A dramatic first Test ended in a 30-28 win for an Australia side who had Darcy Swain sent off before half-time against an England side who scored late tries in vain
England may have travelled to the other side of the world but some familiar frailties have accompanied them. Even with 14 men for 46 minutes of the contest the Wallabies proved too much for the visiting side and they have finally broken their eight-game losing streak against Eddie Jones’s side.
No one, though, had factored in the 11th-hour withdrawal of Cooper, who damaged a calf minutes before kick-off and had to replaced by Noah Lolesio, with James O’Connor swapping the corporate suite for a place on the bench. Of all the players the Wallaby coach, Dave Rennie, would not have wanted to lose at such a crucial juncture it was his experienced fly-half and playmaker.
For a short period it seemed misfortunate might galvanise the Wallabies as they enjoyed a period of sustained pressure in their opponents’ half and collected their first points via the boot of Lolesio. But then came a pivotal moment when Hill and Swain tangled and, having had his hair pulled, the Wallaby lock responded with a butt towards Hill’s head.