Aussies confess: We were second-rate

SYDNEY - England proved they are genuine World Cup contenders by "bullying and beating" the Wallabies for a historic win on Australian soil, the Australian media conceded yesterday.

"Pommy Bashed" announced the Sun-Herald newspaper after England's 25-14 victory in Melbourne on Saturday night.

"Those in the Southern Hemisphere who have lampooned this England team for so long have to admit begrudgingly that this is a special side, and capable of becoming the first nation from the north [Northern Hemisphere] to raise the World Cup in triumph," wrote rugby correspondent Greg Growden.

Both New Zealand - beaten 15-13 by England last weekend - and Australia were made to look "second rate" against them, especially when the English pack was able to push the Wallabies 40m downfield with the most incredible of rolling mauls.

"It is some time since a Wallabies pack was so conclusively and clinically fragmented and flicked aside," Growden continued.

England deserved to shed their "boring" tag by adding to the humiliation by scoring three tries to one.

The Sunday Telegraph described the result as "The Mother Of All Losses" with writer Peter Jenkins saying Australia were "back to square one.

"Without a scrum and lineout against quality sides the Wallabies will struggle to retain their crown," he wrote.

Coach Eddie Jones also had to consider revamping his backline after the potent wings Joe Roff and Wendell Sailor were under-employed.

Midfielder Steve Kefu's option taking and fullback Chris Latham's turning over of possession when on attack were also highlighted.

Former Queensland coach John Connolly said the only positive to emerge from the loss was that it gave the Wallabies a "giant reality check".

"We know now we have a heap of work to do, particularly in the technical aspects of our game. At least this loss happened before the World Cup and not during it."

He feared Australia had "dug a hole for themselves" in the forwards with very few options for Eddie Jones to make changes.

"Unfortunately our pack looked deficient last night against England's big, tough, well-drilled unit."

Although the Wallabies were missing several key players, the majority were backs, with George Smith and Owen Finegan the only frontline forwards contenders to join the pack.

Connolly said the Wallabies also paid for the sacking of pivot Elton Flatley for missing a recovery session after the previous weekend's victory over Wales.

His replacement, Nathan Grey, did a reasonable job, but a better kicker such as Flatley would have taken shots for goal.

"Discipline is important in a side but at what cost?"

- NZPA