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'We were lucky' Luger drama seals England win over Aussies 22-19
LONDON (Reuters) -- A dramatic try in injury time by winger Dan Luger earned England a 22-19 victory over world champion Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, its first for five years. Luger chased a high kick into the left-hand corner and just touched down to snatch victory for England, which had not beaten the Wallabies since the 1995 World Cup. The referee needed to ask his video official to study a replay of the action before confirming the try. The try came as Australia seemed to be heading towards a fourth successive victory over the English, after winger Matt Burke scored all of his team's 19 points with a second-half try, four penalties and a conversion. Six minutes into injury time, Australia led the English 19-15 with all England's points coming from the boot of flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, who had kicked four penalties and a drop goal. After Luger managed to get his hand to touch down replacement Ian Balshaw's high kick to the corner, Wilkinson kicked a superb conversion from near the touchline to cap the win. "To be brutally honest, we were lucky to win," England coach Clive Woodward said. "With a minute to go, we were disappointed because I don't think we had played very well. So to come out with a win from the game is just fantastic. "We have been talking all week about the clock running down, not panicking and doing the right things. This is a big, big result. To win and not play that well makes it even better in a way. This is a massive win for England." Australia captain John Eales was gracious in defeat. "You are always disappointed after losing, but England did play well and they got away with it in the end." Good startEngland started well, and its handling was good. Territorially, they had much the best of the first half and had 75 percent of the possession. Wilkinson missed one penalty before landing two penalties for a 6-0 lead. But, although the Wallabies rarely featured as an attacking force in the first half, England indiscipline allowed Burke to keep them well in the game. The winger landed two penalties for 6-6 then another to level at 9-9. Australia lock David Giffin was sinbinned in first-half injury time for punching his opposite number Danny Grewcock. But, although Wilkinson missed the subsequent penalty, he was more accurate with a drop goal attempt to give England a 12-9 halftime lead. But, instead of taking advantage of the extra man, England handed over the initiative to Australia within four minutes of the restart. Winger Joe Roff ran through attempted tackles by winger Austin Healey and fullback Matt Perry before slipping the ball inside for Burke to score. The winger converted and five minutes later, following more good work by Roff, added a penalty to open a 19-12 lead. England regrouped and narrowed the margin with another Wilkinson penalty after 55 minutes. It continued to dominate in possession but was short of invention, and its muscular approach got little change from Australia's defense. Yellow cards for Australia's fullback Chris Latham and replacement forward Matt Cockbain in injury time gave England hope, and a sliced kick for touch by Roff gave them one last chance. Balshaw, who had looked sharp since coming on as a replacement, then chased his own kick to the corner together with Luger. The winger just got his hand to the ball ahead of Australian scrumhalf Sam Cordingley to snatch the win.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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