Australia 27 England 17: Forward drive not enough after England succumb to Wallabies

England may have demolished Australia's scrum but were found wanting in other departments as the Wallabies secured victory in Perth.

Martin Johnson's men earned two penalty tries and Wallabies prop Salesi Ma'afu was sin-binned as England dismantled Australia's set-piece from the first minute. But the tourists could not match the Wallabies' attacking prowess and fly-half Quade Cooper touched down twice after Rocky Elsom had scored the opening try.

England have now not won a Test match south of the equator in 11 attempts since Johnson himself lifted the Rugby World Cup in Sydney seven years ago.

Johnson's record since being appointed England coach now shows just eight wins from 22 Tests – a worse return than his predecessors Brian Ashton and Andy Robinson.

This was seen as England's best chance to beat the Wallabies on Australian soil since that World Cup triumph. Injuries meant the Wallabies were forced to field their least experienced front row in 27 years, while star centre Matt Giteau was ruled out yesterday with a hip injury.

And as a result, Johnson blew his top.

"I think that is as harsh as I have been with them," Johnson said after addressing his players in the changing room.

"We said we should be angry with ourselves. If you give it a decent shot and get beaten (that is one thing) but when you add to it in the way we did it is disappointing.

"The scrum played a big factor in the game but not enough for us to win. We make it too easy for the opposition. You have to be very good down here to win games. We didn't help ourselves.

"We started very poorly. We were more than a little off the pace, gave them a lot of chances and put ourselves in trouble.

"We had enough chances to put ourselves in the game. Their composure on the ball was better.

"But if you concede three tries you are probably not going to win. The missed tackle count was not healthy. We have got to be better. We can't expect to get two penalty tries every week."

Debutant loosehead prop Ben Daley, hooker Saia Faingaa and tighthead Ma'afu boasted just two caps and one Test start between them, while Giteau was replaced by Berrick Barnes.

England duly demolished the home pack but still spent the opening half hour camped in their own half, desperately trying to plug holes in their defence.

After 30 minutes, the Wallabies had made just nine tackles such was their control of the game and England were fortunate to only be 14-0 down.

Luke Burgess, Australia's second-choice scrum-half, ran England ragged and his blindside break would have created the opening score but for a brilliant tackle from Chris Ashton. But it was finger-in-the-dam stuff from England and the inevitable try came when Drew Mitchell counter-attacked from Danny Care's clearance and beat Ashton to race into the England 22 and when the ball was whipped wide, Elsom galloped over for the opening try.

Referee Nigel Owens lectured Australia's disintegrating front row but Flood missed with a 48-metre penalty and England's attacking play was laboured and error-strewn.

The Wallabies were ruthless. Elsom stole a lineout from Croft, and Burgess left debutant Shontayne Hape flailing in midfield before flicking the ball for Cooper to score under the posts.

England took the bold option of kicking a penalty for touch and spent the remainder of the half camped inside Wallaby territory, but came away empty- handed.

Toby Flood put England on the scoreboard after another scrum penalty early and Ben Foden then atoned for a shocking clearance by launching a counter-attack from deep.

Ashton surged into the Australian half and Mike Tindall burst 30 yards before being hauled down, but England were throwing the kitchen sink at the Wallabies. Shaw and Leeds Carnegie-bound Steve Thompson were halted on the line and it took four men to stop Dan Cole's drive under the posts before Croft spun over the line but he was held up.

England had the Wallabies under immense pressure at the ensuing five-metre scrum and after two re-sets referee Owens awarded the penalty try.

Incredibly England were back within four points – but not for long. Cooper threw a beautiful cut-out pass to winger Digby Ioane, who was halted by Cueto's tackle but offloaded back inside where the Wallaby fly-half scored his second try.

England sent on Ben Youngs for former Leeds Tyke Care and the Leicester scrum-half brought some snap to their game. Otley-born Tindall tried to drive over before Ashton almost broke through under the posts but his offload went to ground.

James O'Connor tried to launch a 90-metre counter-attack but his pass drifted forward.

England once again cranked up the scrum pressure and Australian tighthead Ma'afu was sin-binned.

Daley, who had just been substituted, returned to the fray as England sent on David Wilson. The scrum buckled again and referee Owens awarded a second penalty try.

O'Connor extended the Wallabies' lead to 24-17 and Cooper sealed Australia's victory.

Mark Cueto has been cited for an alleged dangerous tackle on Australia centre Berrick Barnes in Saturday's Test and will face a disciplinary hearing at the Australian Rugby Union offices in Sydney today.

Australia: O'Connor (Beale 74), Ioane, Horne, Barnes, Mitchell, Cooper, Burgess; Daley (Slipper 66), Faingaa, Ma'afu, Mumm (Chisholm 69), Sharpe, Elsom, Pocock (Hidgson 78), Brown. Unused replacements: Edmonds, Genia, Hynes.

England: Foden, Cueto, Tindall (Wilkinson 73), Hape, Ashton, Flood, Care (Youngs 59); Payne (Wilson 68), Thompson (Chuter 68), Cole, Shaw (Lawes 60), Palmer, Croft, Moody (Haskell 66), Easter. Unused replacemens: Tait.

Referee: N Owens (WRFU).

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: England's pack

Against a vastly-inexperienced Aussie front row, Tim Payne, Dan Cole and new Leeds Carnegie signing Steve Thompson prospered, forcing two penalty tries that took England to within 10 points of their hosts.

Villain: Quade Cooper

The Australian fly-half, along with No 9 Luke Burgess, was the chief architect of England's torment with his quick hands and quick feet making a mockery of the tourists' ponderous offence.

Key moment

England's first penalty try put them within four points but Quade Cooper quickly responds with his second try.

Ref watch

Nigel Owens – Recognised dominance of the English scrum and punished the hosts for their thwarting attempts.

Verdict

Encouragingly England's scrum dominated the Wallabies, but the old problem of being unable to generate any quality offence was again their undoing.

Next game

England v Australian Barbarians, Tuesday June 15, 12pm.

Quote of the day

It's all very well saying he is under pressure, but now is the time for players to stand up and take some responsibility

– Martin Johnson's predecessor Brian Ashton backs the under-fire England manager.