Clinical Wilkinson sinks Aussies

England captain Neil Back lifts the Cook Cup

England 21-15 Australia

England withstood a typically gutsy comeback from Australia to retain the Cook Cup at Twickenham on Saturday.

Two second-half tries by the Wallabies threatened to spoil what had been a superb performance by England.

But with Australia scenting an improbable victory, brave English tackling kept the world champions at bay.

This is right up there with the best in terms of all-round performance

Neil Back
England captain

Jonny Wilkinson's boot supplied all of England's points, but it was a storming performance from the pack that provided the platform for the win.

Although Australia's Matt Burke and Phil Waugh scored the game's only tries, England played the more consistent and effective rugby.

A delighted England captain Neil Back was full of praise for his side after the game.

"This is right up there with the best in terms of all-round performance. Today was first class," said Back.

Grewcock was a huge presence at the lineout

"We kept hold of the ball and dominated possession and territory."

But England coach Clive Woodward was not so easily pleased.

"I'm a bit disappointed to be honest because we did not score a try, but our commitment was fantastic," said Woodward.

"I'm delighted that we've beaten them two years running. It's good for English rugby, everything is very, very healthy."

England's forwards completely controlled a one-sided first half.

They repeatedly broke Australia's first line of defence with their powerful running, giving scrum-half Kyran Bracken the freedom of Twickenham to launch England's attacks.

  Match facts

Tries:
Australia: Burke, Waugh

Conversions:
Australia: Burke

Penalties:
England: Wilkinson (5)
Australia: Burke

Drop goals:
England: Wilkinson (2)

The front five were particularly impressive, with second rows Danny Grewcock and debutant Ben Kay more than holding their own in the lineout and restarts, and Graham Rowntree leading a new-look front row.

And livewire former rugby league star Jason Robinson justified his controversial selection at full-back, with an assured display.

But Wilkinson will undoubtedly take the lion's share of the praise as he stroked over five penalties and two drop goals.

The first of those penalties - a huge effort from the half-way line - came after only three minutes.

After missing another shy at the posts on six minutes, the Newcastle fly-half coolly slotted over a drop goal to give England a 6-0 lead.

Robinson caused Australia problems throughout

That margin was stretched to 9-0 when England made the most of Australian flanker Owen Finnegan's spell in the sin bin with another Wilkinson drop goal.

Three minutes later, Wilkinson kicked a penalty to take the margin to 12-0, and Australia were looking a shadow of the normal selves.

Although they were able to launch few attacks of their own, the Australian defence was up to its usual high standards, and twice England were thwarted after concerted efforts on the Wallabies try line.

The first half closed with another Wilkinson penalty to give the home side a richly deserved 15-0 lead.

Nervous moments

But Australia charged out of the traps at the start of the second half and scored a well-worked try on 48 minutes.

Matt Burke touched down in the corner and added the conversion to close the gap to 15-7.

Five minutes later, Burke, who had a poor afternoon with the boot, slotted home a penalty as the Wallabies enjoyed their best spell of play.

But England responded to the challenge, and two Wilkinson penalties were scant reward for the quality of their play.

The elusive Jason Robinson and direct Dan Luger continued both to stretch the Wallabies defence, but still England could not break through for a try.

There were a few nervous moments at the death after second-half substitute Phil Waugh scored a late try for the visitors, but England, and Wilkinson, were not to be denied.

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England: Jason Robinson; Austin Healey, Will Greenwood, Mike Catt, Dan Luger, Jonny Wilkinson, Kyran Bracken; Graham Rowntree, Dorian West, Phil Vickery, Ben Kay, Danny Grewcock, Richard Hill, Neil Back (capt), Joe Worsley.
Replacements: Mark Regan, Jason Leonard, Steve Borthwick, Lewis Moody, Charlie Hodgson, Ben Cohen, Matt Perry.

Australia: Matthew Burke; Chris Latham, Daniel Herbert, Nathan Grey, Joe Roff; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt); Nick Stiles, Michael Foley, Ben Darwin, Justin Harrison, David Giffin, Owen Finegan, George Smith, Toutai Kefu.
Replacements: Brendan Cannon, Rod Moore, Matt Cockbain, Phil Waugh, Chris Whitaker, Elton Flatley, Graeme Bond.

Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand).