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Despite the scoreline, the Wallabies were well in the game against England for much of their rematch at Twickenham. The visitors were able to counter George Ford’s tactical kicking and return fire with their own arsenal of high-flyers. But in the second half, it was time to put away the box kick, and the Wallabies just couldn’t find a way through England. They’ve shown they have the grit and tenacity to hang with the top teams, but intelligence in attack and greater game awareness are what’s needed if they’re to find success on their northern tour.
It was a match where several Wallabies showed their value. Harry Potter silenced critics with some brilliant defence and a 95-metre intercept try. Taniela Tupou was back to his powerful best, while Jake Gordon showcased his tactical kicking from the base of the ruck.
But Fraser McReight, following in the footsteps of the great Wallaby sevens before him, was outstanding again over the ball, stealing a game-high five turnovers. Especially deep into the second half when the Wallabies were running on fumes, he produced a crucial pilfer that gave Australia a final shot at swinging the momentum. His engine is remarkable and forms an important combination with his fellow backrowers.
The Wallabies used England’s tactics against them, firing back with their own smart kicking game and forcing England’s back three to compete for contestable kicks in their own half. Those clearing kicks provided the Wallabies with good field position but the attacking opportunities rarely materialised.
It’s all well and good to combat England’s aerial raid, but the backline needed to move the ball when chances arose. The opposition quickly figured out the Wallabies’ attacking patterns, using an umbrella defence to shut down plays shifted wide or out the back.
By the 60-minute mark, it felt like you were waiting for the Wallabies to spring to life after holding England out for so long. Instead, the backline became increasingly disjointed and unorganised as they tried to find cracks in England’s disciplined defence. Star players Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i and Max Jorgensen barely saw the ball with any space to run.
The Wallabies under Joe Schmidt have been steadily building throughout his tenure, to the point where you can now clearly identify his preferred starting XV. Combinations have formed over the year that will likely make up the backbone of the Rugby World Cup 2027 squad. But there are still glaring gaps in the team — and this was exposed with key Wallabies unavailable for the Twickenham test.
Take out arguably the best centre in world rugby right now, Len Ikitau, and cohesion issues in the midfield are inevitable, especially when it’s only your fly-half’s third start. The Wallabies also missed the presence of their big ball-carrying locks and backrowers who can make dents late in the contest. England’s bench impact highlighted just how critical depth is, and the Wallabies need more firepower from their finishers to match that standard.