London: The Wallabies have officially registered their worst calendar year since 1958 in embarrassing fashion with a 37-18 defeat to England that comes after a tumultuous preparation and major questions over the side less than a year out from the World Cup.
Going into half-time level at 13-13, Australia hardly fired a shot in the second 40 minutes, conceding three tries to limp to their second worst defeat to England.
Australia now have the humiliation of becoming the first Australian side to lose six on the bounce to the Old Enemy.
England's Joe Cokanasiga is tackled just short of the line by Australia's Michael Hooper.Credit:AP
The Wallabies have finished the year with four victories from 13 games – for a 31 per cent winning record and not since 1958 when the Wallabies won two from 11 has the national side gone so badly (in years where 10 or more games have been played).
Advertisement
For Michael Cheika, his abysmal record against old Randwick teammate Eddie Jones continued in a match where the Wallabies threatened to come back from seven points down before conceding soft tries in another forgettable performance.
A potentially match-defining moment, however, occurred when the Wallabies should have been awarded a clear penalty try, while trailing 13-10, after a no arms tackle from Farrell right under the nose of referee Jaco Peyper. It was a huge blunder and a disgraceful call in what was a horrible afternoon for the South African.
Had Farrell not shoulder charged Rodda, who fell back after the impact, he would have almost certainly scored given he was just metres out from the line. That Peyper told the Australians Rodda also “dropped the shoulder” is even more baffling.
"The idea the referee would say that our player ran in and shoulder charged the opposition is ludicrous," Cheika said afterwards.
A penalty would have to suffice for the Australians and they would have been thrilled to be level after an inconsistent 40 minutes.
In 120 years, the Wallabies have lost nine matches in a calendar year on two occasions. Cheika now has the unwanted record of having both of those forgetful years (2016 and 2018) on his watch.
England's Manu Tuilagi powers through the defence. Credit:AP
Pre-game, Jones likened Australias preparation to an episode of Neighbours. Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper were there, pitchside wearing their suits, watching on helplessly after being banned from the game for bringing women back to the team hotel a fortnight ago.
It was a major distraction as much as the Wallabies will deny it and from the first whistle they looked disjointed and scrambled, in both their tactics and execution.
Then came a sledge early in the second half, believed to be from Englands Kyle Sinckler, picked up on the referees microphone: “Youre all f—ing snitches.”
It was a reference to the Wallabies leadership group telling Cheika about what Beale and Ashley-Cooper had done. Safe to say it didnt go down well but it didn't trigger a response on the scoreboard.
The Wallabies scored just five points thereafter as England forwards muscled up and gave a rattled Australian outfit a tutorial at the breakdown.
Australia were put under immediate pressure when Haylett-Pettys kick in the second minute was charged down by Ben Youngs. Seconds later, after asserting scrum dominance, England made the most of an overlap down the right to put Jonny May over untouched in the third minute.
Unable to get settled, Hooper quickly opted for a penalty kick that Matt Toomua belted over to reduce the margin to four points.
This was an Australian team playing low on confidence and making elementary errors. Passes not going to hand, poorly executed cleanouts and wasteful kicks all gave England the knowledge this game was there for the taking, provided they didnt stuff it up.
Australias attack lacked cohesion and they struggled to build phases.
England's Owen Farrell celebrates with Manu Tuilagi.Credit:AP
Haylett-Petty was denied a try for a forward pass that he threw to Samu Kerevi in the lead-up. The try was awarded by Peyper but just as Toomua was about to take the conversion, he and the TMO intervened. It was a close call and one that would have deflated the Australians.
They got into the match though thanks to a brilliant right-foot step from Israel Folau that led to his 36th Test try. He plonked the ball down right under the sticks, after fooling Youngs, in the 36th minute to the delight of the Wallabies bench and Cheika, who gave a big fist pump.
In the previous five matches between the sides, the half-time margin had never been more than six points.
England came out of the blocks with a try in the 44th minute to Daly to regain their lead at 20-13. Farrell orchestrated the five-pointer and quite frankly he should have been off the pitch for his shoulder charge just before half-time.
Australias woes were compounded when Haylett-Petty missed a simple tackle on Joe Cokanasiga, who darted away to extend the home sides lead to 14 points, after Farrells conversion, with 23 minutes remaining.
England were denied a try to Daly because the ball went into touch but the soccer skills on show were something to behold off a wasteful Australian turnover ball.
Folaus try on the stroke of full-time saved the Wallabies from their equal-worst defeat to England but it mattered little as the dust began to settle on a year that will go down as a disaster in every sense of the word.
Tom Decent is a journalist with Fairfax Media.
[contf] [contfnew] 
Australian Breaking News Headlines
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
