England
15 Mike Brown 6/10 He was his normal feisty self and an early tackle prevented an Israel Folau score but he was less of an attacking threat than usual.
14 Anthony Watson 7/10 The Bath man had few chances to cut loose but took his try-scoring chance brilliantly with a mixture of speed and power.
13 Jonathan Joseph 6/10 There was always going to be a question-mark over his fitness but was sharp in the first half before being forced on to the wing.
12 Brad Barritt 6/10 Much more at home in the inside-centre role, the Saracen rediscovered some of his form of last autumn and was England’s top tackler of the night.
11 Jonny May 6/10 The Gloucester wing made some good runs from broken play in the first half before he injured his leg and was replaced by George Ford at the break.
10 Owen Farrell 5/10 The fly-half had a defensively sound performance but marred his display with a yellow card for reckless challenge on Matt Giteau.
9 Ben Youngs 6/10 Another player who had struggled to shake off an injury during the week. He made some good breaks before being replaced by Wigglesworth.
1 Joe Marler 5/10 The legality of the Quins prop’s scrummaging had been questioned in the build-up and he was penalised for not driving straight. Not a great night.
2 Tom Youngs 7/10 The Leicester hooker made some good carries and tackled well in one of his best performances in an England shirt. Good lineout work.
3 Dan Cole 6/10 The Leicester tighthead caused problems for Scott Sio at a scrum to win the first penalty and the scrum suffered once he left the field.
4 Joe Launchbury 7/10 His first World Cup start and his extra poundage helped the England scrum. He made some good breaks in the first half and was England’s best ball carrier.
5 Geoff Parling 6/10 Shored up the lineout and played well enough but England miss the ball carrying threat of Courtney Lawes. Decent display by the Exeter Chief.
6 Tom Wood 5/10 The Northampton flanker did plenty of good defensive work but the England back row was outplayed by Hooper and Pocock at the breakdown.
7 Chris Robshaw, capt, 5/10 Worked hard but this surely is the beginning of the end for the flanker who was outplayed by Australia’s more natural opensides, Hooper and Pocock.
8 Ben Morgan 7/10 The injury to Billy Vunipola shone the spotlight on the Gloucester No8 this week. He is finding his form of last year after that broken leg.
Replacements: George Ford (for May, ht) 8 Helped ignite English back division, Richard Wigglesworth (for Ben Youngs, 49) Looked sharp 6, Mako Vunipola (for Marler, 49) Made one of two good carries 5, Kieran Brookes (for Cole, 53) Good work in scrums 6, Nick Easter (for Morgan, 57) Too late to make impact 5, Rob Webber (for Tom Youngs, 60) No chance to make an impact 5, Sam Burgess (for Barritt, 64) Had no chance to threaten Australia’s defence 6, George Kruis (for Launchbury, 68) Made some good tackles 5
Australia
15 Israel Folau 8/10 One of his best games in the yellow and gold jersey and part of a back three that coped well with the early loss of Rob Horne. A constant menace.
14 Adam Ashley-Cooper 7/10 As ever, a forceful presence on the left wing. He had few chances to show his attacking prowess but he kept the dangerous Anthony Watson quiet.
13 Tevita Kuridrani 7/10 He played an important part in Foley’s second try and was an attacking threat throughout, helping to shackle Jonathan Joseph and Brad Barritt.
12 Matt Gireau 8/10 Fully justified his recall from exile in France, capping sharp performance in the backline by slicing open the English defence with late try that twisted the knife.
11 Rob Horne 5/10 We will never know if the choice of Horne was a good one. Cruelly for him he left the field after only 10 minutes holding his left arm replaced by Kurtley Beale..
10 Bernard Foley 9/10 The fly-half was considered a conservative choice in comparison to Quade Cooper but this was a conservative landslide. His 28 points are a record for this fixture.
9 Will Genia 7/10 Not quite the force he was but still made a nuisance of himself. His service from the scrum was a little sluggish but forged a good partnership with Foley.
1 Scott Sio 7/10 Australia are no longer a soft touch at scrum time and the Brumbies loose-head coped well with the power of Dan Cole. Another solid display.
2 Stephen Moore, capt 7/10 Australia’s captain worked tirelessly and generally led by example. He carried well and on his night he is one of the best hookers in the world.
3 Sekope Kepu 7/10 He had a bit of early trouble in scrums but Australia are now much tougher in the set-piece and the Waratah gave a forceful performance.
4 Kane Douglas 8/10 Played an important role in the set-pieces and helped the bigger Australian pack give England an uncomfortable night in the scrum.
5 Rob Simmons 7/10 The second half of the Reds’ second-row partnership performed well in the lineout and carried well. Made a number of important tackles.
6 Scott Fardy 7/10 The Brumbies blind-side is a real workhorse and carried well. He complements the two jackals in the Wallaby back row.
7 Michael Hooper 7/10 Made life difficult for England at the breakdown. Intentions made clear with early tackle on Farrell. Lucky to stay on field after reckless challenge on Brown.
8 David Pocock 8/10 He made a couple of turnovers in the first half when England threatened their line and was part of a dominant Wallaby back row.
Replacements: Kurtley Beale (for Horne, 10) Made up for loss of Horne with sharp attacking display 6, James Slipper (for Sio, 57) Important role in late scrums 6, Greg Holmes (for Kepu, 57) Good scrumaging work 6, Nick Phipps (for Genia, 60) Looked lively for 20 minutes 6, Matt Toomua (for Folau, 64) Good solid defensive display 6, Tatafu Polota-Nau (for Moore, 64) Had little chance to shine 6, Dean Mumm (for Simmons, 64) Made some important carries 6, Ben McCalman (for Fardy, 75) Too late to make impression.
