Murley scores twice as England A beat Australia A

England A v Australia A

England A (5) 38

Tries: Heyes, Murley 2, Langdon, Fisilau, Muir Cons: Atkinson 2, Shillcock 2

Australia A (10) 17

Tries: Reimer, Van Nek Cons: Lynagh, McLaughlin-Phillips Pen: Lynagh

Harlequins wing Cadan Murley scored twice as England A produced a strong second-half performance to comfortably defeat Australia A at Twickenham Stoop.

Mark Mapletoft’s side grabbed the first try through Leicester Tigers prop Joe Heyes but the visitors quickly responded when flanker Luke Reimer scored off the back of a surging maul.

Despite prolonged pressure at the end of the first half, England were unable to add to their opening try after impressive defence from the visitors, who led at the break thanks to five points from the boot of fly-half Tom Lynagh.

February’s 91-5 victory over Portugal marked the return of A fixtures after eight years to help bridge the gap between Premiership and Test rugby.

The fixture included a mixture of up-and-coming talent, including players from England’s recent Under-20 World Cup-winning team and senior internationals keen to impress head coach Steve Borthwick ahead of his side’s final autumn international against Japan next Sunday.

“This week was about getting a group together in a short period of time, getting them to enjoy the week, build some connections and come away with the win,” England A captain Fraser Dingwall, who won his first cap for the senior team against Italy in this year’s Six Nations, told Premier Sports.

“It [the England senior team] is always something I am striving towards, I had a little taste in the Six Nations this year and I am desperate to get back there.”

Murley, who scored a hat-trick against Portugal, sharply finished in the corner early in the second half as England’s attack finally clicked after a neat offload from his club team-mate Oscar Beard.

Replacement hooker Curtis Langdon then crossed to put the hosts in control following a sharp link between Henry Pollock and Gabriel Ibitoye to break clear.

Northampton Saints flanker Pollock picked up the player of the match award for his all-action display, with another strong carry from the 19-year-old leading to a simple score for Greg Fisilau.

“I am at my best when I am enjoying my rugby,” Pollock said.

“We are the second-string team and I think a lot of the boys put their hands up.”

Rhys van Nek’s try had given Australia hope of a comeback but Bath’s Will Muir intercepted a looping pass to race clear before Murley completed the scoring.

A second fixture will follow in February against Ireland A at Bristol’s Ashton Gate.

Line-ups
England A: Carpenter; Murley, Beard, Dingwall (capt), Ibitoye; Atkinson, Porter; Opoku-Fordjour, Oghre, Heyes, Tizard, Clark, Pearson, Pollock, T Willis

Replacements: Langdon, Iyogun, Fasogbon, Tuima, Fisilau, McParland, Shillcock, Muir

Australia A: Campbell; Toole, Walton, Stewart, Lancaster; Lynagh, Lonergan (capt); Hoopert, Nasser, De Lutiis, Smith, Canham, Hooper, Reimer, Brial

Replacements: Lonergan, Lambert, Van Nek, Blyth, Scott, Fines-Leleiwasa, McLaughlin-Phillips, Sapsford

Referee: Eoghan Cross