3 Nov 2013

Wallabies grand slam tilt already over

6:11 am on 3 November 2013

Australia's rugby grand slam tilt has crashed at the first hurdle in a painful 20-13 loss to England at Twickenham.

A series of costly second-half errors and a controversial video replay decision combined to see Australia fall two tries to one.

England scored both their tries midway through the second half after the the Wallabies led 13-6 at half time but the tourists failed to cope with the pressure in front of a capacity 80,000-strong crowd.

The match turned after vice-captain Quade Cooper missed a penalty attempt and then England man-of-the-match Mike Brown plucked a Matt Toomua touch-finder out of the sky and counter-attacked off his line.

Video replays showed fullback Brown standing on the sideline at the time but it counted for nought once England captain Chris Robshaw scored at the other end from a charged-down Will Genia box-kick.

The Wallabies play Italy in Turin next weekend and their ensuing games against Ireland, Scotland and Wales no longer hold the same interest with hopes of a second-ever grand slam shot.