England 19 Australia 21
A 73rd minute Matt Giteau penalty brought England’s second half fight back to an abrupt halt at Twickenham this afternoon as Australia retained the Cook Cup to end England’s Autumn  Investec Challenge Series.

Having seen off both Canada and South Africa with ease over the past fortnight, new look England came up against a lively and experienced Australian side containing 10 of the 2003 World Cup final side hungry to build on their 51-15 crushing of England in Brisbane in the summer.

The visitors, with Investec man of the match Chris Latham in great form, had carved out a 12-0 lead by half time and had extended it to 15-0 within minutes of the restart before England piled back with three great tries in the opening quarter of the second-half to lead 19-15.

But Giteau, outstanding throughout the 80 minutes, took advantage of England misdemeanours in the 69th and 74th minutes to bang over two penalties that stole the match from under England’s noses.

England head coach Andy Robinson said: “We said all week this game was going to be won into the 80 minutes. That is what rugby is about. The game is never over until the referee blows the final whistle. We lost composure in the first half but in the second half I thought we were tremendous and the three tries we scored were superb.”

England made a positive start with Martin Corry and Steve Thompson particularly effective about the field and the likes of skipper Jason Robinson and fly half Charlie Hodgson creating some space. But it was a Robinson’s knock on in his own 22 that took the sting out of England’s early fire and put the Aussies on the front foot.

From a break down the left they switched the ball across field to the right wing where Giteau evaded flanker Joe Worsley’s tackle inside the England 22 and came inside Josh Lewsey to find hooker Jeremy Paul up in support for the touchdown.

Fly half Elton Flatley converted before going off as Giteau covered at 10 and Matt Rodgers came on in the centre.

Having survived another period of England pressure the visitors extended their lead when from lock Justin Harrison’s take at a lineout the ball went out across the Aussie back line and, although stopped in midfield, it was refed out via Giteau to full back Chris Latham who waltzed through Lewsey’s tackle and avoided a second from Mike Tindall to go over close to the corner.

England had their chances to fight back but Hodgson, who was eventually replaced due to a dead leg, missed with two reasonable penalty attempts on 32 and 36 minutes and they went in at half time trailing 12-0.

And they were 15-0 behind within three minutes of the restart when lock Danny Grewcock was penalised for playing the ball on the ground at a ruck.

But then came what the majority of the 73,000 crowd had come to see and England got on top of their visitors and gradually reeled them in.

Denying the chance of points from the boot England forced Australia into their right-hand corner and opted for the lineouts so that they could use their heavyweight pack.

From the second lineout England drove again at the Aussie line and eventually shoved their way over for flanker Lewis Moody to get the touchdown.

Although Andy Gomarsall missed the conversion England were in control and with the crowd bursting into ‘Swing Low’ they again put the pressure on the visitors’ line.

Referee Paul Honiss penalised Australia for coming in at the side and from the lineout England set up the maul for Josh Lewsey to suddenly peel off the side and go over. Mike Tindall took over the kicking duties and converted to put England right back in the game at 15-12 behind.

And from yet another lineout just inside the visitors’ 22 England went in front as Grewcock took and Lewsey and Robinson combined to eventually send in right wing Mark Cueto for his fourth try in three games.

Tindall again added the points to give England a four point 19-15 lead.

But five minutes later, England had conceded a penalty when Moody was caught going in at the side of a ruck and with six minutes to go Gomarsall, by then playing at stand-off,  put in a late shoulder charge on Giteau, who took advantage to add the winning penalty.

ENGLAND: Robinson(c); Cueto(Cohen 74), Paul(Greenwood 24), Tindall, Lewsey; Hodgson(Ellis69), Gomarsall; Rowntree, Thompson, White; Grewcock, Borthwick; Worsley, Moody, Corry. Reps not used: Titterell, Sheridan, Kay, Hazell.