South Africa 19-13 Ireland (Series SA 2-1 IRE)
Pietersen try, Jantjies 3 pens & 1 con, Combrinck pen
Marshall try, Jackson con & 2 pens for Ire
Ireland missed the chance to register a historic series win in South Africa with a narrow defeat in Port Elizabeth.
The three-match series was set up for a dramatic decider and it looked to be going Ireland's way as Luke Marshall scored after 17 minutes.
However, JP Pietersen gathered Elton Jantjies' precise cross-field kick to give the Springboks the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Ireland threatened late on but South Africa sealed the series 2-1.
The series had been set up for decider after 14-man Ireland won the first Test in Cape Town, their maiden victory in South Africa, before the Springboks bounced back to take the second in Johannesburg.
Joe Schmidt's Ireland side started positively in Port Elizabeth, with Marshall scoring after 13 phases, but they faded after the break and the long season of 17 international matches looked to have taken its toll before a late revival saw them pressing hard at the end, but in vain.
Should Le Roux have seen red?
Many felt Le Roux should have seen red for his reckless challenge on opposite number O'Halloran.
The Irishman landed heavily on his shoulders but referee Glen Jackson, in conjunction with the television match official, decided a yellow card was sufficient punishment.
In the first Test CJ Stander was red carded and subsequently banned for one match for an aerial collision with Pat Lambie.
Opportunity missed
The Springboks have Faf de Klerk to thank for keeping their record intact against Ireland.
Penalties from Jantjies and Ruan Combrinck, the latter from inside his own half, looked to have ended Ireland's challenge.
But three points from Paddy Jackson with 10 minutes remaining reduced the deficit to six points and a rejuvenated Ireland went close twice in the final five minutes.
On both occasions it was scrum-half De Klerk who intervened, first ending a 21-phase move with a crucial interception and then racing out of his line to put in a vital tackle on Keith Earls as the hooter went.
What's next?
Ireland coach Schmidt's third year in the job saw his side reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup and finish third in the Six Nations.
His contract runs until the summer of 2017, but he said he would decide whether to stay until the 2019 Rugby World Cup after the completion of this tour.
South Africa, who finished third at the World Cup, have two months off before the start of the Rugby Championship.
What they said
Ireland captain Rory Best told Sky Sports: "It's been a great series, a really tough series - exactly what we thought it would be. They're a top side. We came here to win a series, we've fallen short now twice, but six points shows how tight the games have been.
"Our boys have fought valiantly. Unfortunately in the last two Tests the Springboks have been a bit more clinical.
"A lot of people wrote us off before we came here but there are some really young players coming through. There are a lot boys to come in. The future of Irish rugby is really bright. We still think we're good enough to win series like that and eventually we'll take a look back to find out why we didn't."
Japan 16-21 Scotland (Series JPN 0-2 SCO)
Captain Greig Laidlaw came off the bench to rescue Scotland in Tokyo and give them a second victory against Japan to seal a 2-0 series win.
The deeply disjointed and rudderless visitors trailed 16-9 when Laidlaw entered the fray in the 50th minute.
They led 6-3 early on with two penalties from Henry Pyrgos but the hosts hit the front with a breathtaking 90m try finished by Kaito Shigeno.
But Laidlaw landed four kicks to avert a nightmarish end to Scotland's season.
Australia 40-44 England (Series AUS 0-3 ENG)
Foley, Haylett-Petty, Hooper, Folau, Naiyaravoro tries; Foley 3 cons & 3 pens for Aus
Cole, Watson, B Vunipola, George tries; Farrell 3 cons & 6 pens for Eng
England completed a series whitewash in Australia with victory in a pulsating third and final Test in Sydney.
The Wallabies led by a point at half-time courtesy of the boot of Bernard Foley, after Dan Cole and Mike Brown had crossed for England, and Foley and Dane Haylett-Petty for the hosts.
Michael Hooper and Israel Folau tries cancelled out a Billy Vunipola score.
But Owen Farrell's boot kept England in touch and Jamie George's try helped them to a record score and a 3-0 win.
Turning defence into attack
After their defensive heroics in the 23-7 second Test win last weekend the tourists were keen to show more of their attacking game in Sydney, and they duly delivered as what could have been a flat dead rubber turned in an epic encounter as both sides looked to move the ball at will.
It was not a day for the defence coaches as the sides shared nine tries between them, and in the end the difference probably came down to the narrow ascendancy of the English pack.
Shorn of the tackling machine James Haskell through injury, coach Eddie Jones turned to Teimana Harrison in his only change.
But the flanker was withdrawn after only half an hour, with Courtney Lawes coming into the second row, Maro Itoje moving to blind-side flanker and Chris Robshaw shifting to open-side.
And, with a steady supply of replacements reinforcing the visitors' eight, England finally killed the game off with five minutes remaining - the giant Taqele Naiyaravoro's try doing no more than applying late gloss to the scoreboard for the wounded Wallabies.
Sydney see-saw
The game was tit for tat from the opening stages, with England prop Cole finishing off from short range a move started by front row colleague Mako Vunipola's barrelling run, before Australia hit back as the loping Folau beat Jack Nowell down the left wing and linked with Matt Toomua to send Foley cruising over.
Haylett-Petty soon strode over out wide on the right for the hosts but England went back in front as Brown raced on to Anthony Watson's classy chip.
With Farrell landing his kicks the visitors looked set to lead at the break, but a late Foley penalty made it 18-17 at half-time.
England finally pull away
If the first half had been exciting, the second half was dizzying.
Billy Vunipola rampaged over from a five-metre scrum to put the visitors back into the lead, but Australia looked dangerous every time they managed to wrest the ball from England's grasp, and flanker Hooper stretched over before the Leicester-bound Toomua burst through in midfield and gave 6ft 5in Wallaby full-back Folau a run to the line.
Australia suddenly lead by four points with 20 minutes to go, but replacement hooker George dotted down for England's fourth try to put them back in front, and Farrell's accurate kicking ensured the tourists finally pulled away.
His 79th-minute penalty gave them a decisive nine-point lead and although Naiyaravoro had the final word, the Wallabies had already had to accept they had been whitewashed for the first time by England.
New Zealand 46-6 Wales (Series NZ 3-0 WAL)
Smith, Moala, Barrett 2, Coles, Dagg tries, Barrett 2 pens, 5 cons for NZ
Biggar 2 pens for Wales
New Zealand stretched their winning run over Wales to 29 games in 63 years with a commanding performance in Dunedin.
The tourists fought as hard as they had in losing the first two Tests, but the All Blacks were smarter in defence and sharper in attack.
First-half tries by wing Ben Smith and centre George Moala were followed by Beauden Barrett going over.
Fly-half Barrett added a second in a 26-point haul with hooker Dane Coles and Israel Dagg also touching down.
It finished as the fifth-largest winning margin for the All Blacks against Wales, the biggest a 55-3 hiding in 2003 when the tourists were coached by Steve Hansen.
Now a World Cup winner with his home country, Hansen made 12 changes for this game, five of them in the starting XV, and said the risks were worth the potential rewards.
But it proved no gamble as his side ruthlessly punished aspects of Wales' kicking game as the match wore on.
The frenetic start of the two previous Tests was repeated under a closed roof, but a lack of composure in possession affected both teams' efforts to break the defence.
It was left to rival kickers Dan Biggar and Barrett to put the first points on the board, the Welshman opening the scoring and adding a second after his counterpart's first success.
Early nerves were even evident in the opening try as Aaron Smith had to pick up off the floor a few metres out before providing a superb scoring pass to namesake Ben.
Even then, the All Blacks had to wait for the video referee to decide the right wing had touched down before a trailing knee had crossed the touchline under pressure from Hallam Amos.
Inaccurate Wales
Moala was denied by Liam Williams' desperate tackle but the centre finished off a sweeping counter-attack and Barrett's conversion gave the hosts a 12-point cushion at the break.
Barrett's pace brought New Zealand's next try - his second - and his superb pass put hooker Coles clear as Wales suffered for their inaccuracy with the boot out of hand.
As in Wellington seven days earlier, Wales attacked late on, but after their final flourish failed, Dagg raced 70 metres to complete the rout.
Warren Gatland's men were a clear second best and left without adding to their five-try tally from the first two Tests, while the hosts ended the series with 16.
What's next for Wales and the All Blacks?
New Zealand will begin to prepare for their defence of the Rugby Championship, in which they face Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
Wales can now look forward to some rest and recuperation having played 19 games including 18 Tests since August 2015, including the World Cup and Six Nations.
In the longer term their leading players - and coach Gatland - will be hoping they can return down under in 2017 with the British and Irish Lions.
Saturday, 25 June 2016
Sunday, 19 June 2016
Super League Thurs 16th June to Sunday 19th June
Thursday 16th June
Widnes Vikings 0-7 Wigan Warriors
Friday 17th June
Wakefield Wildcats 6-32 Leeds Rhinos
Warrington Wolves 20-18 Catalans Dragons
St Helens 48-16 Hull KR
Salford Red Devils 30-31 Huddersfield Giants
Sunday 19th June
Castleford Tigers 22-24 Hull FC
Widnes Vikings 0-7 Wigan Warriors
Friday 17th June
Wakefield Wildcats 6-32 Leeds Rhinos
Warrington Wolves 20-18 Catalans Dragons
St Helens 48-16 Hull KR
Salford Red Devils 30-31 Huddersfield Giants
Sunday 19th June
Castleford Tigers 22-24 Hull FC
US Open Day 3
US Open round three leaderboard
-5 S Lowry (Ire*); -3 A Landry (US*); -2 S Garcia (Spa*), L Westwood (Eng*), D Johnson (US*); -1 B Grace (SA); Level S Piercy (US*); +1 J Day (Aus), B DeChambeau (US), Z Johnson (US*), D Summerhays (US*)
Selected others: +2 G Bourdy (Fra*) A Scott (Aus*); +3 A Sullivan (Eng*), L Oosthuizen (SA*), R Knox (Sco*); +4 J Spieth (US), G McDowell (NI), R Knox (Sco) +8 D Willett (Eng).
* denotes yet to finish third round
Ireland's Shane Lowry holds a two-shot lead at the US Open with the leaders still to complete their third rounds.
Lowry is five under par but still has four holes to play on Sunday before starting his final round at Oakmont.
American Andrew Landry is two shots behind with players catching up after storms affected the first day.
England's Lee Westwood is a shot back on two under, having played 15 holes, along with second-round leader Dustin Johnson and Spain's Sergio Garcia.
The leaderboard was constantly changing during an intriguing third round with Johnson, Lowry, Landry, Westwood and Garcia all having either the outright lead, or a share of it at some point.
None of the top seven on the leaderboard have ever won one of golf's four majors.
Lowry birdied the fourth, sixth and seventh to briefly move a shot clear at the top on his own.
But after taking a bogey-four on the eighth, he added birdies on the ninth and 12th to regain the lead and open up a slight advantage.
"I'm glad we didn't have to play another four holes as I was getting tired but I'm really looking forward to getting out there on Sunday," said world number 41 Lowry.
"I've never been in this position but this is where you want to be.
"My game is good and I feel very comfortable out there."
Johnson had begun the round with a one-stroke advantage and birdied the first hole to move two shots clear. He scrambled a par on the second after sending his tee shot, via a spectator's head, into a food stall.
However, the American double-bogeyed the third as his challenge faltered.
Westwood, 43, is looking to win his first major at his 73rd attempt. He held a share of the lead after chipping in for an eagle from 130 yards on the par-four fifth but finished the day on two-under par with three holes of his third round to play.
Garcia was also briefly a co-leader after hitting back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth as he bids for his first major after finishing second on four occasions.
Landry, who is ranked 624 in the world, led the American challenge with a birdie on the seventh giving him the outright lead and he ended the day as Lowry's closest challenger on three under with five to play.
South Africa's Branden Grace is the leader in the clubhouse after a four-under-par 66 in his third round.
World number one Jason Day, the 2015 PGA Championship winner, also hit a 66 after four birdies in his first five holes and picked up an eagle on the par-five fourth.
The 28-year-old Australian, who shot a six-over par 76 in his opening round, is six shots off the lead.
The third round will resume at 12:00 BST on Sunday, with the final round following later in the day.
-5 S Lowry (Ire*); -3 A Landry (US*); -2 S Garcia (Spa*), L Westwood (Eng*), D Johnson (US*); -1 B Grace (SA); Level S Piercy (US*); +1 J Day (Aus), B DeChambeau (US), Z Johnson (US*), D Summerhays (US*)
Selected others: +2 G Bourdy (Fra*) A Scott (Aus*); +3 A Sullivan (Eng*), L Oosthuizen (SA*), R Knox (Sco*); +4 J Spieth (US), G McDowell (NI), R Knox (Sco) +8 D Willett (Eng).
* denotes yet to finish third round
Ireland's Shane Lowry holds a two-shot lead at the US Open with the leaders still to complete their third rounds.
Lowry is five under par but still has four holes to play on Sunday before starting his final round at Oakmont.
American Andrew Landry is two shots behind with players catching up after storms affected the first day.
England's Lee Westwood is a shot back on two under, having played 15 holes, along with second-round leader Dustin Johnson and Spain's Sergio Garcia.
The leaderboard was constantly changing during an intriguing third round with Johnson, Lowry, Landry, Westwood and Garcia all having either the outright lead, or a share of it at some point.
None of the top seven on the leaderboard have ever won one of golf's four majors.
Lowry birdied the fourth, sixth and seventh to briefly move a shot clear at the top on his own.
But after taking a bogey-four on the eighth, he added birdies on the ninth and 12th to regain the lead and open up a slight advantage.
"I'm glad we didn't have to play another four holes as I was getting tired but I'm really looking forward to getting out there on Sunday," said world number 41 Lowry.
"I've never been in this position but this is where you want to be.
"My game is good and I feel very comfortable out there."
Johnson had begun the round with a one-stroke advantage and birdied the first hole to move two shots clear. He scrambled a par on the second after sending his tee shot, via a spectator's head, into a food stall.
However, the American double-bogeyed the third as his challenge faltered.
Westwood, 43, is looking to win his first major at his 73rd attempt. He held a share of the lead after chipping in for an eagle from 130 yards on the par-four fifth but finished the day on two-under par with three holes of his third round to play.
Garcia was also briefly a co-leader after hitting back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth as he bids for his first major after finishing second on four occasions.
Landry, who is ranked 624 in the world, led the American challenge with a birdie on the seventh giving him the outright lead and he ended the day as Lowry's closest challenger on three under with five to play.
South Africa's Branden Grace is the leader in the clubhouse after a four-under-par 66 in his third round.
World number one Jason Day, the 2015 PGA Championship winner, also hit a 66 after four birdies in his first five holes and picked up an eagle on the par-five fourth.
The 28-year-old Australian, who shot a six-over par 76 in his opening round, is six shots off the lead.
The third round will resume at 12:00 BST on Sunday, with the final round following later in the day.
Saturday, 18 June 2016
Saturday's Summer Tests
New Zealand 36-22 Wales
New Zealand produced another dominant second-half performance to crush battling Wales in Wellington.
Alun Wyn Jones' 38th-minute try tied the scores 10-10 at the interval.
But inspired by replacement fly-half Beauden Barrett, the All Blacks scored four tries after the break through Ben Smith, Barrett, Waiseke Naholo and Ardie Savea.
Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies scored in a late flurry, but Wales have now not beaten the Kiwis in 28 games.
Barrett was on the field following a serious-looking injury to Aaron Cruden who was taken off on a buggy in the first half.
After their 39-21 loss in the first Test, Wales' management had warned their players they needed an 80-minute performance against the world champions.
But again the Welsh could not live with the All Blacks in a crucial 10-minute period after the break in when they scored four tries.
It might have been different if Taulupe Faletau had held on to a pass from Sam Warburton who had intercepted a pass in the 51st minute with the scores still tied.
The pass went to ground and within a minute Smith had crossed for New Zealand's second try and the hosts put their foot on the accelerator.
Another positive start
Again Wales gave as good as they got in the first half, dominating possession in the early phases but having only Biggar's 15th minute penalty to show for it.
The All Blacks made no mistake on their first visit to the Welsh 22, Aaron Smith brilliantly exploiting a narrow defence with Israel Dagg dummying his way over to mark his 50th cap with a try.
The long break for Cruden's injury disrupted the momentum, before Wales struck on the stroke of half time.
Jonathan Davies brushing past Barrett to set up the attack and then sending a long pass to Jones loitering on the left-hand touchline who scored his ninth Test try in his 101st game for Wales with Biggar's conversion levelling the scores.
Japan 13-26 Scotland
Scotland beat a depleted but resilient Japan in Toyota City to go one-up in their two Test series, the second coming in Tokyo next Saturday.
Japan scored the opening try through Shota Horie, but their ruinous ill-discipline dynamited their chances.
Scotland's reply - a penalty try - came as Japan's Hendrik Tui was sin-binned.
Tui was still off and had been joined by Rikiya Matsuda when Scotland got their second and last score, via a barrelling finish from WP Nel.
The unerring goal-kicking of Greig Laidlaw steered Scotland home, the captain landing 16 points in all.
Vern Cotter's team rarely looked convincing against a team shorn of seven of the men who created history by beating South Africa at the World Cup last year.
For Scotland, the beginning was grim, Alasdair Dickinson going off injured after just two minutes. Laidlaw calmed them soon after with his first penalty but the wheels came off in quick order.
The dogs in the street knew what Japan were going to try to do here. Any chance of introducing pace and fury to proceedings would be taken, any penalty that was tapable would be tapped and things would happen at breakneck speed.
That was the way of it when they won a penalty around halfway in the ninth minute and Scotland were not ready for it. Japan attacked in a blur, Amanaki Mafi roaring down the right and punching holes in the Scotland defence, then Harumichi Tatekawa following in the next wave.
It all ended with Scotland stretched and porous, Horie darting in under the posts for a try that was converted by Yu Tamura.
Scotland were jumpy for a spell. Stuart McInally overthrew at a lineout and the visitors looked weary. Their respite came in the guise of wretched Japanese discipline at the breakdown and their inability to hold Nel in the scrum.
They conceded six penalties in the opening 23 minutes - and 11 in the first 40 including those two costly yellow cards. Laidlaw booted Scotland back into a 9-7 lead before Tamura restored Japan's lead with a penalty of his own on the half-hour.
It was then that Japan's problems began in earnest.
Scotland got little change out of their lineout maul, but they did get a bonus of having Tui, Japan's blindside flanker, binned in trying to stop it. One yellow card became two when Matsuda walked after deliberately knocking-on a pass from Stuart Hogg to Tommy Seymour that would have seen the wing score in the corner.
Matsuda need not have bothered. Referee Ben O'Keeffe gave a penalty try in any event and Laidlaw added the extras.
Scotland made hay against the 13 men, Ruaridh Jackson's deft chip ahead at the start of the second half putting Japan in a hole they did not get out of until Nel had blasted his way through bodies to score Scotland's second try, converted from the touchline by Laidlaw.
Tamura made it 23-13 with a penalty soon after, Laidlaw negating it with a simple kick after fine counter attack by Hogg, Sean Maitland and Duncan Taylor.
Scotland looked a tired team even by that point, midway through the second half. Japan got some ball and plenty of territory but could not break the tourists.
Australia 7-23 England
England produced a heroic defensive display to win the second Test and earn their first ever series victory in Australia.
England took a 10-0 lead through Dylan Hartley's try and an Owen Farrell conversion and penalty but Australia hit back via Stephen Moore's try.
Farrell's second penalty gave England a six-point lead in the second half.
They then had to survive relentless Australian attacks before Farrell crossed to wrap up victory late on.
England will head to Sydney for the third and final Test with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
England's white cliffs
This was a victory built on one of the great defensive displays in the history of Test rugby.
After Farrell had kicked his second penalty soon after the restart Australia took total control of possession and territory, and for half an hour they hammered away at the English defence.
But the tourists refused to let their line be breached and with James Haskell leading the way they made 200 tackles - nearly four times as many as Australia - to set up a famous rearguard victory.
We'll fight them on the beaches...
In the first half it looked as though the appalling pitch at AAMI Park would provide the main talking point.
The ground was churned up at the very first scrum and both sides struggled to keep their footing on the sandy surface - negating the advantage England hoped to earn at first phase.
Eddie Jones' men also struggled at the line-out, with line-out caller George Kruis pulled from the fray after 55 minutes, but they had enough power up front to take what proved to be a vital 10-0 lead in the first half.
England go clear - briefly
England took the lead from a line-out after kicking a penalty to the corner, with an unstoppable driving maul ending with captain Hartley emerging with the ball.
Farrell, who had raced in to join the maul, added the conversion and when a mighty England scrum - the ground for once not giving away - earned a penalty, Farrell made it 10-0.
Any thoughts the visitors had of pulling away were quickly dashed though as they failed to win the restart and Australia showed anything England could they could do just as well, Wallaby captain Moore being driven over from a line-out for a converted try.
Farrell edged England into a six-point lead early in the second half, but that only served to spark a relentless assault by Australia.
Bodies on the line
Australia came in waves, their powerful backs combining with their forwards to hammer away at England, but no matter what they tried they could not break through.
Chris Robshaw came up with a vital turnover a metre from the line to halt one assault and a blur of white-clad bodies flew in to tackle Wallaby attackers every time they approached, forcing the hosts into errors.
England's discipline was remarkable and on the two occasions they did give away penalties, Australia elected to kick for the corner and go for attacking line-outs, rather than kick for the posts.
It seemed inevitable England's walls would be breached but entering the closing stages they finally lifted the siege.
Farrell broke Australia hearts as he won the race for the ball after Courtney Lawes and Jamie George had led an England charge, and the Saracens man, playing at 12 for England, landed a conversion and penalty to secure a historic win for England.
South Africa 32-26 Ireland
South Africa staged a stirring comeback in the second Test in Johannesburg to square the three-match series.
Fourteen-man Ireland prevailed in Cape Town last weekend, and led 19-3 at half-time at Ellis Park.
But the Springbok replacements injected much-needed urgency and the hosts eventually outscored Ireland four tries to two to deserve their victory.
Ireland were chasing a first series win in South Africa but could still make history in Port Elizabeth next weekend.
If Ireland do win at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, they will also be the first of the four home nations to win a Test series in South Africa.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt denied he was saving players for next Saturday, despite making five changes to the side that started at Newlands.
Meanwhile, Springboks head coach Allister Coetzee made only two changes for his second game in charge - both enforced - despite coming in for some fierce criticism from the South African media.
Boos and whistles
Fly-half Elton Jantjies, starting in place of the injured Patrick Lambie, gave the hosts the lead with an early long-range penalty before Paddy Jackson hit back with two three-pointers of his own.
South Africa had the lion's share of possession in the opening quarter but were frustrated by a combination of handling errors and stout Irish defence.
And when Ireland demolished a Springboks scrum, leading to another straightforward penalty from Jackson, the home crowd was stunned into near silence.
Silence turned to whistles when JP Pietersen infringed at the breakdown and gifted Jackson another three points, before Jantjies missed two makeable penalty kicks in quick succession.
Things got worse for South Africa when Devin Toner crashed over following smart work from Andrew Trimble and Jared Payne, and the Springboks were roundly booed off the pitch at half-time.
The grand recovery
The hosts started the second half with more purpose but continued to be undermined by unforced errors.
There was relief when replacement wing Ruan Combrinck bulldozed over in the corner after a slick break by Willie Le Roux, but Ireland hit back immediately with a try from Jamie Heaslip.
However, another rampaging carry by debutant Combrinck created a try for replacement number eight and Lions team-mate Warren Whitely.
When Pieter-Steph du Toit showed tremendous strength to shrug off a slew of tacklers and score under the posts, Ireland were suddenly reeling.
And with Ireland fading fast in the rarefied Johannesburg air, Damian de Allende blasted through some weak tackles to make sure of victory and save Coetzee's blushes.
New Zealand produced another dominant second-half performance to crush battling Wales in Wellington.
Alun Wyn Jones' 38th-minute try tied the scores 10-10 at the interval.
But inspired by replacement fly-half Beauden Barrett, the All Blacks scored four tries after the break through Ben Smith, Barrett, Waiseke Naholo and Ardie Savea.
Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies scored in a late flurry, but Wales have now not beaten the Kiwis in 28 games.
Barrett was on the field following a serious-looking injury to Aaron Cruden who was taken off on a buggy in the first half.
After their 39-21 loss in the first Test, Wales' management had warned their players they needed an 80-minute performance against the world champions.
But again the Welsh could not live with the All Blacks in a crucial 10-minute period after the break in when they scored four tries.
It might have been different if Taulupe Faletau had held on to a pass from Sam Warburton who had intercepted a pass in the 51st minute with the scores still tied.
The pass went to ground and within a minute Smith had crossed for New Zealand's second try and the hosts put their foot on the accelerator.
Another positive start
Again Wales gave as good as they got in the first half, dominating possession in the early phases but having only Biggar's 15th minute penalty to show for it.
The All Blacks made no mistake on their first visit to the Welsh 22, Aaron Smith brilliantly exploiting a narrow defence with Israel Dagg dummying his way over to mark his 50th cap with a try.
The long break for Cruden's injury disrupted the momentum, before Wales struck on the stroke of half time.
Jonathan Davies brushing past Barrett to set up the attack and then sending a long pass to Jones loitering on the left-hand touchline who scored his ninth Test try in his 101st game for Wales with Biggar's conversion levelling the scores.
Japan 13-26 Scotland
Scotland beat a depleted but resilient Japan in Toyota City to go one-up in their two Test series, the second coming in Tokyo next Saturday.
Japan scored the opening try through Shota Horie, but their ruinous ill-discipline dynamited their chances.
Scotland's reply - a penalty try - came as Japan's Hendrik Tui was sin-binned.
Tui was still off and had been joined by Rikiya Matsuda when Scotland got their second and last score, via a barrelling finish from WP Nel.
The unerring goal-kicking of Greig Laidlaw steered Scotland home, the captain landing 16 points in all.
Vern Cotter's team rarely looked convincing against a team shorn of seven of the men who created history by beating South Africa at the World Cup last year.
For Scotland, the beginning was grim, Alasdair Dickinson going off injured after just two minutes. Laidlaw calmed them soon after with his first penalty but the wheels came off in quick order.
The dogs in the street knew what Japan were going to try to do here. Any chance of introducing pace and fury to proceedings would be taken, any penalty that was tapable would be tapped and things would happen at breakneck speed.
That was the way of it when they won a penalty around halfway in the ninth minute and Scotland were not ready for it. Japan attacked in a blur, Amanaki Mafi roaring down the right and punching holes in the Scotland defence, then Harumichi Tatekawa following in the next wave.
It all ended with Scotland stretched and porous, Horie darting in under the posts for a try that was converted by Yu Tamura.
Scotland were jumpy for a spell. Stuart McInally overthrew at a lineout and the visitors looked weary. Their respite came in the guise of wretched Japanese discipline at the breakdown and their inability to hold Nel in the scrum.
They conceded six penalties in the opening 23 minutes - and 11 in the first 40 including those two costly yellow cards. Laidlaw booted Scotland back into a 9-7 lead before Tamura restored Japan's lead with a penalty of his own on the half-hour.
It was then that Japan's problems began in earnest.
Scotland got little change out of their lineout maul, but they did get a bonus of having Tui, Japan's blindside flanker, binned in trying to stop it. One yellow card became two when Matsuda walked after deliberately knocking-on a pass from Stuart Hogg to Tommy Seymour that would have seen the wing score in the corner.
Matsuda need not have bothered. Referee Ben O'Keeffe gave a penalty try in any event and Laidlaw added the extras.
Scotland made hay against the 13 men, Ruaridh Jackson's deft chip ahead at the start of the second half putting Japan in a hole they did not get out of until Nel had blasted his way through bodies to score Scotland's second try, converted from the touchline by Laidlaw.
Tamura made it 23-13 with a penalty soon after, Laidlaw negating it with a simple kick after fine counter attack by Hogg, Sean Maitland and Duncan Taylor.
Scotland looked a tired team even by that point, midway through the second half. Japan got some ball and plenty of territory but could not break the tourists.
Australia 7-23 England
England produced a heroic defensive display to win the second Test and earn their first ever series victory in Australia.
England took a 10-0 lead through Dylan Hartley's try and an Owen Farrell conversion and penalty but Australia hit back via Stephen Moore's try.
Farrell's second penalty gave England a six-point lead in the second half.
They then had to survive relentless Australian attacks before Farrell crossed to wrap up victory late on.
England will head to Sydney for the third and final Test with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
England's white cliffs
This was a victory built on one of the great defensive displays in the history of Test rugby.
After Farrell had kicked his second penalty soon after the restart Australia took total control of possession and territory, and for half an hour they hammered away at the English defence.
But the tourists refused to let their line be breached and with James Haskell leading the way they made 200 tackles - nearly four times as many as Australia - to set up a famous rearguard victory.
We'll fight them on the beaches...
In the first half it looked as though the appalling pitch at AAMI Park would provide the main talking point.
The ground was churned up at the very first scrum and both sides struggled to keep their footing on the sandy surface - negating the advantage England hoped to earn at first phase.
Eddie Jones' men also struggled at the line-out, with line-out caller George Kruis pulled from the fray after 55 minutes, but they had enough power up front to take what proved to be a vital 10-0 lead in the first half.
England go clear - briefly
England took the lead from a line-out after kicking a penalty to the corner, with an unstoppable driving maul ending with captain Hartley emerging with the ball.
Farrell, who had raced in to join the maul, added the conversion and when a mighty England scrum - the ground for once not giving away - earned a penalty, Farrell made it 10-0.
Any thoughts the visitors had of pulling away were quickly dashed though as they failed to win the restart and Australia showed anything England could they could do just as well, Wallaby captain Moore being driven over from a line-out for a converted try.
Farrell edged England into a six-point lead early in the second half, but that only served to spark a relentless assault by Australia.
Bodies on the line
Australia came in waves, their powerful backs combining with their forwards to hammer away at England, but no matter what they tried they could not break through.
Chris Robshaw came up with a vital turnover a metre from the line to halt one assault and a blur of white-clad bodies flew in to tackle Wallaby attackers every time they approached, forcing the hosts into errors.
England's discipline was remarkable and on the two occasions they did give away penalties, Australia elected to kick for the corner and go for attacking line-outs, rather than kick for the posts.
It seemed inevitable England's walls would be breached but entering the closing stages they finally lifted the siege.
Farrell broke Australia hearts as he won the race for the ball after Courtney Lawes and Jamie George had led an England charge, and the Saracens man, playing at 12 for England, landed a conversion and penalty to secure a historic win for England.
South Africa 32-26 Ireland
South Africa staged a stirring comeback in the second Test in Johannesburg to square the three-match series.
Fourteen-man Ireland prevailed in Cape Town last weekend, and led 19-3 at half-time at Ellis Park.
But the Springbok replacements injected much-needed urgency and the hosts eventually outscored Ireland four tries to two to deserve their victory.
Ireland were chasing a first series win in South Africa but could still make history in Port Elizabeth next weekend.
If Ireland do win at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, they will also be the first of the four home nations to win a Test series in South Africa.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt denied he was saving players for next Saturday, despite making five changes to the side that started at Newlands.
Meanwhile, Springboks head coach Allister Coetzee made only two changes for his second game in charge - both enforced - despite coming in for some fierce criticism from the South African media.
Boos and whistles
Fly-half Elton Jantjies, starting in place of the injured Patrick Lambie, gave the hosts the lead with an early long-range penalty before Paddy Jackson hit back with two three-pointers of his own.
South Africa had the lion's share of possession in the opening quarter but were frustrated by a combination of handling errors and stout Irish defence.
And when Ireland demolished a Springboks scrum, leading to another straightforward penalty from Jackson, the home crowd was stunned into near silence.
Silence turned to whistles when JP Pietersen infringed at the breakdown and gifted Jackson another three points, before Jantjies missed two makeable penalty kicks in quick succession.
Things got worse for South Africa when Devin Toner crashed over following smart work from Andrew Trimble and Jared Payne, and the Springboks were roundly booed off the pitch at half-time.
The grand recovery
The hosts started the second half with more purpose but continued to be undermined by unforced errors.
There was relief when replacement wing Ruan Combrinck bulldozed over in the corner after a slick break by Willie Le Roux, but Ireland hit back immediately with a try from Jamie Heaslip.
However, another rampaging carry by debutant Combrinck created a try for replacement number eight and Lions team-mate Warren Whitely.
When Pieter-Steph du Toit showed tremendous strength to shrug off a slew of tacklers and score under the posts, Ireland were suddenly reeling.
And with Ireland fading fast in the rarefied Johannesburg air, Damian de Allende blasted through some weak tackles to make sure of victory and save Coetzee's blushes.
US Open Day 2
US Open round two leaderboard
-4 D Johnson (US), A Landry (US*); -3 L Westwood (Eng*); S Piercy (US), S Garcia (Spa), S Lowry (Ire*)
Selected others: -1 D Summerhays (US), A Sullivan (Eng), J Furyk (US*); Level L Slattery (Eng), R Knox (Sco*); +3 G McDowell (NI), M Fitzpatrick (Eng*); +5 C Wood (Eng), J Day (Aus*), D Willett (Eng*); +6 J Rose (Eng*), L Donald (Eng*); +7 P Mickelson (US*), R McIlroy (NI*); +8 J Donaldson (Wal) *denotes yet to complete second round
Dustin Johnson holds the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the storm-delayed US Open at Oakmont.
The American was among many who played both their first and second rounds on a calmer Friday and he followed a three-under 67 with a 69 to reach four under.
Spain's Sergio Garcia shot a 70 in round two to stay two under at halfway, alongside American Scott Piercy (70).
Andrew Landry led on four under after round one but is scheduled to start his second round at 12:11 BST on Saturday.
However, Saturday's tee times could change because the light faded with 27 players unable to complete their second rounds.
England's Lee Westwood, who posted a three-under 67 when he completed his first round early on Friday, is, like Landry, among half of the field who are scheduled to play their second and third rounds on Saturday.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, Masters champion Danny Willett, Scotland's Russell Knox and Ireland's Shane Lowry will also play their second rounds on Saturday.
Lowry had a two-under 68 in round one while Knox had a level-par 70.
Willett had a 75 and is flirting with the cut as he is tied for 56th, with McIlroy the wrong side after a seven-over 77 left him tied for 94th with the top 60 plus ties making the cut.
The world number three, who won the US Open in 2011, told BBC Sport he would "need a 66" to get back in contention on Saturday.
Johnson leading the way
Johnson, who had a putt to win last year's US Open but took three to hand the title to Jordan Spieth, followed his bogey-free opening round with another nine holes without a dropping a shot.
Starting on the 10th, he birdied the par-three 13th to go to four under but gave that back with his first and only bogey of the tournament so far on the first.
A birdie on the sixth, after several missed opportunities, was reward for a disciplined and patient round and he parred his way in to finish just before sunset.
"I'm in pretty good shape, so the physical part's no problem," said Johnson after completing 36 holes in a day.
"But mentally you've got to make sure you stay sharp all day, because you can't go to sleep on any shot out here.
"I hit so many good putts today that I thought were going in, and burned the edge or lipped out. That's just how it goes, these greens are tough."
Garcia holes monster putt
Johnson's playing partner Garcia started his second round with a bogey-five on the par-four 10th but a birdie on the 17th saw him get back to two under par.
However, bogeys on the 18th and first dropped him back to level par but birdies on the second and sixth kept him in the hunt for his first major.
The Spaniard, who is not renowned for his ability with the putter, made a superb scrambling par with a 50-foot putt at his last hole, the ninth.
Englishmen on the charge
Westwood is the leading Englishman but he is yet to play his second round and is scheduled to tee off at 13:28 BST on Saturday.
Andy Sullivan was among those to play 36 holes on Friday and he followed his first-round 71 with a two-under 68 to move to one under.
He played his first nine holes in three under par and said on Sky Sports: "I was aggressive and it paid off. I hit the driver really well, which opened up the greens and I had lots of birdie chances."
Compatriot Lee Slattery was one over for his second round and three over for the tournament after nine holes but two birdies and an eagle on the back nine helped him post a two under 68 to get to level par.
"Adapting to the change in the greens was important as they got faster," he said. "It doesn't matter if it's uphill, downhill, side hill. Every putt is quick.
"I'm so tired that I don't really know what's going on. It's been a really tough day around a very tough golf course. It's been mentally demanding."
Superb Summerhays
Oakmont is generally regarded as one of the toughest golf courses on the US Open circuit - Angel Cabrera's winning score the last time the Pennsylvania course hosted the tournament in 2007 was five over par.
However, Daniel Summerhays made a mockery of that with the lowest round of the opening two days, a stunning five-under-par 65.
The American had two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine but came home in 30 to move up to one under.
"I'm absolutely thrilled," he said. "I was waiting for four days to find out if I had qualified.
"Then I found out I had to play 36 holes in a day but I'll take that."
-4 D Johnson (US), A Landry (US*); -3 L Westwood (Eng*); S Piercy (US), S Garcia (Spa), S Lowry (Ire*)
Selected others: -1 D Summerhays (US), A Sullivan (Eng), J Furyk (US*); Level L Slattery (Eng), R Knox (Sco*); +3 G McDowell (NI), M Fitzpatrick (Eng*); +5 C Wood (Eng), J Day (Aus*), D Willett (Eng*); +6 J Rose (Eng*), L Donald (Eng*); +7 P Mickelson (US*), R McIlroy (NI*); +8 J Donaldson (Wal) *denotes yet to complete second round
Dustin Johnson holds the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the storm-delayed US Open at Oakmont.
The American was among many who played both their first and second rounds on a calmer Friday and he followed a three-under 67 with a 69 to reach four under.
Spain's Sergio Garcia shot a 70 in round two to stay two under at halfway, alongside American Scott Piercy (70).
Andrew Landry led on four under after round one but is scheduled to start his second round at 12:11 BST on Saturday.
However, Saturday's tee times could change because the light faded with 27 players unable to complete their second rounds.
England's Lee Westwood, who posted a three-under 67 when he completed his first round early on Friday, is, like Landry, among half of the field who are scheduled to play their second and third rounds on Saturday.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, Masters champion Danny Willett, Scotland's Russell Knox and Ireland's Shane Lowry will also play their second rounds on Saturday.
Lowry had a two-under 68 in round one while Knox had a level-par 70.
Willett had a 75 and is flirting with the cut as he is tied for 56th, with McIlroy the wrong side after a seven-over 77 left him tied for 94th with the top 60 plus ties making the cut.
The world number three, who won the US Open in 2011, told BBC Sport he would "need a 66" to get back in contention on Saturday.
Johnson leading the way
Johnson, who had a putt to win last year's US Open but took three to hand the title to Jordan Spieth, followed his bogey-free opening round with another nine holes without a dropping a shot.
Starting on the 10th, he birdied the par-three 13th to go to four under but gave that back with his first and only bogey of the tournament so far on the first.
A birdie on the sixth, after several missed opportunities, was reward for a disciplined and patient round and he parred his way in to finish just before sunset.
"I'm in pretty good shape, so the physical part's no problem," said Johnson after completing 36 holes in a day.
"But mentally you've got to make sure you stay sharp all day, because you can't go to sleep on any shot out here.
"I hit so many good putts today that I thought were going in, and burned the edge or lipped out. That's just how it goes, these greens are tough."
Garcia holes monster putt
Johnson's playing partner Garcia started his second round with a bogey-five on the par-four 10th but a birdie on the 17th saw him get back to two under par.
However, bogeys on the 18th and first dropped him back to level par but birdies on the second and sixth kept him in the hunt for his first major.
The Spaniard, who is not renowned for his ability with the putter, made a superb scrambling par with a 50-foot putt at his last hole, the ninth.
Englishmen on the charge
Westwood is the leading Englishman but he is yet to play his second round and is scheduled to tee off at 13:28 BST on Saturday.
Andy Sullivan was among those to play 36 holes on Friday and he followed his first-round 71 with a two-under 68 to move to one under.
He played his first nine holes in three under par and said on Sky Sports: "I was aggressive and it paid off. I hit the driver really well, which opened up the greens and I had lots of birdie chances."
Compatriot Lee Slattery was one over for his second round and three over for the tournament after nine holes but two birdies and an eagle on the back nine helped him post a two under 68 to get to level par.
"Adapting to the change in the greens was important as they got faster," he said. "It doesn't matter if it's uphill, downhill, side hill. Every putt is quick.
"I'm so tired that I don't really know what's going on. It's been a really tough day around a very tough golf course. It's been mentally demanding."
Superb Summerhays
Oakmont is generally regarded as one of the toughest golf courses on the US Open circuit - Angel Cabrera's winning score the last time the Pennsylvania course hosted the tournament in 2007 was five over par.
However, Daniel Summerhays made a mockery of that with the lowest round of the opening two days, a stunning five-under-par 65.
The American had two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine but came home in 30 to move up to one under.
"I'm absolutely thrilled," he said. "I was waiting for four days to find out if I had qualified.
"Then I found out I had to play 36 holes in a day but I'll take that."
Thursday, 16 June 2016
US Open 2016 Day 1 (play suspended due to threat of lightning)
US Open round one leaderboard
-3 A Landry (US) (17); -2 B Watson (US) (14), D Lee (NZ) (13); -1 S Scheffler (US), K Streelman (US) (16), L Westwood (Eng) (13), H English (US) (12)
Selected others: Level M Fitzpatrick (Eng) (13), R KNox (Sco) (12), S Lowry (Ire) (11); +3 M Baldwin (Eng) (17), R McIlroy (NI) (12), M Miller (Sco) (11); +4 D Willett (Eng) (12); +5 A Johnston (Eng) (17), P Casey (Eng) (14), L Donald (Eng) (13)
The US Open has been suspended for the day because of the threat of lightning with outsider Andrew Landry leading by one shot at Oakmont Country Club.
Nine players had completed their first rounds when play was halted at 21:34 BST with American world number 624 Landry on three under after 17 holes.
Two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson is joint second on two under, while England's Lee Westwood is one under.
Rory McIlroy is three over par after 12 and Jordan Spieth is one over after 11.
Spieth, the defending champion, started his round on the 10th and had a birdie on the par-five 12th, but gave that shot back with a bogey on the 14th.
The American world number two and his playing partners Bryson DeChambeau and reigning Open champion Zach Johnson had been warned by a rules official to pick up their pace of play as they left the 16th tee.
Westwood, who also started on the 10th, holed a 124-yard wedge shot for an eagle on the par-four 15th, but missed a three-foot birdie putt on the 17th as he completed nine holes in two under.
Bogeys on the first and second saw Westwood drop back to level par but he birdied the par-five fourth before play was halted for a third time at 20:51 BST.
The former world number one made use of the first rain delay to watch England beat Wales 2-1 at Euro 2016, while McIlroy left the course in a hurry after the hooter ended play for a second time so he could watch Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 2-0.
American amateur Scottie Scheffler is the clubhouse leader after shooting a one-under-par 69.
World number one Jason Day, six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson and England's 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose were unable to start their first rounds.
-3 A Landry (US) (17); -2 B Watson (US) (14), D Lee (NZ) (13); -1 S Scheffler (US), K Streelman (US) (16), L Westwood (Eng) (13), H English (US) (12)
Selected others: Level M Fitzpatrick (Eng) (13), R KNox (Sco) (12), S Lowry (Ire) (11); +3 M Baldwin (Eng) (17), R McIlroy (NI) (12), M Miller (Sco) (11); +4 D Willett (Eng) (12); +5 A Johnston (Eng) (17), P Casey (Eng) (14), L Donald (Eng) (13)
The US Open has been suspended for the day because of the threat of lightning with outsider Andrew Landry leading by one shot at Oakmont Country Club.
Nine players had completed their first rounds when play was halted at 21:34 BST with American world number 624 Landry on three under after 17 holes.
Two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson is joint second on two under, while England's Lee Westwood is one under.
Rory McIlroy is three over par after 12 and Jordan Spieth is one over after 11.
Spieth, the defending champion, started his round on the 10th and had a birdie on the par-five 12th, but gave that shot back with a bogey on the 14th.
The American world number two and his playing partners Bryson DeChambeau and reigning Open champion Zach Johnson had been warned by a rules official to pick up their pace of play as they left the 16th tee.
Westwood, who also started on the 10th, holed a 124-yard wedge shot for an eagle on the par-four 15th, but missed a three-foot birdie putt on the 17th as he completed nine holes in two under.
Bogeys on the first and second saw Westwood drop back to level par but he birdied the par-five fourth before play was halted for a third time at 20:51 BST.
The former world number one made use of the first rain delay to watch England beat Wales 2-1 at Euro 2016, while McIlroy left the course in a hurry after the hooter ended play for a second time so he could watch Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 2-0.
American amateur Scottie Scheffler is the clubhouse leader after shooting a one-under-par 69.
World number one Jason Day, six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson and England's 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose were unable to start their first rounds.
Sunday, 12 June 2016
Super League Thursday 9th June to Friday 12th June
Thursday 9th June
Castleford Tigers 28-38 Widnes Vikings
Friday 10th June
Hull KR 18-20 Wigan Warriors
Warrington Wolves 12-19 Hull FC
Leeds Rhinos 8-0 Salford Red Devils
Saturday 11th June
Catalans Dragons 33-16 St Helens
Sunday 12th June
Huddersfield Giants 2-10 Wakefield Wildcats
Castleford Tigers 28-38 Widnes Vikings
Friday 10th June
Hull KR 18-20 Wigan Warriors
Warrington Wolves 12-19 Hull FC
Leeds Rhinos 8-0 Salford Red Devils
Saturday 11th June
Catalans Dragons 33-16 St Helens
Sunday 12th June
Huddersfield Giants 2-10 Wakefield Wildcats
Saturday, 11 June 2016
Wins for England & Ireland, defeat for Wales in summer tests 11th June
South Africa 20-26 Ireland
Ireland earned a remarkable first Test win in South Africa despite CJ Stander's first-half red card.
Jared Payne's try helped Ireland lead 7-0 and they were 10-3 ahead when South African-born Stander was sent off for a high challenge on Patrick Lambie.
Lwazi Mvovo's score saw the Springboks edge ahead as Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw was also sin-binned.
But Conor Murray's second-half try and eight Paddy Jackson points were enough despite Pieter-Steph du Toit's try.
Australia 28-39 England
England beat the Wallabies for only the fourth time in Australia as they triumphed in a mighty battle in the first Test in Brisbane.
The win looked unlikely when they fell 10-0 behind early on as Michael Hooper and Israel Folau scored for the hosts.
But the tourists hit back through the boot of Owen Farrell and tries from Jonathan Joseph and Marland Yarde.
Australia rallied as Hooper and Tevita Kuridrani crossed, but Jack Nowell had the final word for England.
It was England's first ever win in Brisbane, their biggest points tally home or away against the Wallabies and equalled the 25-14 victory in Melbourne in June 2003 as their biggest margin of victory down under.
Saturday's victory puts them 1-0 ahead in the three Test series, which continues in Melbourne and then Sydney on the next two Saturdays.
James Haskell was at the heart of a tremendous performance from the England pack, while Farrell kicked 24 points in another impressive performance by the versatile Saracen.
Wallaby width shreds England
The hosts started in spectacular fashion, looking to spread the ball wide and outflank England's defence, and they opened the scoring as lively open-side flanker Hooper scooted over after the long-striding Folau had made the initial break.
The 6ft 5in full-back was a menace with ball in hand and when he sliced through off the drifting Bernard Foley, Australia had a 10-point lead after only quarter of an hour.
If the wayward Foley had managed to land his shots at goal - the fly-half's goal-kicking was some way below the standard of the rest of his game - the hosts might have been out of sight.
But they were not and when England finally got themselves into the match, the momentum changed for good.
Farrell puts the boot in
The visitors began to monopolise possession and Farrell cut the home lead to a single point with three penalties.
Worse was to come for the hosts as poor play in their own 22 enabled England centre Joseph to kick ahead and score a try, which Farrell converted.
A penalty apiece made it 19-13 to England at the break, and after the restart the visitors took total control.
Haskell's rampaging break split the Australian defence and gave George Ford - on at fly-half, with Farrell moving to inside centre in place of Luther Burrell - the opportunity to send Yarde over with a raking pass.
Bodyline 2.0
Before the match, England coach Eddie Jones had promised 'Bodyline' rugby, and the relentless power of the visitors' pack, with Haskell and the Vunipola brothers, Mako and Billy, stepping up alongside Maro Itoje, forced Australia further onto the back foot.
England's front row had also started shoving the Wallabies back in the scrum and when the home side had Scott Sio sin-binned, and Farrell extended England's lead to 16 points, it looked like game over.
But you can never write off an Australia side in any sport and, down to 14 men and apparently mortally wounded, they decided all out attack was the only response.
Hooper scored his second try to give them hope before Kuridrani blasted over to cut England's lead to just seven points.
But England were in ruthless mood and, after Danny Care tapped a late penalty, Ford's delightful kick set up Nowell to finish the game in style.
Man of the match - James Haskell
The Wasps flanker continued his re-birth under the astute management of Eddie Jones with a magnificent performance in Brisbane.
Haskell is a big character but seems to be a confidence player, and having been marginalised under the Stuart Lancaster regime, he is now playing arguably the best Test rugby of his career.
In defence he mixed big hits with a ferocious work-rate that saw him cover every blade of grass while making 18 tackles, and he was a constant physical presence at the breakdown too, throwing in three turnovers for good measure.
His running game, dormant for so long in England colours, has also reappeared and his pacy 50m second-half break - which included a side-step many an England winger would covet - was decisive in Yarde's try.
New Zealand 39-21 Wales
New Zealand pulled away to a 27th consecutive win over battling Wales in a compelling test match at Eden Park.
Wales led after an hour, but the world champions scored 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to overpower them.
All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo scored twice with Julian Savea, Keiran Read and Nathan Harris also crossing.
Taulupe Faletau and Rhys Webb scored for Wales, but they could not mark Alun Wyn Jones' 100th appearance with a first win in New Zealand.
Referee Wayne Barnes controversially disallowed a touchdown by Tu Perenara to the consternation of the home crowd, but redressed the balance by ruling out Faletau's late try.
Wales' last win against the All Blacks was in 1953, and under coach Warren Gatland they have won only once in 31 games against teams from the southern hemisphere.
Ireland earned a remarkable first Test win in South Africa despite CJ Stander's first-half red card.
Jared Payne's try helped Ireland lead 7-0 and they were 10-3 ahead when South African-born Stander was sent off for a high challenge on Patrick Lambie.
Lwazi Mvovo's score saw the Springboks edge ahead as Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw was also sin-binned.
But Conor Murray's second-half try and eight Paddy Jackson points were enough despite Pieter-Steph du Toit's try.
Australia 28-39 England
England beat the Wallabies for only the fourth time in Australia as they triumphed in a mighty battle in the first Test in Brisbane.
The win looked unlikely when they fell 10-0 behind early on as Michael Hooper and Israel Folau scored for the hosts.
But the tourists hit back through the boot of Owen Farrell and tries from Jonathan Joseph and Marland Yarde.
Australia rallied as Hooper and Tevita Kuridrani crossed, but Jack Nowell had the final word for England.
It was England's first ever win in Brisbane, their biggest points tally home or away against the Wallabies and equalled the 25-14 victory in Melbourne in June 2003 as their biggest margin of victory down under.
Saturday's victory puts them 1-0 ahead in the three Test series, which continues in Melbourne and then Sydney on the next two Saturdays.
James Haskell was at the heart of a tremendous performance from the England pack, while Farrell kicked 24 points in another impressive performance by the versatile Saracen.
Wallaby width shreds England
The hosts started in spectacular fashion, looking to spread the ball wide and outflank England's defence, and they opened the scoring as lively open-side flanker Hooper scooted over after the long-striding Folau had made the initial break.
The 6ft 5in full-back was a menace with ball in hand and when he sliced through off the drifting Bernard Foley, Australia had a 10-point lead after only quarter of an hour.
If the wayward Foley had managed to land his shots at goal - the fly-half's goal-kicking was some way below the standard of the rest of his game - the hosts might have been out of sight.
But they were not and when England finally got themselves into the match, the momentum changed for good.
Farrell puts the boot in
The visitors began to monopolise possession and Farrell cut the home lead to a single point with three penalties.
Worse was to come for the hosts as poor play in their own 22 enabled England centre Joseph to kick ahead and score a try, which Farrell converted.
A penalty apiece made it 19-13 to England at the break, and after the restart the visitors took total control.
Haskell's rampaging break split the Australian defence and gave George Ford - on at fly-half, with Farrell moving to inside centre in place of Luther Burrell - the opportunity to send Yarde over with a raking pass.
Bodyline 2.0
Before the match, England coach Eddie Jones had promised 'Bodyline' rugby, and the relentless power of the visitors' pack, with Haskell and the Vunipola brothers, Mako and Billy, stepping up alongside Maro Itoje, forced Australia further onto the back foot.
England's front row had also started shoving the Wallabies back in the scrum and when the home side had Scott Sio sin-binned, and Farrell extended England's lead to 16 points, it looked like game over.
But you can never write off an Australia side in any sport and, down to 14 men and apparently mortally wounded, they decided all out attack was the only response.
Hooper scored his second try to give them hope before Kuridrani blasted over to cut England's lead to just seven points.
But England were in ruthless mood and, after Danny Care tapped a late penalty, Ford's delightful kick set up Nowell to finish the game in style.
Man of the match - James Haskell
The Wasps flanker continued his re-birth under the astute management of Eddie Jones with a magnificent performance in Brisbane.
Haskell is a big character but seems to be a confidence player, and having been marginalised under the Stuart Lancaster regime, he is now playing arguably the best Test rugby of his career.
In defence he mixed big hits with a ferocious work-rate that saw him cover every blade of grass while making 18 tackles, and he was a constant physical presence at the breakdown too, throwing in three turnovers for good measure.
His running game, dormant for so long in England colours, has also reappeared and his pacy 50m second-half break - which included a side-step many an England winger would covet - was decisive in Yarde's try.
New Zealand 39-21 Wales
New Zealand pulled away to a 27th consecutive win over battling Wales in a compelling test match at Eden Park.
Wales led after an hour, but the world champions scored 21 unanswered points in the final quarter to overpower them.
All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo scored twice with Julian Savea, Keiran Read and Nathan Harris also crossing.
Taulupe Faletau and Rhys Webb scored for Wales, but they could not mark Alun Wyn Jones' 100th appearance with a first win in New Zealand.
Referee Wayne Barnes controversially disallowed a touchdown by Tu Perenara to the consternation of the home crowd, but redressed the balance by ruling out Faletau's late try.
Wales' last win against the All Blacks was in 1953, and under coach Warren Gatland they have won only once in 31 games against teams from the southern hemisphere.
Friday, 3 June 2016
Super League Thursday 2nd June & Friday 3rd June
Thursday 2nd June
Wakefield Wildcats 16-54 Hull KR
Friday 3rd June
Leeds Rhinos 12-24 Catalans Dragons
Salford Red Devils 20-23 Wigan Warriors
St Helens 4-26 Warrington Wolves
Huddersfield Giants 22-30 Castleford Tigers
Hull FC 30-10 Widnes Vikings
Wakefield Wildcats 16-54 Hull KR
Friday 3rd June
Leeds Rhinos 12-24 Catalans Dragons
Salford Red Devils 20-23 Wigan Warriors
St Helens 4-26 Warrington Wolves
Huddersfield Giants 22-30 Castleford Tigers
Hull FC 30-10 Widnes Vikings
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