Australia 17-21 England: Marcus Smith inspires third Test victory as Eddie Jones' side win series
Fly-half pounced on fumbled ball and used his exceptional pace to out-sprint four Wallabies players in second half; England had already turned around 10-3 deficit in first half; result sealed 2-1 series win as England follow Ireland in northern hemisphere outfit winning summer series
Sunday 17 July 2022 10:24, UK
A spectacular second-half try from Marcus Smith helped England claim a 21-17 victory in the deciding Test against Australia and win the series 2-1.
Smith used his exceptional pace to run in from 55 metres, after Jonny Hill had disrupted the Wallabies' lineout and Noah Lolesio fumbled the ball midway through the second half. Owen Farrell's conversion boosted the tourists' advantage to 21-10 with a quarter left.
Folau Fainga'a's converted try closed it back to a four-point game, but England held firm to complete a memorable final Test victory and comeback after a slow start in Sydney.
Jones' side went 10-3 down early on following a Tom Wright try and the boot of Lolesio. Just before the interval, Freddie Steward's five-pointer and Farrell's accuracy off the tee had commenced England's recovery.
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"It's a really positive step. We've always felt that the team is going in the right direction and sometimes the results don't reflect that," Jones said after the full-time whistle.
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"At the end of the game we had six players [on the field] with under 10 caps, so this is a young and inexperienced squad and to have an experience like this is fantastic.
"They're enjoying it, they understand how hard you have to fight to win a Test match, particularly away from home."
At the Sydney Cricket Ground, the first points came after 18 minutes from the boot of Farrell as England's centre punished Australia for not rolling away.
It also took advantage of the Wallabies' early inaccuracy following Noah Lolesio's penalty attempt drifting wide and Reece Hodge putting a try-creating pass into touch.
Australia tidied things up and crossed the whitewash after 24 minutes.
Marika Koroibete burst through an attempted tackle by Care in midfield, before Nic White and Tom Wright timed a one-two perfectly out wide. After Wright had surged over, Lolesio added the conversion and another penalty for a 10-3 lead.
England continued to work with little territory or possession for the remainder of the half. Farrell added three further points before Jones decided to replace 86-cap Care with Jack van Poortvliet.
Shortly after, England made the most of their first real bit of field position, working wide through Tommy Freeman and Steward.
Farrell couldn't convert and both teams went into their respective dressing rooms with plenty to think about - and England holding the edge at 11-10 ahead.
Ellis Genge set out England's stall at the start of the second half and signalled their intent with a series of gainline busting carries. When a penalty arrived, Farrell rewarded his team-mate's work for a 14-10 lead.
Smith's magic arrived five minutes later. First, Hill's pressure at the lineout dislodged the ball before Lolesio attempted to scoop it up and rescue proceedings. Instead, Lolesio made it worse with a fumble.
It was pounced on by England's fly-half and Smith fixed his sights firmly on the line. Three Wallabies took up the chase, with another coming in from the left of the park, but Smith's speed and running lines outfoxed them all.
Farrell's conversion handed England important breathing room at 21-10 ahead.
As was the case in the second Test, a tense finish unfolded with the Wallabies piling on the pressure. England's resistance eventually broke and Fainga'a powered over.
The conversion increased the pressure further, a final rear-guard effort finished England's tour on the right note and secured a gutsy victory and a memorable 2-1 series result.
Jones clashes with fan who calls him 'traitor'
Jones was involved in an angry confrontation with an Australia fan after being called a "traitor" following Saturday's 21-17 victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Footage posted on social media shows England's head coach being baited by a man wearing a Wallabies cap and holding a pint of beer.
The supporter points a finger at Jones as he walks on to the pitch and says "you're a traitor" twice, provoking a furious reaction.
Jones walks over to the stand and replies "come here and say it" three times, causing the surprised fan to back off, and is then ushered away by a member of the ground's security staff.
The security guard can be heard saying to the fan "I have spoken to you before".
It is understood that Jones, an Australian who coached the Wallabies from 2001 to 2005, was subjected to hostile abuse when walking to and from the coach's box with the layout at the SCG meaning he had to pass through sections of the home crowd.
"Clowns think they have full go to abuse coaches," Jones told the Sydney Morning Herald when asked about the incident.
The Rugby Football Union and Australian Rugby Union have been contacted for a response.
A week ago Jones spoke of how he took satisfaction from silencing Australia fans through England's 25-17 victory in the second Test at Suncorp Stadium, although it is understood he did not receive the same level of abuse in Brisbane.
"You have got 48,000 people all full of drink and all they want to see is their team win. When you turn them away, it's a great experience. A great feeling," Jones said. "I was coming out from the coaches' box and they all have their scarves on. When did Australians start wearing scarves? It's all the rage isn't it? They are not so smart now.
"Before the game, they are coming up saying to me you are going to get belted tonight. Now they are a little bit more quiet. So that's good. I enjoy that."
Jones' experience of abuse from fans is not limited to Australia, however.
On the 2018 tour to South Africa, he hit back at spectators at Ellis Park in a heated tunnel confrontation, standing his ground for 10 to 15 seconds before being taken away by players and staff.
Earlier that same year, he was physically and verbally abused by Scotland supporters in Manchester and when catching a train to London in the wake of a 25-15 defeat at Murrayfield.
The incidents were investigated by British transport police and Jones vowed to not use public transport again.
The bulk of England's touring party return home on Sunday, although Jones and his assistants will spend next week at AFL team Melbourne Storm with a view to developing their coaching skills.
