FULL TIME: Australia XV have rounded out their two-game UK Tour with a disappointing 38-17 loss to England A at Twickenham Stoop.
England U20s standout Henry Pollack and wing duo Gabriel Itoye and Cadan Murley shone for the hosts as Australia conceded four tries in the final 22 minutes despite the efforts of Test flanker Luke Reimer (one try, three turnovers).
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Backing up from last week's 10-all draw with Bristol, Australia XV looked destined for a similar result with the scores locked 10-all after 57 minutes.
Reimer's early rolling maul try cancelled out a first-up score to Joe Heyes with Tom Lynagh's boot steering Australia to a 10-5 lead but there were danger signs after half time as Ibitoye and Murley combined for England A's second try on the 44 minute mark.
Reimer and Tom Hooper shone for the visitors in defence but it was only a matter of time before the gold wall cracked with Ibitoye and Pollack combining for a 70m special that sent Curtis Langdon over in the 58th minute.
From there the floodgates opened with Greg Fisilau and Will Muir dotting down either side of a Rhys van Nek try before Murley iced England's cake with a late score.
Muir's runaway effort proved the real killer with Jock Campbell's looping ball to find Corey Toole in space being plucked off and effectively ending the contest with 10 minutes remaining.
Post-game, Hooper shared his frustration with the loss but said the squad would only grow from a two-match tour.
"It felt a lot closer than the scoreboard but their A-zone completion was really shmick and they were lots more silky in the backs. Our piggies needed to go a bit more to work closer to the line," Hooper told the host broadcaster.
"Tours like this are everything, we come together as a group of misfits and give it a red-hot crack so very proud."
Reimer added: "We just needed to be a bit more physical in our defensive zone, there were a few times we let them in off the back of our mistakes, so there's plenty to tidy up for next year."
