In June 2016, England played a three-test series against as part of the 2016 mid-year rugby union tests. They played the Wallabies across the three weeks of the June International window, 11 June–25 June, and contested the Cook Cup, which England had previously won eight times to Australia's twelve. The series was part of the fourth year of the global rugby calendar established by the International Rugby Board, which runs through to 2019.
England won all three matches, the first time they had won a test series in Australia. After defeating the hosts in the second match, England retained the Cook Cup and achieved second place in the World Rugby Rankings, while Australia dropped to fourth. Australia had not been "whitewashed" in a home series since losing all three tests to South Africa in 1971.
After the third test, two days after the United Kingdom had voted to leave the European Union, The Courier-Mail joked that a second continent now hated England as a result of the tour.Daily Telegraph/
Fixtures Date Venue Home Score Away 11 June 2016 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 28–39 18 June 2016 AAMI Park, Melbourne 7–23 25 June 2016 Allianz Stadium, Sydney 40–44
Squads Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as per 11 June, the first test match of the tour.
England On 22 May, Eddie Jones named a 32-man squad for England's tour of Australia. An additional 5 players (Dave Attwood, Luther Burrell, Ollie Devoto, Matt Kvesic, Tommy Taylor) were also named ahead of the test match against Wales on 29 May, the day after the Aviva Premiership final between Saracens and Exeter Chiefs. Ben Te'o, whose mother is English, was named in the squad, despite playing for Irish province Leinster, since he will be moving to Worcester Warriors for the 2016/17 season, making him eligible for selection.
On 30 May, Luther Burrell replaced Manu Tuilagi in the touring squad after Tuilagi withdrew from the squad due to injury.
Coaching team: Head coach: Eddie Jones Defence coach: Paul Gustard Attack/Skills coach: Glen Ella Forwards coach: Steve Borthwick
Australia On 26 May 2016, Michael Cheika named a 39-man extended squad for their June test series against England.
On 30 May 2016, Reece Hodge was called up to the squad to replace the injured Mike Harris.
On 3 June 2016, Michael Cheika named a final 33-man squad for the test series, with Adam Coleman, Liam Gill, James Hanson, Leroy Houston, Eto Nabuli and Joe Powell missing out on the final cut.
On 12 June, Matt To'omua joined the squad as un-listed member of the squad after recovering from his knee surgery. Liam Gill (rugby)|Liam Gill also joined the squad after David Pocock was ruled out of the rest of the series.
On 20 June, Ben McCalman was ruled out of the last test of the series due to injury and was replaced by Leroy Houston in the squad.
On 23 June, Adam Coleman was named in an extended match-day 23 for the final test, despite not being in the initial 33-man squad.
Coaching team: Head coach: Michael Cheika Defence coach: Nathan Grey Forwards coach: Mario Ledesma Backs/Attack coach: Stephen Larkham
Matches
First test
FB 15Israel FolauRW 14Dane Haylett-PettyOC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Samu KereviLW 11Rob Horne FH 10Bernard FoleySH 9 Nick Phipps N8 8 David PocockOF 7 Michael Hooper BF 6 Scott Fardy RL 5 Rob Simmons LL 4 Rory Arnold TP 3 Greg Holmes HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 Scott Sio Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17James Slipper PR 18Sekope Kepu LK 19James Horwill LK 20Dean Mumm FL 21Sean McMahon SH 22Nick Frisby FH 23Christian Lealiifano Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Anthony Watson OC 13Jonathan JosephIC 12Luther Burrell LW 11Marland YardeFH 10Owen FarrellSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 James HaskellBF 6 Chris RobshawRL 5 George Kruis LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley (c) LP 1 Mako Vunipola Replacements:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Matt Mullan PR 18Paul Hill LK 19Joe Launchbury LK 20Courtney Lawes SH 21Danny Care FH 22George Ford WG 23Jack Nowell Coach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: James Haskell (England)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: Rory Arnold, Nick Frisby, Samu Kerevi and Dane Haylett-Petty (all Australia) made their international debuts. Mike Brown (England) earned his 50th test cap. England win back-to-back tests in Australia for the first time since 2003, while winning in Brisbane for the first time ever. The 39 points scored by England, are the most points scored by England against Australia.
Second test
FB 15Israel FolauRW 14Dane Haylett-Petty OC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Samu Kerevi LW 11Rob HorneFH 10Bernard FoleySH 9 Nick Phipps N8 8 Sean McMahon OF 7 Michael HooperBF 6 Scott FardyRL 5 Sam CarterLL 4 Rory Arnold TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 James Slipper Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17Toby Smith PR 18Greg Holmes LK 19Dean Mumm N8 20Ben McCalman SH 21Nick Frisby CE 22Christian Lealiifano WG 23Luke Morahan Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Anthony Watson OC 13Jonathan JosephIC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Jack NowellFH 10George FordSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy VunipolaOF 7 James Haskell BF 6 Chris Robshaw RL 5 George Kruis LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley (c) LP 1 Mako Vunipola Replacements:HK 16Jamie George PR 17Matt Mullan PR 18Paul Hill LK 19Joe Launchbury LK 20Courtney Lawes FL 21Jack Clifford SH 22Danny Care CE 23Elliot Daly Coach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: Chris Robshaw (England)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Notes: Chris Robshaw (England) earned his 50th test cap, having started all of his appearances. The 16 points England won by is the most they have ever beaten Australia by in Australia, breaking the record of 11 points they set the previous week. England retain the Cook Cup for the third consecutive time. England win their first ever test series against Australia. England win their third consecutive match against Australia in Australia, the first time they have done this.
Third test
FB 15Israel FolauRW 14Dane Haylett-PettyOC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Matt To'omua LW 11Rob Horne FH 10Bernard FoleySH 9 Nick PhippsN8 8 Sean McMahonOF 7 Michael HooperBF 6 Scott FardyRL 5 Rob Simmons LL 4 Will Skelton TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Stephen Moore (c) LP 1 James Slipper Replacements:HK 16Tatafu Polota-Nau PR 17Scott Sio PR 18Greg Holmes LK 19Adam Coleman N8 20Wycliff Palu SH 21Nick FrisbyFH 22Christian Lealiifano WG 23Taqele Naiyaravoro Coach: Michael Cheika FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Jonathan JosephIC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Jack NowellFH 10George FordSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 Teimana Harrison BF 6 Chris Robshaw RL 5 George Kruis LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley (c) LP 1 Mako Vunipola Replacements:HK 16Jamie George PR 17Matt Mullan PR 18Paul Hill LK 19Joe Launchbury LK 20Courtney Lawes FL 21Jack Clifford SH 22Danny Care CE 23Elliot Daly Coach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: Owen Farrell (England)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand) Notes: Adam Coleman (Australia) made his international debut. England score their most points against Australia in Australia, surpassing the 39 points scored in the first test of this test series. Australia lose 3–0 for the first time since they lost their three-test series to South Africa in 1971. England win their fourth consecutive match against Australia in Australia, the first time they have done this. This was the first time three matches had been played in a series between England and Australia.
Statistics Key Con: Conversions Pen: Penalties DG: Drop goals Pts: Points
England statistics NamePlayedTriesConPenDGPtsOwen Farrell31815066––Mike Brown310005––Dan Cole310005––Dylan Hartley310005––Jonathan Joseph310005––Jack Nowell310005––Billy Vunipola310005––Jamie George210005––Marland Yarde110005––Danny Care300000––George Ford300000––Paul Hill300000––Maro Itoje300000––George Kruis300000––Joe Launchbury300000––Courtney Lawes300000––Matt Mullan300000––Chris Robshaw300000––Mako Vunipola300000––Anthony Watson300000––Ben Youngs300000––Jack Clifford200000––Elliot Daly200000––James Haskell200000––Luther Burrell100000––Luke Cowan-Dickie100000––Teimana Harrison100000––Ellis Genge–––––0––Alex Goode–––––0––Kyle Sinckler–––––0––Henry Slade–––––0––Ben Te'o–––––0––Manu Tuilagi–––––0––
Test series statistics NameTeamTriesConPenDGPtsOwen Farrell1815066Bernard Foley155030Michael Hooper300015Israel Folau200010Mike Brown10005Dan Cole10005Jamie George10005Dylan Hartley10005Dane Haylett-Petty10005Jonathan Joseph10005Tevita Kuridrani10005Stephen Moore10005Taqele Naiyaravoro10005Jack Nowell10005Billy Vunipola10005Marland Yarde10005
See also 2016 mid-year rugby union internationals History of rugby union matches between Australia and England
References