England v Australia third test preview: Aussies backed to clinch series

England have finally got another win on the board and are back on track to win the test series with Australia.

Will Eddie Jones’ side start building momentum or was it a lucky result?

We preview the action below ahead of the third and final test from Sydney.

England level the series score

England’s hopes of a series victory and the prevention of a fifth loss on the bounce depended on their second test with Australia. Trailing in the series and on the brink of embarrassment, Eddie Jones’ job could have been jeopardised with a loss and the prospect of the Rugby World Cup looming.

Thankfully for England, Jones, and the travelling fans, serious questions were avoided as the Red and Whites opened the scoring with five minutes on the clock and, by most arguments, cruised to victory in what has historically been a very tight fixture.

From the get-go, England were firmly in control and looked to have put the game beyond reach with half-time only minutes away. However, Taniela Tupou clawed back Australia’s only points of the first half with a late try before Noah Lolesio coolly dispatched the subsequent conversion.

The away side did extend their lead in the 44th minute through Owen Farrell, but the momentum had flipped and chasing a two-match series victory, Australia came forward with a renewed sense of battle and desire.

They turned up the pressure on England, who for a short period in the second half looked to be crumbling but the physical prowess of the back line eventually started to pay dividends as the Rugby World Cup hopefuls pulled over the line and secured a level score going into the third game of the series in Sydney.

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Has Eddie Jones discovered a winning formula?

Beginning the second match in the series on the back of a long period of poor and inconsistent form, England’s standing as a world rugby power was in a precarious position, with Jones resorting to the introduction of two young debutants in a bid to inject some fresh energy.

It seems his strategy was successful as the new additions, Guy Porter and Tommy Freeman, impressed and appeared unphased by the pressure of their debuts and the size of the occasion. Though it is unconfirmed, it would be surprising to see the influential pair put on the bench in the third and final fixture, especially with the growing list of injuries that was added to with the loss of Maro Itoje and Sam Underhill, who will both miss the final test with concussions.

The confidence England should take into the third test sees their odds of a win increase over the last fixture though they remain the firm underdogs at 23/20.

Australia are set to introduce two new players to the squad in Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Waratahs winger Mark Nawaqanitawase. They are late additions but will be welcome reinforcements in the Wallabies’ push for the series victory.

Australia are fancied as the favourites to take the win and therefore the series at 8/11. However, with a marginal +2/-2 handicap applied, both sides have a 10/11 chance of victory, which highlights the improved chances of England and how closely contested the fixture could prove to be.

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