Key events
Player of the match Ben Earl has told TNT Sport: “Love being back at home. It wasn’t always the prettiest… we prepared for this kind of weather [rain]. I think the experience over the last 18 months means we have may not have won this game a year ago but we have today.”
That is England’s eighth win on the bounce.
Full time: England 25-7 Australia
England hold up Australia’s final attack and that is that. A scrappy affair but England get the job done with a late flurry of tries securing the win. A vindication of their last-minute loss against Australia last year and their winning momentum continues. For Australia, they just needed to convert more of their attacking opportunities. Harry Potter a huge highlight for them.
SIN BIN! England 25-7 Australia (Pollock 84)
Australia win yet another penalty and they take it quickly. Too many penalties and Pollock is off for ten.
82 min: Australia win a penalty and they kick to the corner. They want more in Twickenham.
81 min: England win it back before a scuffle between Alaalatoa and Genge. That sparks a bigger argument between both nations and Genge gets back involved with the opposite front row. This is getting tasty, the referee with no control but it does dissipate.
79 min: Australia win a scrum penalty and bid to add to their points tally.
78 min: Earl has been named player of the match.
77 min: How quickly a game can change in a few minutes, the comeback way beyond Australia now. England in full control.
England march and march and march with Cowan-Dickie powering over. That was quite the statement.
TRY! England 25- 7 Australia (Cowan-Dickie 75)
A HUGE maul. Conversion missed.
75 min: Nothing is going Australia’s way now with Daugunu putting the ball out on the full so it’s pulled back for an England lineout. Steward is also staying on the pitch after it looked like he had a finger pulled back into place.
74 min: It was checked to make sure it made the line but it was a quick decision and it stands.
The maul is formed, it comes to Mitchell and he wins a penalty advantage and runs around to the right to dot down. He has been great this afternoon.
TRY! England 20-7 Australia (Mitchell 72)
Mitchell deserves that. Conversion missed.
72 min: Oh Australia. They finally get a chance to clear their lines and Paisami has a double movement putting his side under pressure again as England go to the corner.
70 min: This time the maul doesn’t function well and Cowan-Dickie knocks on, an opportunity missed. Australia forced to be patient with a lot of defensive work in the past few minutes.
69 min: A catch and drive goes deep into the 22 and England win a penalty advantage. Ford pops the ball through but it’s out of play, we come back for the advantage. Ford and Itoje discuss their options and they decide to go for the corner.
68 min: Changes for Australia as Salakaia-Loto, Lonergan and Daugunu enter the fray. England on the attack again now.
67 min: Australia have more than enough time to make the difference to swing the result as they set up for another attack. England front up in defence though and it slows the visitors down, it forces Australia to kick and England collect to put Pollock on a run again. Then Australia win a breakdown penalty. Chaos.
65 min: But as always in this game, Australia wrestle the ball back so no more points added for England.
63 min: Australia cough up another penalty and Ford sends it upfield. It feels like England have played better in this game but the scoreboard isn’t really reflecting that at the moment. Another try would certainly help them.
62 min: A lot is said about Pollock but for me he is exactly what rugby needs. His confidence – or arrogance depends on how you see it – injects discussion and brings eyes to the game. And when he can back it up with a try like that, you can see why he does it. It’s also interesting because in men’s rugby his celebrations are scrutinised but in women’s rugby celebrations like Ellie Kildunne’s rodeo is celebrated.
What a try from England. Mitchell with another great box kick, Roebuck taps it back and Pollock collects. He runs, gets tapped but he is over the line. A lovely celebration to go with it.
TRY! England 15-7 Australia (Pollock, 59)
It’s what he does. Conversion missed.
58 min: Australia get it clean and Edmed clears.
58 min: There’s a scrum now, can England’s bomb squad come up with a penalty? It’s why Borthwick set up his team as he did but the new front row does not come away with it. Ford then knocks it on so we have another scrum. England fans, what have you made of Ford this afternoon? For me he’s been solid but nothing magical.
56 min: England go through the hands straight off of the training pitch but Curry’s pass goes behind Chessum and out of play. Australia’s clearing lineout is scrappy – the word to define this game – but they just about get it away.
55 min: England win another penalty and Ford aims for the corner. Some kind of score is needed to put some more energy into this encounter.
54 min: Australia’s lineout is good and they immediately run it through the hands. They go all the way to the other side of the pitch but they can’t come up with the goods with England’s defence turning it over.
52 min: This is such a scrappy game and it is only getting more scrappy. Maybe because of the rain but this is not a game for too much free-flowing rugby. Australia have kicked to the corner but before the lineout Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Genge Pollock and Curry as all on for England. Talk about bomb squad.
51 min: I am running out of ways to describe the ball being turned over back and forth between the two, but that is what has happened again. England are preparing a quadruple change but not yet.
49 min: We’re back underway and George is okay to continue. An England attack begins the next phase of play.
48 min: The tennis back and forth remains the trend with England’s defence winning a penalty as Potter goes off feet. It looks like there will be a break in play as referee Nika Amashukeli can’t hear the TMO and George receives some treatment.
48 min: Australia make their first change with Tufou is off for Alaalatoa. Neither side are putting in sustained possession as the moment, it very much feels like we’re watching tennis with the heads going left and right. But just as I type that Australia come streaming through with Valetini spotting a gap.
46 min: England win a breakdown penalty and Ford boots it into touch. It’s a good platform to build from, the lineout coming on the edge of the 22. It goes through the hands but Australia wrestle back possession at the ruck.
44 min: England’s lineout not the cleanest early on in this second half but on the second time of asking they do secure it. Possession then exchanges hands as they bitty nature of this encounter continues.
42 min: No changes at the break for either team but one difference is that is had started to rain in London which may lead to more unforced errors.
Back underway: England 10-7 Australia
It’s a tight game but will England hold onto this? Or will Australia secure a comeback win? All to come.
Guy Hornsby has emailed and said:
Afternoon Sarah. A match full of zip and power today. And really tight, as often is between these rivals. Just here to salute Sam Underhill and his chop tackle. He’s much more than that, of course – just look at his position following the kick for Earl’s try – but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone so proficient at felling large men at pace. His technique is a mixture of a surgeon’s precision and wanton destruction.
Afternoon Guy. Yes, Underhill’s ability to do so within the laws of the game is also incredible, I completely agree. A real asset and a great example for young rugby players coming through.
Half-time: England 10-7 Australia
England may have had more positive moments, giving them the lead with Ben Earl’s try and George Ford’s boot, but it’s Harry Potter’s excellent intercept which is the highlight so far.
40 min: Australia come away with the ball from the scrum and set up another attack. However, England win it back and Ford boots it forward. Roebuck runs after it but Australia recover the ball. All action this one!
38 min: Some absolutely huge and crushing tackles from Australia as England look to attack. The physicality pays off with Earl spilling the ball from a huge shot from Suaalii. They are replaying a tackle from Edmed of Roebuck, it does look like it took him over the horizontal, but it’s not pinged for any penalty.
36 min: And to think Potter could be in a white shirt today but he chose to play for Australia. England trying to see out this half with a lead with all of the momentum with the Wallabies now.
I did say he would do something good shortly. England look like they are about to score but Potter reads it perfectly, intercepts a few metres from his own tryline. He runs the entire pitch to score. Absolutely worldclass.
TRY! England 10-7 Australia (Potter, 34)
That was magic. Clean conversion, game on.
34 min: England come again, they are looking confident with ball in hand.
33 min: I know I should have said something wizardry there with his name being Harry Potter, I will do better next time he does something well which should be no time at all judging his performance so far.
