Sanderson unbowed in Australia
'I am certain we can do better next week'
England headed to Melbourne on Monday with tour captain Pat Sanderson defiantly declaring that the tourist can make an impact in next weekend's second Test.
Australia set themselves up for a 2-0 series whitewash – and reclaiming the Cook Cup – by punishing England with second-half tries from full-back Chris Latham, wing Mark Gerrard and prop Rodney Blake to triumph 34-3 at Telstra Stadium.
It was England's third-heaviest defeat since Tests began between the countries in 1909, being eclipsed only by a 76-0 humiliation eight years ago and 51-15 drubbing when the Wallabies ran riot at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium in 2004.
England have now lost four successive games against all opponents, while their post-2003 Rugby World Cup record shows 14 losses from 25 starts.
England coach Andy Robinson faces a tall order to turn things around, and changes are likely, with Jamie Noon, Chris Jones, Ben Kay and Joe Worsley among those players who can realistically expect call-ups.
Robinson will also hope that Sale Sharks flank Magnus Lund can shake off a groin strain, but another comprehensive defeat awaits England unless they start converting chances into points.
"Most defeats feel the same – they are hard to deal with – but I am certain we can do better next week and that we can take big strides forward," insisted Sanderson.
"I don't think we are far off, but we have got to do it for 80 minutes and be merciless with any chances we get.
"We made a couple of breaks we should have finished, and we could have scored 17 points in the first half. We will learn from our mistakes."
Australia hardly broke sweat as centre Stirling Mortlock kicked 19 points – five penalties and two conversions – while all England could manage was an Olly Barkley penalty, although Iain Balshaw was only denied a try by Wallabies skipper George Gregan's stunning tackle.
"There was some great scramble defence by Australia, and whenever they got in behind us, they took their chances well. When we get behind sides, we've got to take the chances," said Robinson.
"I thought we played pretty well in the first half, but our inability to control the ball in our half gave them three penalty chances. We allowed Australia to keep the scoreboard ticking.
"In international rugby, sides have the ability to score 30 or 40 points. It's how we stay in the game by scoring points ourselves.
"We have to keep our nerve and believe in what we are trying to achieve. I am still confident we are moving forward and in what we are trying to achieve."
Wallabies centre Mat Rogers (groin) could struggle to make Melbourne, but Australia are already setting their sights on a vastly-improved performance.
"We were very rusty," said head coach John Connolly.
"I think we will improve on that performance. There is a sense of relief, and I thought the players responded well, but we realise we have to play a lot better than that.
"History shows that Australia in the first Test of the year is a bit rusty. We will have to be considerably better going into the Tri-Nations.
"We've got some ideas about what we would like to do next weekend, and these are incredibly important Tests for us to broaden our squad. We are very conscious with the World Cup next year of building a strong squad."
