Courtney Lawes hails England for ‘digging in’ to secure series victory in Sydney

England captain Courtney Lawes, centre, holds up the Ella-Mobbs Cup (Rick Rycroft/AP)

Courtney Lawes saluted the fighting spirit that enabled England to withstand another Australia fightback and secure a series-clinching 21-17 victory in Sydney.

Mirroring the second Test, England built a 21-10 lead through tries by Freddie Steward and Marcus Smith but then had to show resolve to weather a final-quarter assault from the Wallabies.