England A dominate second half to down Australia A, with Henry Pollock impressing

By Ollie Aust

England A –

Tries: Heyes 6, Murley 43, 77, Langdon 56, Fisilau 61, Muir 68

Conversions: Atkinson 57, 62, Shillcock 69, 78

Australia A –

Tries: Reimer 10, Van Nek 66

Conversions: Lynagh 11, McLaughlin Phillips 66

Penalties: Lynagh 31

Report

On Sunday England A played their first game of the season, taking on an Australia A side at the Twickenham Stoop.

On 6 minutes, the game had it’s first scrum, offering England a great attacking platform just outside the Australian 22.

The ball was moved swiftly wide into the hands of the dangerous Gabriel Ibitoye who made 20 metres with his first carry of the game, taking the England attack to just metres from the Australian try line.

A few physical carries from the English pack followed before tighthead Joe Heyes crashed over from short range to give the home side an early lead. The conversion from Atkinson was unsuccessful.

Minutes later, good work from Australian winger Corey Toole in the air gave the visitors a chance to launch their first attack in a meaningful position.

England conceded a penalty from the resulting attack, with Australia kicking the ball into the croner to give themselves a lineout 10m from the England line.

The visitors set up their driving maul, which quickly rumbled toward the England line, allowing flanker Luke Reimer to break off and dive over for Australia’s opening score.

The score was successfully converted by fly-half Tom Lynagh, to give the visiting side the lead on 10 minutes.

On the 29 minute mark, Australia stole England’s lineout on halfway, giving them a chance to launch a counter-attack.

Centre Hamish Stewart put a kick in behind the England defensive line, through which Murley returned well before a stray offload gifted possession back to the visitors.

With this possession, Australia won a penalty 35m out in a central position, from which they elected to kick for goal, with Tom Lynagh extending their lead to 10-5.

Second Half

Carpenter claimed another kick fantastically inside his own half, on 56 minutes, before slipping an offload away to Ibitoye who burst down the left wing, linking up with Henry Pollock inside who returned the favour back to Ibitoye to take play to just a few metres out.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 17: Henry Pollock of England gestures during the International Friendly match between England A and Australia A at The Stoop on November 17, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Another offload gave Porter the chance to beat a couple of defenders before firing a beautifully weighted cross field pass to replacement hooker Curtis Langdon to dive in untouched and give England the lead once again. Fly half Atkinson was able to add the extras this time to stretch England’s lead to 7 points.

A Scrum penalty for England was kicked to touch, giving them a lineout just inside the Australia 22 from which Tom Willis and Emmanuel Iyogun carry hard.

Fisilau Extends Lead

The ball was moved back to the blindside where Pollock was brought down just a metre out. Replacement Greg Fisilau picked from the base and dived over to extend England’s lead on after 61 minutes. Conversion from Atkinson was successful.

A few minutes later, Australia’s penalty was kicked to touch giving them a lineout 5m out, from which they launched another maul, but this time it was well defended.

However, a pick-and-go from short range by replacement prop Rhys Van Nek gave the visiting side their first points of the second half. Replacement McLaughlin-Phillips successfully converting the score

Two minutes later, Australia had possession just inside their own half and were looking to exploit the space out wide but a lofted cross-field pass found England’s replacement winger Will Muir who coasted over from 30m out. Try converted by replacement Jamie Shillcock with ten minutes to play.

Another England penalty was kicked to touch on 76 minutes, resulting in a lineout 10m out. After setting up a driving maul, a well-worked backs play gave Shillcock the opportunity to float a lovely pass wide to winger Cadan Murley who went over for his second of the game.

Shillcock was again successful with his conversion attempt.