Owen Farrell kicked 20 points as England took an imposing early lead and held off a spirited Australian fightback to level the three-match series at 1-1 with a 25-17 victory in Brisbane on Saturday.
An early Billy Vunipola try and four penalties had England 19-0 ahead in the 32nd minute and two more three-pointers from Farrell in the second half proved enough to take the series to a decider at Sydney Cricket Ground next Saturday.
Australia, 30-28 winners in the series opener last week, scored tries through Taniela Tupou and Samu Kerevi either side of halftime but were unable to extend their 10-match winning streak at Lang Park.
England coach Eddie Jones had made headlines with the selection of three rookies in his backline but it was the seasoned veterans in his pack and the almost unerring boot of Farrell that delivered victory.
"We got beaten up last week, we talked about fronting up, especially the forwards, and I thought we did that today," said number eight Vunipola.
"Eddie's a nice guy but a tough guy and we needed to perform today."
The men in white stormed out of the gate with some big hits, dominant set pieces and a brand of direct rugby that had the Australians struggling to contain them.
Vunipola crashed over the line on the back of a maul from an attacking lineout in the fifth minute with playmaker Farrell adding the conversion.
Farrell then punished Australian ill-discipline with four penalties that left the home side with a mountain to climb after little more than half an hour.
Australia, who had lost fullback Jordan Petaia to an early concussion and had his replacement Izaia Perese yellow carded in the 22nd minute, finally got on the scoreboard in the 37th minute.
The Wallabies put together several phases of attack on a rare incursion into the English half before prop Tupou managed to force his way over the try line.
Farrell added his fifth penalty soon after the break to extend England's lead to 22-7 but Australia hit back with another attacking raid which resulted in centre Kerevi cutting through to touch down.
First-five Noah Lolesio added the extras before nailing a penalty to cut the deficit to 22-17 after his opposite number Marcus Smith had been sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knockdown.
The game turned just before Smith's return as Australia winger Tom Wright made a superb break, hacked ahead and forced the England defender into touch close to the line.
Replacement hooker Folau Fainga'a, though, wasted his efforts with a crooked throw at the lineout and a minute later Farrell concluded the scoring with his sixth penalty.
"Think we were our own worst enemies out there but England were outstanding," said Kerevi.
"They went to their strengths in the set piece and that, credit to them."
Reuters.
