The three-test series between the Wallabies and England is tantalisingly poised.
That match came with heaps of adversity that the Wallabies shrugged off — it was only as close as it was because England scored two late tries to narrow the gap.
But in Brisbane, England took their chances with a dominant, explosive first half-hour to lead 19-0, a deficit the Wallabies could never quite haul in.
The Wallabies are battered, bruised and without a host of players for Saturday night's decider against England in Sydney — but they can still win.
England's rapid starts pile the pressure on
In both matches so far this series, England have come out with serious intent, putting the Wallabies under serious pressure right from kick off.
It's not a surprise either — the Wallabies know England want to start quickly.
After 22 minutes at Lang Park, England had enjoyed 72 per cent territory and 59 per cent possession.
More importantly, they led 16-0.
"We knew what was coming, we just didn't tackle well enough," Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said after the defeat in Brisbane.
Knowing and doing something with that knowledge isn't always easy though.
In Brisbane, England pounced on a Wallabies box kick from kick off and mounted a brutally fast attack that never relented until England were miles ahead on the scoreboard.
Ellis Genge took a flat pass from Marcus Smith and bowled over skipper Michael Hooper with a run right down the middle — as far as symbolic hammerings go, that was a monstrous statement from the firebrand England prop.
Smith had the ball in his hands again seconds later after a quick recycling of the ball, and although his kick through was errant that time, a couple of minutes later he again utilised a flat pass to release Jamie George to similar effect.
It wasn't just the front row either, Billy Vunipola carried with the same power and directness that made him one of the premier number eights in world rugby.
That passage of play earned England a penalty. The catch and drive from the lineout handed England its first maul — and subsequently, its first try, after which Genge actually hammered on Hooper's chest to underline his dominance.
"We obviously got a fair bit of benefit out of [the maul in Brisbane]," England coach Eddie Jones said — the English won six mauls to one in Brisbane, and six to two in Perth.
"Having been Australian coach, the one thing you don't want to do is get mauled by the English team. The fans don't like it, do they? In England the fans [get excited], in Australia they go 's*** can you do something else'."
Jones has been vocal about what the game can do to help improve the spectacle for the fans over the past couple of days, but don't expect him to acquiesce to that particular request in Sydney.
Controlling England's starts easier said than done
England's ripping start came thanks to those hard runs up the middle from England's formidable pack and that's not a formula likely to change too much this week.
"We know they're going to come hard, we can withstand that," Hooper said.
"We can turn them over, but we just can't keep doing it."
Potential debutant Suliasi Vunivalu, who will be starting on the bench in Sydney, is the latest man into the fold who will be hoping to bring the fast start philosophy.
"We have been lacking that [intensity from the start] with the Wallabies for our first 20," Vunivalu said.
England though have no intention of being quietened and, should there be a similar rate of improvement in the team having had another week together, will look to wrap the series up comprehensively.
"We just had an extra week of training," Jones said.
"We're a young, inexperienced team... we've got players from 13 different clubs, and we need training time together.
"We got more on the same page this week and next week we'll be on the same page even more.
"The longer they have together, the better they're going to be."
Niggle to continue?
Last Saturday, Jones recounted his favourite memories of playing at the SCG, highlighting a tour match against the French as one that particularly stands out.
"I remember big [Abdelatif] Benazzi, he's come off a short ball off the nine and Wille Ofahengaue… he was literally built like a brick s***house, Ofahengaue … he's come out of the line and hit him and Benazzi has gone back.
Is there anything to be read into how Jones wants to play?
That's what most of the media have focused on, a continuation of the niggle that saw Genge lean a forearm into White's throat and slap Hooper's chest in Brisbane and Jonny Hill's hair pulling that successfully goaded Darcy Swain into headbutting him foolishly in Perth.
Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White said his side will not be dragged into the "off the ball stuff", which Jones described as a bit rich coming from "the biggest niggler of all time".
"It's a tough, physical game. I hardly think he's entitled to make that comment," Jones said.
Hooper though, welcomed a bit of bite in the match, saying that's what international rugby is all about.
"[I'm] expecting it to be an element… but ultimately tomorrow is all about who is up on the scoreboard and who can do it for longer.
"It's been an enjoyable element and a part of the game."
Another part of the game that Hooper has enjoyed has been the Wallabies attacking raids.
""We had a clear plan, came out at half time knowing what needed to do, our guys started getting some carry dominance. We knew where we needed to be."
"Carry dominance" and "Harry Wilson" are virtually interchangeable, and the Queensland backrower's inclusion is as much of an ace up the sleeve for Rennie to assist with Rob Valentini's rampaging runs and Hooper's jackalling at the breakdown as it is an effort not to try and fit a square peg into a round hole due to injuries at lock.
If the Wallabies can meet fire with fire and continue to make the most of their opportunities in England's half of the field, then they're a chance.
