OWEN FARRELL hit the Aussies for six as England rescued this tour Down Under from the ashes.
The England centre booted half a dozen penalties as the Aussie fortress Suncorp Stadium was stormed.
APFarrell kicked England to victory against Australia in the second match of the series[/caption]
Vunipola scored England’s only try of the match to go with Farrell’s six penaltiesGetty
Itoje went off injured and will miss next week’s decider in a blow to England’s hopes of winning the seriesGetty
England celebrated a big win Down Under as they avenged their loss last weekGetty
The Wallabies were on a 10-match winning streak at this ground but Farrell and co kicked that one into touch.
Ellis Genge set the tone with some monster carrying and Billy Vunipola followed his lead with his best game for yonks – and Farrell did the rest.
That gives Eddie Jones some breathing space after copping piles of flack since last week’s defeat in Perth and it is all to play for in Sydney next week.
But head coach Jones will be without the influential Maro Itoje after the second-rower suffered a head injury in a clash with Hunter Paisami.
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The 27-year-old was taken off shortly before half-time for a head injury assessment, and has now been ruled out of the winner takes all match in seven days.
Jones confirmed: “The medical situation with Maro is that he will be out next weekend.”
Farrell, Vunipola and Genge were England’s big hitters but plenty of players stood up after the pulverising in Perth last week.
Jack Nowell was all over the place off his wing and flanker Sam Underhill had Aussie skipper Michael Hooper on toast before being replaced.
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England lost Jack Willis before the game with a calf injury and boss Eddie Jones replaced the flanker with an apprentice centre.
Willis had been part of Jones’ masterplan to rip into the Aussies at the breakdown when he came off the bench – but that went sailing down the Brisbane River.
But at a place where Australia have not been beaten since 2016 – when Jones was in his pomp as England boss – the tourists started on the front foot.
Vunipola, who had his best game for England for three years, went over after five minutes, before Farrell banged over three quick penalties as Jones’ side were 16-0 up after 20 minutes.
England were all over the Australians like a rash and the hosts were down to 14 when replacement Izaia Perese was binned.
Farrell kept the board ticking but England were on the back foot when Itoje was taken off after a head collision and his exit was sandwiched between two scores from the Aussies.
First the Tongan Thor, Taniela Tupou, who has been in a war of words with Genge, went over after Genge had landed the first blows in the game.
And shortly after the break Samu Kerevi, the blockbuster centre, was gifted a walk-in try when the English defence went walkabout.
England were wobbling and a man down when Marcus Smith went in the bin as the Aussies were on the front foot.
But Danny Care settled the nerves off the bench and Farrell finished it off.
Scorers:
Australia: Tries: Tupou, Kerevi; Cons: Lolesio (2); Pen: Lolesio
England: Tries: B.Vunipola; Con: Farrell; Pens: Farrell (6)