AUS
No.Name
2Stephen Moore, H
T
3Sekope Kepu, P
7Michael Hooper, FL
1James Slipper, P
9Nick Phipps, SH
5Sam Carter, L
6Scott Fardy, FL
8Sean McMahon, -
4Rory Arnold, L
15Israel Folau, FB
14Dane Haylett-Petty, W
13Tevita Kuridrani, C
12Samu Kerevi, C
11Rob Horne, W
10Bernard Foley, FH
Replacements
16Tatafu Polota-Nau, -
17Toby Smith, -
18Greg Holmes, -
19Dean Mumm, -
20Ben McCalman, -
21Nick Frisby, -
22Christian Leali'ifano, -
23Luke Morahan, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: AAMI Park
1:00 AM, June 18, 2016
Attendance: 29,871
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

83'
83'Tom Hamilton gives us his final thoughts:

"Demons banished, ghosts exorcised. The England class of 2016 are history-makers and have rthe series secured with a game left. It was the most astonishing performance of sheer brutality, bloody-mindedness and power of mind over the bruising of the body. Chris Robshaw put in his finest performance in an England jersey while Haskell was also incredible for England. Quite how England won this with virtually no possession nor territory only they will know but the miracle-worker Eddie Jones continues to blend the most potent of cocktails with this England side. The celebrations will go on long into the night, and rightly so."
83'Dylan Hartley: "I think the key point is 'so far'. We have another game next week, Australia are a proud, proud team and will come back next week. We can celebrate a little bit of history right now, but we need to go again next week. Australia are one of the best in the world at attacking, four tries last week hurt our pride and we came back stronger this week. We hit hard and kept the score down. We took the onus on ourselves to defend better. The support for the team has been amazing - we need that support again next week. That's the message, why not [a clean sweep]? If we want to be contenders, we need to finish off the job next week."
83'Stephen Moore: "We're pretty gutted. I feel for the fans and everyone who has supported us. England deserved the win, both last week and today. They defended really well. We need to look at it and go again next week. We had a lot of phases and couldn't get over the line, but that's what makes the difference. We made a fair few errors - we're gutted at the moment, we need to look at it and come back better next week."
82'
81'
81'7-23 End of second half
80'It ends with a knock on. That's it! ENGLAND HAVE WON THE SERIES IN AUSTRALIA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY!!
80'Farrell will kick for goal. He can take his sweet time with this. Near the 10 metre line. It's beautifully struck and England lead by 16 points. There will be time for a restart. But Australia want this to end as soon as possible.
80'7-23 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
79'England now destroying an Australian scrum just because they can. Huge celebration from Billy Vunipola. Smiles all round. This has been an absolute triumph for players individually and collectively, and for the coaching staff who have brought England from their knees after the World Cup to the brink of a history-making series win in Australia.
79'
78'Swing Low rings out. England scarves wave. Australians look for ... a reason? An explanation? Condolences?
77'Substitute on - Elliot Daly , England
77'Player substituted - Anthony Watson , England
76'
76'Converted. Australia stung. Even the kickoff doesn't go 10 metres. They're gone, totally understandably, and England can celebrate for the next four minutes, through the night and for a long time to come!
76'7-20 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
75'It's Jamie George with the unbelievable contribution, chipping forward and then Owen Farrell bursting through from out of nowhere, kicking on then diving on to scenes of utter bedlam from England players, staff and supporters in Melbourne! That's it, that's the series, England are going to win their first ever series in Australia!
75'AND IT'S A TRY FOR ENGLAND!
75'7-18 Try - Owen Farrell , England
74'Back and forth Australia go, left to right, right to left. Gaining about a metre a time. They need a line-break from somewhere. Foley manages to hit the accelerator and they're into England territory. But the ball comes loose again in the tackle! England on the break!
73'Australia trying to make ground, but they're in their own half and England have no intention of letting that change!
72'Itoje with the charge down! But the ball bounces harmlessly out the back of the Aussie in-goal area. Goodness me, that was nearly the turning point there.
72'Haskell attempts to run off, but with a sizeable limp. Robshaw is also off, Launchbury on. The squads are being pushed to the limit now - which is stronger?
72'Player substituted - Chris Robshaw , England
72'Substitute on - Joe Launchbury , England
72'Player substituted - James Haskell , England
72'Substitute on - Jack Clifford , England
72'Substitute on - Jamie George , England
72'Player substituted - Dylan Hartley , England
71'The scrum eventually takes shape and England, through Ford, chip over the top and into the Aussie 22. Super work again from the boot of Ford. He's been terrific defensively tonight as well.
71'
71'A little under 10 minutes to go. This game could barely be more different from the first Test, but no less enjoyable or thrilling. Who can make the telling, match-winning contribution?
70'Player substituted - Dane Haylett-Petty , Australia
70'Substitute on - Luke Morahan , Australia
70'Substitute on - Nick Frisby , Australia
70'Player substituted - Nick Phipps , Australia
69'England manage to take care of the lineout and get the ball kicked into Aussie territory. Haylett-Petty kicks over the top but Brown gathers and has to take it inside. It goes back to Farrell, and he gives it an almighty lick into the Aussie 22. Australia come back, down the right this time. They're at halfway but Greg Holmes makes a poor handling error and it's scrum England.
68'Brown attempts to find touch, it's blocked on his own 22 and then Brown stretches his hamstrings. It's been a heck of a shift for everyone out on the green sand that passes as turf at the AAMI.
67'Haylett-Petty takes the ball over the England 10 metre line. Hooper spins forwards. Foley and Folau combine and then Kuridrani hands off Watson with disdain in the open field. Fardy forward... but a huge drop and the ball is kncked on. Advantage England. Farrell tries to make that count. Brown carries forward. Ford boots downfield. Haylett-Petty gathers and back come the Aussies.
66'England send for reinforcements. They're needing 15 minutes of huge effort to see this out - the Wallabies are pushing and pushing and pushing.
66'Player substituted - Mako Vunipola , England
66'Substitute on - Matt Mullan , England
66'Substitute on - Danny Care , England
66'Player substituted - Ben Youngs , England
66'Substitute on - Paul Hill , England
66'Player substituted - Dan Cole , England
65'Lineout Australia, 10 metres out. Hooper takes a great ball off the back of the lineout and makes good ground inside. Phipps to Kuridrani, England's defence playing right on the line. McCalman looks for some space, but there's none to be had. Phipps to Foley, to Folau, brilliantly smothered by Robshaw and then booted to near halfway. Huge cheers in Melbourne, but it's from the English contingent rather than the gold-and-green clad home support!
64'"It's been better. If it gets worse again, the next player goes to the bin," is Joubert's message to Dylan Hartley. England one infringement away from being a man down. Aussies kick for touch, naturally.
63'Australia have the scrum, five metres from the line and the crowd are into this now! Huge huge moment in this match. The Wallabies heave forward - and there's a drop by the Wallabies! England will try to run it clear but great counter-rucking from Australia and they have the ball back. Phipps to Mumm, who has become a key man in the Aussie attack now. Polota-Nau pushes forward, Foley looks to make something happen and offloads well. Itoje penalised for coming in off the feet. And Craig Joubert wants a word.
62'Australia drive towards the England 22, Foley breaks two, three tackles and England have to regroup. Polota-Nau makes more good ground, then it's shipped left and Australia are... held up. It comes back inside by a metre or two and Australia are... held up again! Dan Cole with the vital hands on ball there. Stunning drama, and Cole needs attention after his intervention.
61'Kerevi goes off. That has to be a little bit of a relief for England, Kerevi has been a tremendous ball carrier for the Wallabies tonight.
61'Substitute on - Christian Leali'ifano , Australia
61'Player substituted - Samu Kerevi , Australia
60'Watson turns the ball over from a high kick and Australia will gain some territory. And they'll gain even more as Brown struggles under the high ball at halfway. Australia have it and push on down the left. England manage to slow ball down just enough, before Joubert penalises them for doing exactly that. Robshaw the culprit.
59'Ford brilliantly takes a kick and sidesteps before returning with interest. Wonderful from the Bath man, who has finally found his form Down Under.
58'Folau and Foley combine on the left. McCalman takes it on. Kuridrani with the spin move almost on to the England line. Huge knock on! Foley drops it from a bad pass from Phipps. England kick deep, Watson and Folau collide in mid-air, the ball breaks towards touch and somehow doesn't go out - this is utterly frenetic Test rugby!
57'Penalty to Australia and huge celebrations from the scrum as England are penalised for collapsing. Ironic jeers from the Melbourne crowd, who recognise that the grumbling mid-week from all sides has had the desired effect. Australia kick for touch. They want a try.
56'A lineout should have been won by England but it's dropped at the back of the jump and eventually it all comes back for the knock on. Courtney Lawes comes on for George Kruis.
56'Substitute on - Courtney Lawes , England
56'Player substituted - George Kruis , England
55'Player substituted - Stephen Moore , Australia
55'Substitute on - Tatafu Polota-Nau , Australia
54'Kerevi surging towards the England posts but the defence simply won't cave. Or will it? Mumm gets to within five minutes, but fails to release and England's defence wins again! Robshaw the smothering tackler, and gets a huge appreciation from his fellow pack members. Wonderful technique at the breakdown to stay on his feet there. Brilliant from the former captain.
53'Magnificent claim of the restart by Kruis, under pressure. Huge leap to grab that. However, the clearing kick is brilliantly taken by Folau who is then smacked superbly by Billy Vunipola. What a stretch of rugby! Here come the Wallabies on the attack... Brown told to get back on the correct side at the breakdown, Hooper pushing forward, Folau and Kerevi linking up on the left. Phipps probing in tandem with Moore. England on the rack again!
52'Slots it, celebrates in trademark fashion. Australia look utterly baffled, rightly so.
52'7-13 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
51'And to make matters worse, it will be Farrell -- who was the one Owens wanted penalised in the first place -- who will shape up a shot at the posts. What a bizarre turn of events.
51'Player substituted - Sean McMahon , Australia
51'Substitute on - Ben McCalman , Australia
51'Substitute on - Dean Mumm , Australia
51'Player substituted - Rory Arnold , Australia
50'Well, that's not gone well for the Wallabies! Joubert overrules completely and gives the penalty to England for Foley's obstruction!
50'England pushing for room on the left, Watson - who has been extremely quiet - looking for space. There's none to be found, it goes to Ford, and BOOOOTTTT... as is now customary it is kicked high and downfield. Australia return fire but Joubert blows to go and speak to Nigel Owens, his assistant on the touchline, who advises a look at "Twelve white" -- Owen Farrell -- for an unnecessary contact on his attempt to cover the kick from Ford. Looks like a fairly contested high ball, Foley drifting inside and Farrell not taking all that kindly to it. Play on, ref, surely?
49'Cheika is sending on some new bodies for this onslaught. Just as soon as we can actually get a scrum to commence, that is.
47'Good clearing kick by the Wallabies and it forces Billy Vunipola to do some good covering work to prevent any danger in England's defence. Once Australia get the ball back, however, they are on the front foot and Kuridrani drives them up the left flank. Scrum for England on halfway, but encouraging signs for the Aussies.
47'Kepu comes off, which probably saves him from a spell in the bin. He and a few others were on last warnings, for sure, after that first half.
47'Player substituted - James Slipper , Australia
47'Substitute on - Toby Smith , Australia
47'Substitute on - Greg Holmes , Australia
47'Player substituted - Sekope Kepu , Australia
46'It seems any time Youngs or Ford have ball in hand, it's kicking time. Very deliberate ploy by Eddie Jones' men. Australia retreat to their 22 and punt clear, Billy Vunipola leading the charge back upfield. Robshaw out in the loose on the left with ball in hand. The ball works right, then Youngs kicks wonderfully into the Aussie 22 again. England have a game-plan and it is not going to change.
45'England managing to build some possession, before Ford goes with the up and under and Haylett-Petty crumbles underneath it, dropping it backwards. Phipps cleans up on his team-mate's behalf.
43'Scrum for England near halfway. The pitch at least held up that time. But England get a quick penalty and surge across halfway after the tap.
42'Foley boots into touch and England have a lineout midway inside the Australia half. Reverential hush descending on the Melbourne crowd - almost as though they know just how huge this period is going to be.
41'Farrell with the kick through but Joseph can't get anywhere near it. Folau tidies up with consummate ease. An exchange of kicks, but not for the first time today George Ford absolutely nails his and puts Australia on the back foot with a lineout in their own 22.
41'And we are off. And Hartley makes a great take from the restart. Pressure for England straight away.
41'
41'The teams needed that break - they still look like they're breathing pretty heavily as they come back out on the pitch. England to kick off - they're 40 minutes from history. Can Australia save the series?
41'Player substituted - Dean Mumm , Australia
41'Substitute on - Rory Arnold , Australia
41'+37-10 End of first half
40'
40'
40'Tom Hamilton gives his half-time verdict from Melbourne:

"England lead by a meagre three points at half-time with the game nicely poised after a ferocious, brutal first half of blood and guts. The pitch is an utter disgrace and simply can't take the pressure in the scrum but the teams have still put on an enthralling contest and it feels like the smallest spark will see it descend into complete mayhem. England have favoured the aerial route so far rather than attempting to go through Australia while the Wallabies have brought physicality. Push over tries from both sides are the sum of their efforts with ball in hand but this is brilliantly poised for the second half."
40'
40'
40'
40'Kerevi again bashes into Haskell. Foley sets up Haylett-Petty, advantage over but Australia are two metres from the line, 20 phases into this onslaught. Huge! Huge stand from England. They get the decision at the breakdown. And that will be that! Wow! Has this Test match just swung back in England's favour?

After all that, it's half-time!
40'Still they come, nearly three minutes of time added on.
40'So now we're deep in the red time-wise, and Australia are deep in the England 22. Kerevi nearly set free on the right. Phipps to Carter, PHipps again, Foley superb hands from Kerevi to set up Kuridrani. They're five metres from the England line on the left flank. It's into double figures in terms of phases. Haylett-Petty to the line. Haskell makes a great tackle to prevent a certain try on the recycled ball. Foley inside to Kerevi, wide ball hits the turf and takes all momentum from the move. There is a pending penalty too. England on the rack.
40'Last minute, scrum folds, Billy Vunipola kicks into touch, but Craig Joubert decides it wasn't halftime as the hooter hadn't sounded. Well, that's a pretty big mistake from Billy V. "It is what it is, guys," explains Joubert.
40'7-10 Start of second half
39'
39'Foley just about breaks through the line on halfway, McMahon takes it forward, England being stretched much as they were in the first half last week. Width being used to Wallaby advantage once again. Fardy very nearly got set free by Folau and Kerevi. Time for England to chuck down the shutters on this half and regroup.
38'Lineout for Australia inside England's half. Haskell with a terrific hit to force the Wallabies back into their own half, then Kepu gets far too adventurous and basically throws the ball into touch. England take it quickly, oddly, and Brown boots away. So here comes another Wallaby surge.
37'England caught offside after the restart, and Australia are finishing the half strongly. They needed to, while England need the break.
37'
36'7-10 Conversion - Bernard Foley , Australia
35'Good conversion from Foley, especially considering planting your foot on this pitch can't be the most convincing experience.
35'5-10 Try - Stephen Moore , Australia
34'TRY AUSTRALIA! And in more or less exactly the same fashion as England's try, it's Stephen Moore, the opposing captain, who comes up with the ball. Exactly the same move, but superbly worked by Australia who nearly got shoved into touch with the drive forward but corrected wonderfully on the appalling turf and bundled over. GAME ON!
34'Australia are going to need a blood replacement for Arnold's gaping head wound. Dean Mumm is on.
34'Substitute on - Dean Mumm , Australia
34'Player substituted - Rory Arnold , Australia
33'They're right on the England line. And there's a double blast on Joubert's whistle - there's a penalty and England are very lucky not to lose a man for what seems like some pretty deliberate killing of the ball. Haskell would have been the man to see yellow by the looks of it. Foley kicks to touch. Lineout from five metres...
32'As if on cue, here comes the Wallaby onslaught! THey're deep in the England 22, Folau and Kuridrani making the push now. Then captain Moore takes it on. Then Phipps, to Foley. They're five metres out. Phipps to Hooper, ball comes loose but no knock on. Phipps again, Foley again. Still pushing on. Brown is going to get penalised for leaving his feet, pending penalty for Australia. They want more.
31'Yep, no problem whatsoever. Ten points feels an awful lot, even at this stage. Australia have basically not made any inroads into the English 22 yet.
31'0-10 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
29'England making some ground into the Aussie 22. Youngs probing away with his pack in tow. Australia loose discipline and pile in over the top again. "Off his feet, not maintaining his body weight" against McMahon. An easy three for Farrell?
27'
27'
27'Joubert still not happy. Speaking to both skippers now. "Do you want to take some responsibility?" The referee has a point - this has not been anything like the game of rugby that flowed last week.
27'
26'Craig Joubert to Stephen Moore: "You actually approached me to say no-one would be talking - there's 15 of them at the moment. Only one please."

So that's Australia told, then...
26'Once again the Australian kick doesn't find it's intended target, mainly due to great pressure from Itoje, but England are penalised for not releasing the ball.
24'The way in which the pitch disintegrates is like how they simulate earthquakes in movies. It doesn't look real, but it most definitely is!
24'Fardy managed to disrupt the lineout - and then there's a bit of pushy-shovy after the whistle goes. Joubert takes the opportunity to speak to both skippers about keeping the pending scrum upright. Players being asked to go easy on the pitch - which can't be a simple task...
22'Ford gets another chance to kick midway inside the Aussie half and it's beautifully executed. Getting it to bounce in the Aussie 22 is causing absolute havoc. Australia don't know what to do with themselves when the ball goes in the air and it's another England lineout 15 metres from paydirt.
21'A quarter of the way into this match, then, and it seems Australia came out intent on not being outfought this week - instead, they're being out-thought.
20'Farrell with the conversion attempt, from the right of the posts. He's swung that one back in enough this time, and England lead 7-0.
20'0-7 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
19'TRY ENGLAND! The ploy worked beautifully, and England's positivity is rewarded with a pushover try from the lineout. Hartley is the man who comes up with ball in hand - the skipper gives England the lead!
19'
19'0-5 Try - Dylan Hartley , England
18'Ford with a great chip over the top to Nowell on the right wing. Australia come in over the top, deliberately killing what was a great opportunity, and Youngs turns down points to keep the pressure on the Aussie line. Lineout, five metres from five points.
17'Scrum collapses in the front row, but Joubert decides not to award anything. The ball works it's way out and Ford hits an up and under - and Australia let it bounce! It drops into Joseph's hands and England have the first real chance of the game on the Aussie 22.
16'Poor drop by Haylett-Petty on halfway and that's as simple a knock-on as you'll see. Scrum England - which is exactly what this pitch does not need!
15'Mistake by Australia deep in their own territory as a pass lands in Farrell's hands, but England can't make it count and Australia are on the break. Eventually the move breaks down for Hooper stepping into touch. There's not a huge amount of rugby being played so far.
14'Dan Cole has a new, numberless shirt on. His previous one should be on the way to a museum in honour of the way it disintegrated during that melee.
12'So despite England's initial infringement AND Robshaw's neck roll, England are going to have the penalty in their favour for Stephen Moore - rather ridiculously - inflaming the situation. That seems harsh. That's 2-1 to England in terms of infringement, but they get to clear for touch!
12'England were going to be penalised for going in off feet, that looks as though it's going to be reversed for Stephen Moore's initial spark on the rammy, and it also looks as though Chris Robshaw could be in bother for the way he pulled Phipps to the ground. TMO being used to adjudicate on all of this.
11'Australia working their way through the phases in the England half, but making very little ground. It's swung wide to Kerevi but he is smacked quickly. Eventually referee Craig Joubert penalises England - and then therre's a full-on rammy breaks out. Mike Brown in the middle of it, Kepu enjoying a chance to unleash as well, and Dan Cole has lost his shirt entirely!
10'England win the lineout, but Ben Youngs pass is too slow and James Haskell gets belted by a pack of Wallabies - to the absolute delight of the Melbourne crowd! Huge roar accompanies that hit - they know they need to keep Haskell quiet after his star turn last week in Brisbane.
9'Australia with the first proper running rugby of the match but they're pulled into touch on the left flank. Haylett-Petty the man searching for a gap there.
7'And the turf has been absolutely destroyed! There is a crater opened up already on the English 10m line - and the reset scrum has collapsed at the back end for Australia as the turf again gives way. This is a serious issue.
7'The turf at AAMI Stadium is... well, how should we put this? A cabbage patch?
6'
6'Mike Brown attempts to take an up and under and fumbles it on his way down under contact. Knock on, scrum Australia.
5'Farrell with the kick - started out on the right and never came back far enough. Kepu off the hook for his moment of madness.
4'Now England get a very stupid penalty as Australia push at the lineout. That was totally unnecessary, Sekope Kepu deciding to shove Maro Itoje for standing still. Looked like he was seeking some retaliation from Itoje, but instead it's a penalty from the 10 metre line.
3'Better! Not a huge amount of ground gained, but at least he's found touch this time!
3'Lovely steal from Billy Vunipola at the breakdown as the Wallabies were moving through the phases. A boot forward puts Australia on the back foot. Eventually England are pulled up for coming in from the side. Foley will kick for touch, again...
2'
1'And Australia win the first penalty for England not rolling away on the halfway line - Haskell the man penalised. Bernard Foley kicking for touch... and shanking it! Straight into English arms and it's belted downfield to commence our first ping-pong of the day.
1'And we are go!
1'Australia to kick off...
1'Belting rendition of the Australian anthem - this is a crowd that recognises just what is on the line here. Defeat would mean a historic first-ever Test series loss at home to England - and with a game to spare.
1'
1'
1'
1'
1'
1'The teams are in the tunnel and we're about to hear just how much this means to the crowd in Melbourne...
1'
1'
1'
1'
1'
1'
1'0-0 Start of first half