MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia took full advantage of their chances to score six tries and beat a toothless England 43-18 in the second test on Saturday.

On a night when George Gregan won a world record 120th cap, England again failed to capitalise on their superior possession and the world champions were restricted to two five-pointers, one from the last move of the game.

Australia claimed the Cook Cup after winning the first test 34-3 in Sydney on Sunday.

England opened with a commanding period of play capped by Andy Goode's drop goal on four minutes but Australia rode their luck to take the lead through flanker George Smith.

After fullback Chris Latham's kick forward went loose, Smith kicked the ball off the floor and a lucky rebound off retreating winger Tom Varndell fell perfectly for the backrower, who ran through unchallenged.

The Wallabies extended their lead when Latham's teasingly placed kick led to winger Mark Gerrard outleaping Mathew Tait and touching down in the corner for 12-3.

England continued to dominate without result before the outstanding Latham broke through several tackles. He found winger Lote Tuqiri who waltzed over to make it 17-6, with Stirling Mortlock converting to make it 19-6 at the interval.

Flanker Mark Chisholm pierced the England defence on 46 minutes when he collected Larkham's short pass and trotted under the posts.

England looked dead and buried before hooker George Chuter provided his side's best attacking move of the night, delivering a perfect dummy pass to break clear of the Australian defence and touch down for 26-11.

Chuter's breakthrough sparked a more direct period of attack from England but Gerrard's second try of the match, also converted by Mortlock, snuffed out any hope of a fightback.

Larkham added a sixth try three minutes from time when he cantered home after a break set up by Tuqiri, before Varndell gained some consolation at the death by finally outsprinting his nemesis Tuqiri to touch down.

Centre Mortlock, who became the Wallabies' 73rd captain with Gregan starting on the bench, struck five conversions and a penalty while flyhalf Goode hit a drop goal, penalty and a conversion for England.