Australia 17-25 England: Eddie Jones' side win second Test to level series

Billy Vunipola scores England's tryGetty Images

Billy Vunipola scored England's first try as the visitors' pack started brightly

Australia v England: Second Test

Australia: (7) 17

Tries: Tupou, Kerevi Pens: Lolesio Cons: Lolesio 2

England: (19) 25

Tries: B Vunipola Pens: Farrell 6 Cons: Farrell

England produced an aggressive and resilient display to beat Australia in the second Test in Brisbane and take the three-match series to a decider.

Billy Vunipola powered over for an early try and Owen Farrell added four penalties as England led 19-0.

Taniela Tupou reduced England's lead just before half-time and a Samu Kerevi try piled on the pressure.

England rallied and a sixth Farrell penalty enabled them to level the series and end a four-match losing run.

Eddie Jones' side needed a much-improved display after a disappointing 30-28 defeat by 14-man Australia in the first Test.

The pack dominated the first half and the team - which featured two debutants and a new starting scrum-half in an inexperienced backline - had enough composure to regain the momentum after sustained Australia pressure in the second half.

Having ended Australia's 10-match winning run at Suncorp Stadium they now travel to Sydney for the deciding match next Saturday with the Ella-Mobbs Cup still up for grabs.

"The way we fought with a young team under that pressure at Suncorp, playing against a team that is very comfortable at that ground, it's a difficult situation and they stuck together," said head coach Jones.

"To play with that level of maturity and toughness is a really good sign for the future."

Powerful England make fast and furious start

Getty Images

Ellis Genge was a dominant presence in the first half

Prop Ellis Genge set the tone for England's performance by bulldozing past Australia captain Michael Hooper in the opening minutes.

The tourists' fierce tackling gave them a stranglehold on the game, and they turned territory into an early try when Vunipola was driven over the line from an England line-out.

With the Wallabies rattled by England's ferocity, Farrell punished the home side with two penalties.

Continuing their relentless pace, Marcus Smith sought to release debutant wing Tommy Freeman but his pass was knocked forward by Izaia Perese who was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on.

With scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet impressing on his first start, England stretched Australia's defence to the limit but Jack Nowell ran out of room on the right-hand side.

Farrell kicked two more penalties but Jones' side - which also included debutant centre Guy Porter - needed another try to underline their dominance.

Instead, Australia surged into England's 22 for the first time and prop Taniela Tupou - nicknamed the 'Tongan Thor' because of his incredible size and power - smashed over the line to give the hosts a lifeline.

England suffered a further blow before half-time when Maro Itoje went off for a head injury assessment following a collision, the lock later ruled out of the series decider.

England get the job done

Getty Images

Semu Kerevi scored Australia's second try

Farrell added another penalty at the start of the second half but the Wallabies, as they did in the first Test, showed their try-scoring flair, keeping the ball for phase after phase before releasing Kerevi to stroll over the line.

Smith was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on as Australia cranked up the pressure, cutting England's lead to five points with a penalty.

Australia, despite losing four players to injury in the first hour, were running the game, forcing England into frantic defence to prevent Tom Wright finishing a 60-yard kick and chase.

But with Smith back on the field and a new front row in place, England regained control. Nowell beat two defenders and fed Freddie Steward who was stopped yards from the line, and only further desperate defence denied Billy Vunipola a second try.

England had to settle for another Farrell penalty but his kick stretched their lead to a crucial eight points, enough to deflate Australia's hopes of an unlikely victory.

'It was a tough scrap'

England captain Courtney Lawes said: "It was a tough scrap but I'm proud of the boys. We knew they would come back at some point as they have some quality players but we got through.

"We have been working hard this week and getting to know each other and it paid of. We showed at the end that our defence can get us on the front foot but we let them score too easily and, at international level, you cannot really have that.

"Thanks to the fans and we're glad we could put on a performance for everyone back home."

Line-ups

Australia: Petaia; Wright, Paisami, Kerevi, Koroibete; Lolesio, White; Bell, Porecki, Tupou, Philip, Neville, Leota, Hooper (captain), Valetini

Replacements: Fainga'a, Sio, Slipper, Frost, Samu, Gordon, O'Connor, Perese

England: Steward; Nowell, Porter, Farrell, Freeman; Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Hill, Lawes (captain), Underhill, B Vunipola

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, M Vunipola, Heyes, Chessum, Ludlam, Joseph, Care, Arundell

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

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