England had to execute something they have not had to do in John Mitchell’s reign against Australia, a comeback win after being down at half-time. It was the first time in almost six years the Red Roses had been trailing after the first 40. But whatever was said in the changing room shook the team to life as they scored 43 second-half points to keep their winning streak going.
Australia gave England quite the scare in the first half. The Wallaroos were not just clinical when in attack, but were thorough and physical in defence to disrupt England’s front-foot ball. The visitors played some of their best rugby since last year’s World Cup, when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals, before falling apart in the second half.
England were uncharacteristically poor at times with several knock-ons and other handling errors hampering their attack. This was the first game with the smaller ball. Throughout the WXV matches this autumn, teams are playing with a size 4.5 ball instead of the usual size five.
World Rugby has introduced the trial to see if it has a positive impact after similar trials in youth competitions and in sevens. At a windy Salford, Australia dealt with the change better. Teams, coaches and officials will give feedback to the governing body after the WXV is concluded in October.
The England fly-half, Holly Aitchison, won her 50th cap less than 40 miles from her childhood club of Firwood Waterloo. She led the team out and her teammates congratulated her as they lined up for the anthems. Just like the last time the two nations played, at last year’s World Cup, Australia scored the first points with a penalty from Samantha Wood’s boot.
Some ferocious defence pushed England backwards as the Red Roses tried to edge towards the tryline and they eventually turned it over. All of their good work looked to have been undone by a Meg Jones try from a charged-down kick, but Tatyana Heard was offside. A deliberate knock-on from Wood meant the visitors were down to 14 and while England were sloppy with the ball they went over through Abi Burton.
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