England Outclass Australia as Wallabies Struggle for Rhythm in Rainy Clash
When even Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii — one of Australia’s brightest young stars — can’t make his trademark leap, you know things are off track for the Wallabies. The match at Allianz Stadium turned into a frustrating reminder of the inconsistency that continues to haunt Australian rugby. England came prepared, composed, and clinical, while the Wallabies seemed stuck in second gear from the opening whistle.
It all started to unravel around the 20th minute. Suaalii, usually so commanding in the air, was caught flat-footed as England’s Tom Roebuck soared to claim Alex Mitchell’s high box kick. Within moments, Ben Earl broke through for the opening try, setting the tone for a night where England’s precision overshadowed Australia’s disjointed efforts. It felt like watching a replay of the Wallabies from the difficult Eddie Jones era — flashes of promise buried under patches of scrappy play.
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The Wallabies looked short on ideas, particularly at the breakdown and through the midfield. Their half-backs struggled to ignite attacking flow, and the forwards couldn’t string together phases without errors creeping in. Every good run seemed to end in a knock-on or turnover. One of the few bright moments came when Harry Wilson’s long kick nearly found touch for a 50-22, but even that didn’t go Australia’s way.
Still, a spark of hope arrived just before the half-hour mark when Harry Potter — the winger born in Wimbledon, fittingly — snatched an intercepted pass and sprinted almost the length of the field to score. It was a moment of individual brilliance in an otherwise dreary first half, and it briefly put the Wallabies within striking distance. But that flash of magic couldn’t mask the underlying issues: lack of fluency, lack of leadership, and lack of control.
Coach Joe Schmidt’s system is built on structure and pragmatism, allowing flair to emerge only when the fundamentals are right. But on this night, the Wallabies failed to execute even the basics. After halftime, there were faint signs of cohesion — a few sharper runs and tighter defense — but England quickly reasserted dominance. Another high kick from Mitchell created chaos, and Henry Pollock pounced to score, putting the game firmly in England’s grip.
From there, it was all England. Mitchell added a try of his own, and Luke Cowan-Dickie sealed the deal with a maul-driven score. Tempers flared late in the match, leading to a shoving match in the rain — a fittingly scrappy ending to a disappointing night for Australia.
Without key playmakers like Len Ikitau and with limited spark from fly-half Tane Edmed, the Wallabies simply couldn’t find rhythm. As their ranking slips and the next World Cup on home soil looms, Schmidt’s side must rediscover their identity — and fast. Every test on this European tour now carries weight, because right now, Australia still looks like a team searching for itself.
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