Nerves of Steel - England vs. Australia

With a whole world of pressure on their shoulders today England delivered a crucial win against an Australian side that knew exactly how they were feeling. The nerves jangled around Twickenham almost as loudly as the anthems were sung such was the amount riding on this game. 'It is just one game how much of an impact can it have?' I hear you say, but given the test series to date and what is to come in the future it was so much more than ‘just a game’ for both sides.

Today was a day when you had to have nerves of steel to be an England player; they had the weight of a nation on their shoulders compounded by the weight of three weeks' worth of criticism going into a game against a side that on their day can be deadly.

For all of the ranting and raving that has gone on about Lancaster's men for 80 minutes this afternoon they answered many of the questions that have been lingering and showed what they can do and what we expect from them. Now, that does not mean that I’m saying that they are the finished article, far from it and Stuart is the first to admit that... however they did show us a world class tight five and an extremely effective back row unit. Did we finish everything off out the back? No, however the combination of Ben Youngs and George Ford made for sweet viewing with George delivering the excellent kicking game that we have missed and with Ben's execution and leadership of his forwards being spot on. 

The sights of a bloodied and battered Brad Barritt and a shattered Courtney Lawes being helped off the field after two colossal shifts said everything that you needed to know about this England side. They will fight tooth and nail for each other when the chips are up and when they are down. Ben Morgan’s resurgence to form and the physicality of every single player out there today is to be applauded. The enigmatic Matt Tooma and Adam Ashley-Cooper threw their best at England however the men in white didn't budge and they held firm. It was the type of game that we've seen Lancaster's side lose before, but not today, not when it mattered the most. 

'Pleased and quietly satisfied' that was how Stuart described the dressing room and I expect he won't mind me adding 'relieved' that that description. It was essential England's series ended on a high, with a performance; the alternative doesn't do well to dwell on! 

It has been a testing autumn, an autumn that hasn’t quite taken England to the heights that they would like however perhaps, in the long run, that is a good thing. England have no less than 7 British and Irish Lions to come back into the squad, Lions that add significant gravitas and oomph. When it comes down it to, testing times galvanise sides, they add fire to the bellies and make them stronger. For England it may not have been a beautiful autumn but it certainly has been an important one. 

Here are the Out On The Full Images from Twickenham