England vs Australia LIVE: Rugby result, final score and reaction from 2021 Autumn internationals
Eddie Jones extended his win streak over his native country as England ground down a stubborn Wallabies side
England chalked up an eighth successive victory over Australia on Saturday as tries for Freddie Steward and Jamie Blamire and the pinpoint goalkicking of Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith settled a penalty-ridden game 32-15 for the hosts.
England made most of the running in the first half and scored a superb try through fullback Steward after seven minutes but as both teams conceded a succession of penalties, Farrell and James O’Connor punished each other from the tee to keep it tight at 16-12 at halftime. The ragged, indisciplined nature continued in the second half Australia were hit with two yellow cards in the game - with neither side really threatening the tryline but England still in the ascendancy.
Farrell, winning his 100th cap for England and the Lions, went off injured after landing five penalties and a conversion but Smith added another penalty to stretch the lead before replacement hooker Blamire sent the home fans wild when he galloped in from 60 metres in the final minute.
England have now won all eight of their games against the Wallabies, who conceded 18 penalties, since they lost to them in the pool phase to be knocked out of the 2015 World Cup.
“We stuck at it,” said coach Eddie Jones. “We’ve had a tough week. Two Covid, Kyle Sinckler was injured in the first 10 minutes of the match - he was incapacitated. Australia have been in a bubble since June, so congrats to them for staying in it.”
Team News - Australia
England aren’t the only team with prop problems. Australia rather hit a bump at Murrayfield last weekend, beaten in a nerve-jangler by Scotland, and defeat was compounded by the news that neither Allan Alaalatoa nor Taniela Tupou would be available. That forces the experienced James Slipper to switch sides and, in quite the story, Ollie Hoskins to get a late call, with the solid London Irish performer’s proximity counting in his favour and ready for a, not undeserved, but unexpected debut.
Kurtley Beale is back in the starting side lending experience and ball-playing ability at full-back, while in the absence of Quade Cooper it is again James O’Connor at fly-half. On the bench lurks the imposing frame of Will Skelton, rediscovered at Saracens and now stomping around with typical elephantine elegance at La Rochelle.
Team News - England
Let’s peruse more fully at the England team, then. Having spent much of the week considering who to leave out in midfield with Owen Farrell back available and Marcus Smith fully fit, Eddie Jones has made four go into three by pushing Manu Tuilagi on to the wing for just the second time in an England shirt. That allows Smith and Farrell to form a midfield playmaking partnership, with Henry Slade retaining his place at outside centre. Adam Radwan is the unfortunate man left out.
Before Ellis Genge’s positive test, the England pack was unchanged, a back row that functioned well last week kept in place for a significantly sterner test with Sam Underhill’s shoulder swiftly healing after a first half bang against Tonga. There is extra beef on the bench, with a six forwards, two backs split, enabling a return to an England matchday squad for Sam Simmonds. Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke awaits a debut.
England’s Covid chaos
New week, same Covid chaos for Eddie Jones, with news of a positive test on match eve disrupting the England head coach’s plans again. Unlike last week, the RFU are satisfied that Ellis Genge’s positive is not false, and with Joe Marler already in isolation after his positive test on Monday Jones is down his two first-choice looseheads.
Bevan Rodd thus steps up and steps in to start on debut, with Trevor Davison, more typically a tighthead but capable on both sides, on to the bench.
Fortunately, the RFU confirmed this morning that all PCR tests conducted yesterday were negative.
England on Covid ‘rollercoaster’ after Ellis Genge positive, Eddie Jones admits
A crisis has developed at loosehead prop after first choice Genge followed bench option Joe Marler into self-isolation
England vs Australia
Australia must override ‘inferiority complex’ to beat England, claims Eddie Jones
In their seven previous wins under Jones, England have scored in excess of 30 points against Australia on six occasions
England vs Australia odds
Result:
England 5/18
Draw 33/1
Australia 9/2
First tryscorer:
Jonny May 7/1
Manu Tuilagi 9/1
Jamie George 10/1
Alex Dombrandt 10/1
Marcus Smith 10/1
Odds via Betfair.
Owen Farrell won’t celebrate century of caps until he does it with England
Owen Farrell reaches a century of caps in Saturday’s clash with Australia but will wait until the milestone is registered with England before celebrating.
The Lions’ decision not to award full Test status to their match against Japan at Murrayfield in June means that Farrell has made only six international appearances for the tourists, in 2013 and 2017.
When combined with his 93 games for England, it leaves him on the brink of a landmark achievement heading into the Autumn Nations Series clash with the Wallabies.
But instead Maro Itoje will lead the team out at Twickenham in recognition of his imminent half-century of Red Rose caps.
“I didn’t celebrate my 50th cap with the other Test matches in it, it was always England. So that’s how we’ve been looking at it here,” Farrell said.
“Maro has his 50th cap for England this week which is an achievement we will celebrate. We’re looking forward to doing that.”
Owen Farrell will wait for 100th England cap before celebrating milestone
The Saracens fly-half will reach a century of Test caps, with British and Irish Lions appearances factored in, against Australia on Saturday
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