England weather Australia fightback to secure 28-39 win

Australia 28 - 39 England, Suncorp Stadium
Scorecard 

England managed to weather the Wallabies storm as Eddie Jones' side secured a 28-39 victory in the first Test at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

A fast start by the home side had the visitors defence stretched. With just three minutes into the game, Australia were knocking on England's 5m line, however, a crucial turnover by lock Maro Itoje and a clearance kick by scrum-half Ben Youngs helped them to avert the danger.

A bit of argy-bargy between the two teams resulted from a lineout which prompted referee Romain Poite to have a word with both captains.

Wallabies fullback Israel Folau broke free with a brilliant run as he fed the ball to flanker Michael Hooper who went on to score a touch down opening his side's account on the eighth minute of the game.

Fly-half Bernard Foley failed to make the right-to-left conversion as the scoreline remained 5-0.

On 15th minute, the Wallabies created another try scoring opportunity for themselves resulting from some brilliant feet work by number 8 David Pocock and Foley who fed it to Folau who went on to score the touch down.

Foley failed to make yet another conversion, this one being simpler compared to the previous attempt as the scoreboard remained intact on 10-0.

Some great footwork from England centre Jonathan Joseph resulted into his side's first line break of the day. However, a tackle on England fullback Mike Brown resulted into a turnover inside Aussie 22.

On 19th minute, England were awarded a penalty by referee Poite which the visitors tried to take with a quick tap, however, were called back by Poite. That prompted fly-half Owen Farrell to have a go at the post which resulted into England opening their account on the scoreboard.

England were awarded another penalty, this time on the 26th minute as the Wallabies were caught offside at the ruck which gave Farrell a shot at goal right in front of the post from outside 22. Farrell with a successful kick brought down the trail to four points.

Australia scored their third try out of no where on the 29th minute as Foley broke through the gain line slipping past England's defence to score a touch down. However, referee Poite asked TMO to investigate a potential obstruction which resulted into the try getting cancelled.

A head injury on the 30th minute forced England centre Luther Burrell to leave the field prompting George Ford at fly-half as Farrell moved to centre.

Farrell nailed the penalty on the 31st minute to bring the trail down to a mere one point as the momentum shifted completely towards the visitors.

On 32nd minute, pressure got the worse out of the Wallabies as a loose pass from Folau to Foley, who was unable to handle it, allowed Joseph to pounce on the ball and cross over the try line.

Farrell continued his perfect kicking record as he successfully scored the conversion with the scoreline depicting 10-16 with England leading for the first time in the game.

A knock-on by Brown resulted in a scrum for Australia inside England's half. Dan Cole was penalized for hinging and collapsing the scrum as Foley nailed the 37th minute penalty bringing the trail down to three points.

The restart on the 38th minute put England winger Marland Yarde in open spaces, however, his opposite number Dane Haylett-Petty made a wonderful tackle as he dragged him into touch.

Referee Poite then later penalized Australia at the scrum for front row not angling straight as Farrell nailed the penalty at the concluding minute of the first-half to restore England's six points lead.

An early penalty in the second-half was awarded to England as Australia got penalized for not releasing the ball on 43rd minute. However, Farrell hit the post with the kick as the ball recycled into play.

Before England could rue the lost opportunity, they created another one for themselves on the 45th minute. A break by flanker James Haskell from the lineout and Ford with a brilliant pass across the 5m line allowed Yarde to finish with a ease.

Farrell made no mistake with the conversion as England took a sizable 13 points lead with the scoreline reflecting 13-26.

Australia created a comeback opportunity for themselves on the 49th minute as Hooper broke forward and England were punished for leaving their feet. Instead of opting for the easy three points, Foley went for the lineout. The lineout ensued a scrum where Australia were penalized for illegal wheeling as another try scoring opportunity was lost.

On 52nd minute, Australia earned another 10 meter scrum, however, some fantastic work by England earn them a penalty as Wallabies prop Scott Sio was sin-binned for repeated scrum infringements.

Farrell successfully booted a 40-meter penalty on the 56th minute extending the visitors lead to 16 points with 24 minutes remaining on the clock.

However, Foley, Folau and Hooper came to the Wallabies rescue with some great handling as the flanker managed to cross over the try line on the 58th minute to bring his side back in the game.

Foley, however, failed to make a tough conversion from the right touchline as the score remained intact at 18-29 with the visitors still enjoying a sizable 11 points lead.

Haskell who had a brilliant game, once again came to his side's rescue as Wallabies lost the ball from the back of the lineout resulting in a penalty for England on the 62nd minute.

Farrell nailed the kick on the 64th minute from near midway taking his overall points tally of the game to 22 as England extended their lead to 14 points.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, the Wallabies launched a determined final assault to find their way back into the game. Centre Tevita Kuridrani coming off quick ball dived straight into the try line.

Foley's conversion kick brought the trail down to just seven points with eight minutes remaining on the clock.

Haskell came once again to England's rescue as he tackled Kuridrani into the touch just 10-meters away from the try line. England displayed appreciable maturity with the maul as they earned a penalty with Ford kicking it into touch and averting the danger.

Australia earned a crucial penalty on the 76th minute, however, they took a shocking decision as Foley went for the three points instead of going for the corner.

With a trail of three points and just two minutes left on the clock, England managed to keep the Wallabies locked inside their own half. A knock-on resulted in a scrum which was taken quickly by Danny Care who sneaked inside the Aussie 22 where he was tackled down. However, the ball was recycled to Ford who chipped it into open spaces on the left corner where Jack Nowell carried it into the touch.

Farrell successfully nailed the conversion as the final whistle went off with the scoreline reading 28-39.

The England side displayed immense character as they applied massive pressure on the Wallabies at the breakdown despite being messy at the scrum. Jones' tactical move to bring in Ford in place of Burrell proved to be a master stroke as the Bath Rugby player played crucial part in England's two tries.