was a messy match, not helped by the weather. You had us on the run in the second half. But with only 90 seconds to go, Wilkinson pulled the finger out. I nearly had a heart attack.
I thought we were going to throw it all away. Two last minute penalties, I thought Australia would piss all over us in extra time. My nerves are shredded.
Damn! I was at a 21st birthday party last night, but fortunately they had a big screen set up so we could watch the extra time. And those last five minutes were AGONY!
London_Calling, Ice Wolf, and other pommy supporters, I’ve gotta say your guys played best on the night. They were all over the Wallabies right from the start. I’m just proud that we fought back in the second half and put on a respectable showing.
Couldn’t post sooner as the last couple of days developed into something of a Lost Weekend. Anyway . . . so this is what it feels like . . . Finally.
As has been said, against the odds, it did turn out to be a really memorable, nail-biting final. Fwiw, everything seemed to go to plan until half time, and then almost nothing at all went according to plan until that very last play culminated in a right-footed kick. An awful of credit has to go to Australia for upsetting what has become (for a long time now) the pattern of games involving this England team.
No point saying much else, we all saw it, we all have our views. Hopefully, it’ll be good for the game in the northern Hem in particular, but down south as well.
And hopefully next time those Aussie blokes won’t be frightened of a barber and I’ll recognise an anthem or two.
Finally.