The Wallabies' slickly-crafted victory at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Saturday did plenty to cement their position among the World Cup favourites. More worryingly, from the point of view of Clive Woodward, the England coach, it also underlined his side's persistent difficulties in turning pressure into points.
Australia displayed their traditional dynamism and finishing power, scoring four of the six tries in this Centenary Test with a kind of panache that suggests they will pursue the Webb Ellis Trophy in some style. While England were far from outclassed, especially among the forwards, it was obvious that their backs are still one-dimensional in their build-up. Matt Perry, who scored both the England tries, was in a class of his own.
Two tries by Ben Tune shortly before half-time set Australia firmly on the road to victory after Perry had put England into the lead. Further scores by Joe Roff and David Wilson, their captain, gave the hosts a 22-10 lead that they were never likely to fritter away. England were always competitive and Perry scored again just before the final whistle.
Martin Johnson, the England captain, pinpointed the shortcomings that allowed Australia to preserve their unbeaten record against England on home soil. "I thought we dominated the first half but we didn't score enough points and it was always going to be hard after Tune got his tries in quick order," he said.
England never came to terms with the strength and power of the Australian backs, who were cleverly conducted by Tim Horan, especially in the second half.
"England were very physical, as we had expected," Wilson said, "but we got the scores at the right time and kept them out when they turned on the pressure." The video replay showed that he probably failed to exert downward pressure on the ball when he was awarded his 74th-minute try after excellent work by Horan. But England were not inclined to complain.
The Wallabies defence, which was the bedrock of their 1991 World Cup triumph, only looked vulnerable in the opening half-hour, when Guscott was offered his scoring chance on the right flank but lacked the pace to go outside Roff. Minutes later, Catt made his most telling contribution when he took the ball from Wilkinson and delivered a fast, long pass to Perry, who plunged over in the left corner.
England needed a second score to put real doubts into Australian minds but even though Bracken generated plenty of movement around the fringes and Luger looked frisky on the left touchline, England's lack of midfield punch served merely to encourage the Wallabies. Both Luger and Perry were at fault when Tune scored from a 20-metre break, failing to bundle the right wing into touch.
The creative gap between the sides was illustrated shortly before the break when Horan fired a huge mis-pass which Roff flicked on to Tune, whose try put his side 10-7 in front. Roff's 48th minute try from a George Gregan pass left England facing an uphill struggle and Wilson's try again demonstrated that Luger is suspect in defence. The run of Australian resistance persevered until Perry had the last, rather inconsequential, word.
AUSTRALIA: C Latham; B Tune (M Burke 80min), D Herbert, N Grey, J Roff; T Horan, G Gregan; W Panoho (D Crowley 30), J Paul, P Noriega, D Giffin, J Welborn, M Cockbain (Williams 80), T Kefu (T Strauss 47), D Wilson.
ENGLAND: M Perry; D Rees, M Catt (P de Glanville 80), J Guscott, D Luger; J Wilkinson, K Bracken (M Dawson 52); J Leonard, R Cockerill (W Greening 54), D Garforth (V Ubogu 74), M Johnson, T Rodber (D Grewcock 65), M Corry (B Clarke 74), N Back, R Hill.
Referee: C Hawke (New Zealand).
