England had to execute something they have not had to do in John Mitchell’s reign against Australia on Saturday, win after being down at half-time. It was the first time in almost six years the Red Roses had been trailing after the first 40. But whatever was said in the changing room shook the team to life as they scored 43 second-half points to keep their winning streak going.
Australia gave the Red Roses quite the scare in the first half. The Wallaroos were not just clinical when in attack, but they were thorough and physical in defence to disrupt England’s front-foot ball. The visitors played some of their best rugby since last year’s World Cup, when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals, before falling apart in the second half. England were uncharacteristically poor at times with several knock-ons and other handling errors hampering their attack.
