England 9 Australia 18:AS MARTIN Johnson delivered his post-match verdict, the motivational slogan on the gym wall above his head neatly captured the mood. "To succeed, be prepared to suffer" it read, and at this rate England will cause their supporters plenty more angst before the autumn internationals are over.
If Argentina’s forwards were not already salivating at the prospect of Saturday’s encounter, they should be now.
In many ways this was a more dispiriting outcome for Johnson than last year’s statistically heavier defeat to the same opponents. For the first half-hour England did all the right things, laid promising foundations and dutifully ticked all the boxes the management had demanded. And then? It was like watching a whole box of fireworks fizzle out one by one. The bonfire of English vanities, not for the first time since Johnson retired, is crackling away merrily this morning.
There can be no question the better side won. For the second year in a row under the crafty Robbie Deans, Australia sprang the sort of resourceful ambush which would have delighted Ned Kelly. Perhaps the most telling comment came from their skipper, Rocky Elsom, bursting with pride at the manner in which his modern Hole in the Wall gang unpicked England’s defence.
“We just felt comfortable they weren’t going to break the line,” shrugged Elsom. “We didn’t feel that was going to happen much.”
You could say that again. England never seriously threatened the Wallaby line despite fine performances from Jonny Wilkinson and Lewis Moody, in stark contrast to a largely monochrome collective effort. Johnson put it down to the visitors being more “battle-hardened”, but that excuse does not really stack up.
The Australians were in Tokyo last weekend, had a game in Gloucester on Tuesday night and turned up at Twickenham without at least three men – Stirling Mortlock, Berrick Barnes and Nathan Sharpe – who would have been automatic choices. England started planning for this game months ago, enjoyed two weeks’ unbroken preparation and cannot solely blame injuries for failing to lift the tempo when it came to the crunch.
In part, the finger should be pointed at this season’s stolid English Premiership. Slow, unambitious rugby, as Warren Gatland has already pointed out, has been in vogue at club level in England and the national side were similarly workmanlike after a bright start.
Johnson’s selectorial conservatism, however, also backfired spectacularly. Instead of rewarding the sharp recent form of Paul Hodgson, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and James Haskell, he went for safer selections. With the exceptions of Wilkinson, Moody and Tom Croft, comparisons with their sharper, cleverer opponents were increasingly uncomfortable.
No one summed up the difference in mindset more than the 21-year-old Wallaby scrumhalf Will Genia, the son of a former cabinet minister in the government of Papua New Guinea. This was his eighth cap, but he displayed the judgment and verve of a world-class talent. His close-range, 21st-minute try also revealed an eye for a gap.
“He creates a little bit of doubt in defences which saps energy and takes its toll over time,” said a beaming Deans. “He threatens the inside channels, which means we’re not just transferring pressure to the backs.”
Outside Genia, Matt Giteau and Quade Cooper also dovetailed beautifully, and the Wallabies would have won by the length of Ramsay Street had Wilkinson not put in a defensive shift which conclusively proved he is fully recovered from his injury travails.
Moody was equally brave and committed, but after half-time England found themselves trapped on the back foot. Ineffectual tackling by Mark Cueto and Ugo Monye allowed Adam Ashley-Cooper to score his second try in as many Twickenham visits, but the score was essentially a product of mounting pressure all over the field.
“With all that quick ball, you’d be a fool to think you could keep a team out for ever,” admitted Wilkinson. “We’ve got to improve in every single area.”
Australia have now won six of the eight games between the countries since the 2003 World Cup.
At least Wilkinson could walk unaided to the post-match reception, although when he spoke about aspects of his game taking “seven years to come to fruition” he strayed into tricky territory. Drawing inspiration from Seven Years in Tibet may satisfy Wilkinson’s Buddhist leanings, but such patience levels are not available for international coaches.
Johnson now has just six days to answer the eternal question of how to inject some dynamism into England’s attacking game, with Simon Shaw’s return to full match-fitness being closely monitored. Hodgson and Haskell are clear candidates for promotion and Hartley is set to start: the three H’s, if nothing else, would offer hustle.
ENGLAND: U Monye; M Cueto, D Hipkiss (A Erinle, 67), S Geraghty, M Banahan; J Wilkinson, D Care (P Hodgson, 63); T Payne, S Thompson (D Hartley, 56), D Wilson (D Bell, 58), L Deacon (C Lawes, 69), S Borthwick (capt), T Croft, L Moody, J Crane (J Haskell, 53).
AUSTRALIA: A Ashley-Cooper; P Hynes, D Ioane (R Cross, 67), Q Cooper, D Mitchell; M Giteau, W Genia; B Robinson (M Dunning 77), S Moore (T Polata-Nau, 60), B Alexander, J Horwill, M Chisholm (D Mumm, 73), R Elsom (capt), G Smith, W Palu (D Pocock, 69).
Referee: B Lawrence (NZ).
