England v Australia 

Investec Challenge Autumn International

 27/11/04 

England handed Australia the Cook Cup on a plate!

Twickenham photo copyright of Kath

England's Head Coach Andy Robinson watched the side he put out defeated at the hands of the Australians!   

Congratulations go to the Wallabies who played really well in the first half but fell away in the second and it has to be said only won on the day because of the kicker.  Once again it was demonstrated how important it is for a team to convert and take the penalties points on offer.  On the day, at this level these are the points that win the match.

At the outset, I had hoped for a win but thought we would be beaten.  However, I am angry today for many reasons we threw this match away. Any side at this level, down by 15 points at half time and then comes back out to put 19 on the board with no reply apart from a last minute penalty, in my book IS a good side.   

The Australians were down and out in that second half and if it had not been for that last minute penalty England would have won and the Aussie fans sitting in the corner of the North Stand at Twickenham, knew that!  Gifted the win is what I would say.  As England pushed for the Australian line in the last dying seconds, I kept thinking what we need now is a Drop Goal - but who!!!  - Yes we missed Jonny Wilkinson yesterday, not necessarily for his play making because to be fair to Charlie Hodgson, he is a natural player  but for consistency and confidence around the posts well we missed the England Captain.   Mike Tindall did well when he took over from Charlie as kicker but this handing the kicking over to others by Charlie to me is a worry until he starts stepping up to the mark and working his way through the kicking demons, I will never feel confident with him at this level.

Which then brings the old chestnut up again - Charlie at 10, Wilkinson at 12, well why not?  We could give it a go and see how it works out.  It has been tried the other way Wilkinson at 10 and Charlie at 12 but that did not.  To be honest that is Andy Robinson's problem not ours but I don't see why we could not give it a go.

England made some glaring errors yesterday right across the park, missed tackles, passes and Henry Paul well I really do not think we will see him back in an England shirt. Andy Robinson on Henry Paul.............

"Henry, unfortunately, made a number of mistakes and we had a player of Greenwood's stature to come on," explained Robinson." These are calls you have make as a coach. You have to be brave to make them but I thought it was right to make the change so the change got made. "This is where the coach has to make decisions. I will watch the game again tomorrow and probably still think it was the right one."

However, on the positive side England have wonderful talent and again Martin Corry was for me producing the goods.  I watched and listened to him as he was close to the referee and you can pick up all sorts of comments with the Ref Link ( well worth buying if you go to Twickenham), Martin Corry reminded me yesterday of Martin Johnson!  Corry was laying the law down to Jason Robinson, wanting Jason to tell the ref what was going on in the scrum.

England Gifted the Game to the Aussies

Photo copyright of Kath

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