Sydney: Owen Farrell kicked 24 points as England racked up a record score to beat Australia 44-40 in a roller coaster of a third test yesterday and inflict a first 3-0 home series sweep on the Wallabies since 1971.
Tries from prop Dan Cole, fullback Mike Brown, number eight Billy Vunipola and replacement hooker Jamie George combined with flyhalf Farrell’s tally helped extend England’s winning streak under Australian coach Eddie Jones to nine matches.
“Very few sides beat Australia in Australia so it’s a significant achievement,” Jones told reporters.
“It was a fantastic effort and we’re pleased with the 3-0 result but we realise we’ve still got a lot of work to do if we want to became the number one side in the world, and we do.”
Australia scored five tries through wingers Dane Haylett-Petty and Taqele Naiyaravoro, flyhalf Bernard Foley, fullback Israel Folau and flanker Michael Hooper but were unable to match the discipline and set-piece of the Six Nations champions.
England won the first test in Brisbane 39-28 with their previous record points tally before securing their first series triumph in Australia with a 23-7 victory in Melbourne, largely on the back of their defence.
The tourists showed they had come to play running rugby yesterday with some sharp early phases and they scored first when, after a burst for the line from Mako Vunipola, scrumhalf Ben Youngs fed Cole for the opening try.
Australia responded almost immediately, Folau feeding Matt Toomua for a dash down the line with the centre’s pass inside setting up Foley to touch down.
Eight minutes later and Australia were in front, quick ball from a ruck in front of the posts Haylett-Petty to cross in the corner.
Farrell and Foley traded penalties before England scored a second try on the half-hour mark when Brown chased down winger Anthony Watson’s chip through.
The England flyhalf converted to put England back in front at 17-15 but Foley’s second penalty gave the hosts an 18-17 lead at half-time.
Flanker Chris Robshaw almost gave England the perfect start to the second-half when he snared an errant Wallabies lineout and crashed over the line, only to be held up in goal.
Billy Vunipola peeled off the ensuing five-metre scrum to touch down, however, and the England pack stole Australia’s next lineout before rumbling up the park and winning a penalty, which Farrell converted.