England’s return to the scene of their 2003 World Cup final triumph ended in a predictable and painful defeat as Australia sunk them following an error-marred Telstra Stadium showdown.

AN Irish team travelling to Twickenham in a fortnight’s time coming off losses against France and Wales would be facing down the barrel of a howitzer, almost without hope of success, and left with a couple of relatively meaningless home games against Italy and Scotland, the Cinderella countries of the Six Nations Championship.