In July 2022, England played a three-test series against Australia as part of the 2022 mid-year rugby union tests. They played the Wallabies at three locations across Australia within as many weeks, with the overall winner receiving the Ella–Mobbs Trophy.
Coming into the series, England were ranked in fifth place in the World Rugby Rankings, while Australia sat one place below in sixth. The two nations had most recently contested a test series in 2016, which England won for the first time, with a historic 3–0 "whitewash" on Australian soil.
The 2016 series marked the start of England's eight-match winning streak against Australia, whose most recent victory in the fixture was in the 2015 Rugby World Cup pool stage. However, the first test of the 2022 tour on 2 July ended that streak, as Australia claimed a 30–28 victory in Perth. The following week, on 9 July, England leveled the series with a 25–17 win in Brisbane. In the deciding test on 16 July, England clinched the series, triumphing over Australia by 21–17 in Sydney.
Fixtures Date Venue Home Score Away 2 July 2022 Optus Stadium, Perth 30–28 9 July 2022 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 17–25 16 July 2022 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 17–21
Squads Note: Ages, caps and clubs are as of 2 July 2022, the first test match of the tour.
England On 20 June 2022, England head coach Eddie Jones named a 36-man squad for the summer test series against Australia.
On 30 June 2022, Charlie Ewels withdrew from the tour due to a knee injury sustained in training. He was replaced in the squad by Sam Jeffries.
On 4 July 2022 Tom Curry withdrew from the tour due to a concussion sustained in the first test.
On 11 July 2022 Maro Itoje and Sam Underhill withdrew from the squad following concussions sustained in the second test.
Coaching team: Head coach: Eddie Jones Defence coach: Anthony Seibold Attack coach: Martin Gleeson Forwards coach: Richard Cockerill Scrum coach: Matt Proudfoot
Australia On 12 June 2022, Australia head coach Dave Rennie named a 35-man squad for the summer test series against England.
On 20 June 2022, Harry Johnson-Holmes joined up with the squad from the Australia A team, as injury cover for Taniela Tupou. However, he later withdrew due to injury, and was replaced by Sam Talakai.
On 24 June 2022, Ned Hanigan also joined up with the squad, as injury cover for Jed Holloway.
On 5 July 2022, Reece Hodge was called up to the squad from the Australia A team, as an injury replacement for Tom Banks.
Coaching team: Head coach: Dave Rennie Defence coach: Matt Taylor Attack coach: Scott Wisemantel Forwards coach: Dan McKellar Scrum coach: Petrus du Plessis
Matches
First test
Team details FB 15Tom Banks RW 14Andrew KellawayOC 13Len IkitauIC 12Samu KereviLW 11Marika Koroibete FH 10Noah Lolesio SH 9 Nic White N8 8 Rob Valetini BF 7 Michael Hooper (c)OF 6 Rob Leota RL 5 Caderyn NevilleLL 4 Darcy Swain TP 3 Allan Alaalatoa HK 2 Dave Porecki LP 1 Angus Bell Replacements:HK 16Folau Fainga'a PR 17Scott Sio PR 18James Slipper LK 19Matt Philip FL 20Pete Samu SH 21Jake Gordon FH 22James O'Connor WG 23Jordan Petaia Coach: Dave Rennie FB 15Freddie StewardRW 14Jack NowellOC 13Joe MarchantIC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Joe Cokanasiga FH 10Marcus SmithSH 9 Danny Care N8 8 Billy Vunipola BF 7 Tom Curry OF 6 Courtney Lawes (c)RL 5 Jonny Hill LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Will Stuart HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Ellis Genge Replacements:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Joe Heyes LK 19Ollie Chessum FL 20Lewis Ludlam SH 21Jack van Poortvliet CE 22Guy PorterFB 23Henry Arundell Coach: Eddie Jones Player of the Match: Samu Kerevi (Australia)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland) Craig Evans (Wales) Television match official: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Notes: Quade Cooper (Australia) had been named in the starting line-up, but pulled up injured in the warm-up. He was substituted by Noah Lolesio, who in turn was replaced on the bench by James O'Connor. Caderyn Neville and Dave Porecki (both Australia) and Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet (both England) made their international debuts. This was Australia's first win over England in nine games.
Second test
Team details FB 15Jordan Petaia RW 14Tom WrightOC 13Hunter PaisamiIC 12Samu KereviLW 11Marika KoroibeteFH 10Noah LolesioSH 9 Nic White N8 8 Rob ValetiniBF 7 Michael Hooper (c)OF 6 Rob Leota RL 5 Caderyn Neville LL 4 Matt PhilipTP 3 Taniela Tupou HK 2 Dave Porecki LP 1 Angus Bell Replacements:HK 16Folau Fainga'a PR 17Scott Sio PR 18James Slipper LK 19Nick Frost FL 20Pete Samu SH 21Jake Gordon FH 22James O'Connor WG 23Izaia Perese Coach: Dave Rennie FB 15Freddie StewardRW 14Jack NowellOC 13Guy Porter IC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Tommy Freeman FH 10Marcus Smith SH 9 Jack van Poortvliet N8 8 Billy VunipolaBF 7 Sam Underhill OF 6 Courtney Lawes (c)RL 5 Jonny HillLL 4 Maro Itoje TP 3 Will Stuart HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Ellis Genge Replacements:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Joe Heyes LK 19Ollie Chessum FL 20Lewis Ludlam SH 21Danny Care CE 22Will Joseph WG 23Henry Arundell Coach: Eddie Jones Player of the Match: Billy Vunipola (England)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand) Craig Evans (Wales) Television match official: Joy Neville (Ireland) Notes: Jack Willis (England) was originally named among the substitutes, but pulled out prior to the match due to a rib injury. He was replaced on the bench by Will Joseph. Nick Frost (Australia) and Tommy Freeman, Guy Porter and Will Joseph (all England) made their international debuts.
Third test
Team details FB 15Reece Hodge RW 14Tom WrightOC 13Hunter Paisami IC 12Samu KereviLW 11Marika KoroibeteFH 10Noah LolesioSH 9 Nic White N8 8 Rob Valetini BF 7 Michael Hooper (c)OF 6 Harry Wilson RL 5 Matt PhilipLL 4 Nick FrostTP 3 Taniela Tupou HK 2 Dave Porecki LP 1 James Slipper Replacements:HK 16Folau Fainga'a PR 17Angus Bell PR 18Allan Alaalatoa FL 19Rob Leota FL 20Pete Samu SH 21Tate McDermott CE 22Len Ikitau WG 23Suliasi Vunivalu Coach: Dave Rennie FB 15Freddie StewardRW 14Jack NowellOC 13Guy PorterIC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Tommy Freeman FH 10Marcus SmithSH 9 Danny Care N8 8 Billy VunipolaBF 7 Lewis Ludlam OF 6 Courtney Lawes (c)RL 5 Jonny HillLL 4 Ollie Chessum TP 3 Will Stuart HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Ellis Genge Replacements:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Joe Heyes LK 19Nick Isiekwe FL 20Jack Willis SH 21Jack van Poortvliet CE 22Will JosephWG 23Henry Arundell Coach: Eddie Jones Player of the Match: Freddie Steward (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland) James Doleman (New Zealand) Television match official: Chris Hart (New Zealand) Notes: Nic White (Australia) earned his 50th test cap. Suliasi Vunivalu (Australia) made his international debut. This was the first rugby union test match held at the Sydney Cricket Ground since Australia hosted Argentina in 1986. England won the Ella–Mobbs Trophy (previously the Cook Cup) for the first time.
See also 2022 mid-year rugby union tests History of rugby union matches between Australia and England
Notes
References