Third-ranked England beat sixth-ranked Australia 40-16 in the first 2019 Rugby World Cup Quarterfinal at Oita Stadium, Oita on Saturday, October 19. England led 17-9 at the break.
England is the first team to advance to the semifinals and will meet New Zealand on 26 October. The All Blacks beat Ireland 46-14 in another quarterfinal.
Match Recap
After a break by Kurtley Beale with Owen Farrell making a saving tackle, Billy Vunipolo was penalized for a high tackle. Christian Lealiifano slotted a penalty goal for a Wallabies 3-0 lead.
England answered back with a Tom Curry offload to Jonny May for a try with Farrell adding the extras to take a 7-3 lead. Three minutes later May collected a Henry Slade grub kick for a brace to push the lead to 14-3 after Farrell’s kick.
Australia cut the lead to 14-6 after a Lealiifano kick after Henry Slade was penalized for not rolling away at the breakdown.
Farrell and Lealiifano then traded penalty goals for a 17-9 England lead at the break.
Second Half
Australia struck first early in the half after a Youngbox kick which led to a Wallabies counterattack by Reece Hodge, who passed long to Jordan Petaia and inside to Marika Koroibete for a try, with Lealiifano slotting the extras to cut the lead to 17-16.
It was all England after that with Kyle Sinckler taking a flat pass from Farrell for a try with a Farrell boot to lead 24-16.
Farrell slotted three more penalty goals to lead 33-16 before Anthony Watson intercepted a Kurtley Beale pass as Australia tried to pass from their own in-goal. Farrell was 8 for 8 with the boot to lead 40-16.
With two minutes left, Wallabies win Koroibete appeared to score a brace after beating multiple defenders, but the try was overruled citing a forward pass.
With England’s win, they will face New Zealand in the semifinals on 26 October in Yokohama City. The All Blacks had a decisive 46-14 win over Ireland.
Player of the Match honors went to Tom Currayof England. Both Will Genia with 110 caps and David Pocock with 83 caps ended their international rugby career.
Squads & Match Preview
England: 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Billy Vunipola, 9 Ben Youngs, 10 Owen Farrell (capt.), 11 Jonny May, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Anthony Watson, 15 Elliot Daly 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Dan Cole, 19 George Kruis, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 George Ford, 23 Jonathan Joseph
Australia: 1 Scott Sio, 2 Tolu Latu, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Izack Rodda, 5 Rory Arnold, 6 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (capt.), 8 Isi Naisarani, 9 Will Genia, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 11 Marika Koroibete, 12 Samu Kerevi, 13 Jordan Petaia, 14 Reece Hodge, 15 Kurtley Beale 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21 Nic White, 22 Matt To’omua, 23 James O’Connor
Referee: Jerome Garces (France)
Assistants Referees: Romain Poite (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Ben Sheen (England)
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