Australia overcome England

Australia snapped an eight-match losing streak against England with a 30-28 victory at Perth Stadium despite the loss of lock Darcy Swain to a red card before half-time.

Jordan Petaia, Folau Fainga’a and Pete Samu scored tries in the last quarter as Australia recorded their first win over England since knocking the co-hosts out of the 2015 World Cup.

Australia celebrate
Photo: Dan Peled/Photosport Ltd 2021

Samu’s try took Australia to a 30-14 lead but England debutants Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet scored tries in the dying minutes to make the scoreline more respectable.

It was quite a turnaround for the Wallabies, who must have thought they were cursed after the first 34 minutes of the match.

They lost flyhalf Quade Cooper to a calf injury in the warm- up, fullback Tom Banks with a broken forearm after a nasty fall 21 minutes in, and Swain to a red card for a headbutt just after the half hour mark.

The Wallabies edged ahead from Lolesio’s third penalty four minutes after the break but England prop Ellis Genge rolled over the line on the back of a maul five minutes later to inch England back in front at 11-9.

Australia hit back after 64 minutes, putting together their first sustained attack of the match then spreading the ball wide for winger Petaia, on for Banks, to finish well in the corner.

England number eight Billy Vunipola was sent to the sin bin in the 67th minute for a high tackle on Michael Hooper and Australia had scored two more tries before his return.

Hooker Fainga’a danced away from a rolling maul to touch down in the 69th minute and loose forward Samu crashed through a series of tacklers to take Australia’s lead out to what proved to be an unassailable 16 points.

The series continues over the next two weeks with tests at Brisbane’s Lang Park and the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Late Willemse penalty seals win for Boks over ill-disciplined Wales

Fullback Damian Willemse kicked a pressure penalty after the hooter to secure South Africa a 32-29 victory over ill-disciplined Wales in a see-saw test at a raucous Loftus Versfeld.

Dewi Lake also crossed for the tourists, who took the world champions close but paid the price for their cynical play in their own 22 as they lost four players to yellow cards and conceded a penalty-try.

The Springboks might have won by a greater margin but for their own lacklustre play as their tactical kicking was abysmal and decision-making in key phases of play unusually poor.

Hookers Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx, and wing Cheslin Kolbe, crossed for tries for the home side.

The second of three tests will be played in Bloemfontein next Saturday with Wales still in search of a first win in South Africa after 11 attempts.

France overcome Japan

France delivered a far from polished performance but found second-half solutions to beat Japan 42-23 in the first test.

France, ranked second in the world and hosting next year’s World Cup, are touring Japan without many regulars rested after their Six Nations success and they were held in check by a spirited Japan in the first half at the Toyota Stadium.

But the French broke the shackles and imposed themselves in second half to outscore their hosts five tries to two.

The teams meet again in the second test in Tokyo on Saturday.

REUTERS