Get into the mood for Saturdays international between England vs Australia with a look over some of the classic moments the sides have had. The 1991 World Cup Final Wallaby legend David Campese had a field day in the build-up to the final calling England boring, one dimensional and claimed that he wouldnt play for England even if they paid him - a harsh insult in the days of amateur rugby. We will never know if Englands decision to change tactics and run the ball was in response to Campeses taunts, but things did not go to plan for the hosts at Twickenham. Australia won the Webb Ellis trophy 12-6 and although man of the tournament Campese did not add to his six tries of that campaign, he did play a huge part in denying England one of their own. With ten minutes remaining England went on the attack as flanker Peter Winterbottom looked to send Rory Underwood over for a try - however the ball never got to Underwood as Campese came charging up into the line and knocked the ball down. England appealed for a penalty try but ref Derek Bevan felt the offence was only worthy of a penalty. Dan Lugers try England v Australia - Luger Try Richard Hill claims that Saturdays game is vital for England to get the mental edge over Australia heading into the 2015 world Cup. And he will know. In 2000 he was part of the England team that stole victory from the then World Champions and set England on the road to victory in the 2003 World Cup. Trailing 15-19, England threw everything into one final attack. Iain Balshaw saw some space behind the Wallabies and dinked a chip over their heads - where fullback Chris Latham should have been. Unfortunately he was in the sinbin along with replacement forward Matt Cockbain. The ball was in the in-goal area as Dan Luger, Balshaw and Wallaby scrum-half Sam Cordingley all came charging across the line to win the game for their prospective sides. The ball bounced high and slightly to the left allowing Luger to somehow gather it and bring it down with his left arm as he slid into the dead ball area. After it was referred to the video ref, the try was awarded and Jonny Wilkinson added the conversion to give England that crucial win and that belief. Australia v England 2003 Melbourne England v Australia - 2003 Test tries Englands tour to New Zealand and Australia was the final preparation for Clive Woodward with the World Cup looming. England had won 13 games on the trot but Woodward knew that his men had to get those crucial away wins to show the southern hemisphere that the balance of rugby power had truly swung to the north. England came out firing and were relentless as they sent a barrage of ball carriers up against the Wallaby defence. Thirteen phases later and in the fifth minute Will Greenwood took advantage of a stretched Wallaby defence to power over. Mike Tindall scored Englands second in the 29th minute and Ben Cohen swathed his way through Australias backline for their third. England went on to win 25-14. It was Englands first win on Australian soil and the win took them to the top of the world rankings and made them favourites for the World Cup. Josh Lewsey tackle on Mat Rogers in 2003 England v Australia - Lewsey on Rogers In the same game, Australia had just got back into the game through a magical Wendell Sailor try. They were still on attack with three minutes to go when Josh Lewsey cut poor Matt Rogers in half with a wonderful tackle. Five minutes earlier Rogers and Lewsey had been sparring partners in a little spat that could have got out of hand. However both showed tremendous discipline not to carry it further. Lewsey, though, had not forgotten and chose to end the conversation with a legal rib tickler. 2003 World Cup final The 2003 World Cup final was arguably the most exciting final we have had. Australia touted out the usual snide remarks - Boring old England and Dads Army - but Englands victory was built on good old fashioned forward dominance and a fantastic kicking game. Australia started well through a Lote Tuqiri try in the sixth minute but England hit back just before half-time through a fantastic Jason Robinson try. England had their chances to pull away - Ben Kay knocked on with the line begging - and Australia certainly played their part in building up the tension. Elton Flatley levelled the scores in the 80th minute to take the game to extra time. Wilkinson and Flately exchanged penalties while Jason Leonard needs a mention for coming on and settling the England scrum after their dominance seemed to be getting on the bad side of referee Andre Watson. Then with time running out Jonny Wilkinson stepped up and slotted THAT drop goal. Has there been a sweeter moment in Englands rugby history? England pack demolish Australias scrum England v Australia - Power Scrummaging In November 2005 England put together a scrum master-class to totally dominate their Wallaby counterparts and set up a 26-16 win at Twickenham and regain the Cook Cup. Aussie tight-head prop Al Baxter suffered a torrid afternoon at Twickenham as Englands Andrew Sheridan totally dominated him - so much in fact that he was sent to the sin bin after yet another scrum collapsed. The last ten minutes saw the game reduced to uncontested scrums as prop Matt Dunning succumbed to the pressure and was stretchered off. Chris Ashtons try England v Australia - Ashton Try In 2010 England were 19-6 up in the early stages of the second half at Twickenham when Australia went on the attack. After spurning an easy three points in front of the posts, Australia backed their players for the try and started to put some phases together. Will Genia went for the line but was stopped inches short by England lock Tom Palmer who, along with Toby Flood and mike Tindall, managed to steal the ball for England. Ben Youngs decided to run from behind his own posts and passed to Courtney Lawes who then fed Ashton. There was no stopping him; Drew Mitchell desperately tried to head Ashton off but he cut inside him raced for the posts and dived over - the Ash Splash was born... Nick Cummins try England v Australia - Cummins Try Australia arrived at Twickenham in 2012 in disarray. A week earlier they had been beaten 33-6 by France - the first time they had lost to France in seven years. A massive injury list compounded their problems as they arrived in West London defending their coach and selection. However they ran onto the field a different side and dominated the early exchanges. A wayward kick from Englands scrum-half Danny Care gave Australia the perfect attacking opportunity and scrum-half Nick Phipps found some space to make it count. His well-timed pass found winger Nick Cummins- aka the Honey Badger - who pinned his ears back and went over in the corner for his first international try.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 18:00:00 +0000
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