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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Angus Fontaine

Painful defeat leaves wasteful Wallabies in a valley of darkness

Australia captain Michael Hooper looks dejected as England celebrate at the final whistle.
Australia captain Michael Hooper looks dejected as England celebrate at the final whistle. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

The Wallabies are not in crisis, but they are at a crossroads. Despite enjoying 60% possession and dominating the running statistics, they failed to extinguish Eddie Jones’s England, losing a gripping decider 21-17 in front of 43,274 fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The inaugural Ella-Mobbs Trophy now takes up residence in the northern hemisphere with Australia left to rue ill discipline, blown chances and a style of play they are yet to earn. Too often the men in gold opted for cute sleight of hand and expansive backline movements when they should have ground it out, settled and reset, before using their weapons out wide.

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