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.”
England 19-15 Australia, 60 minutes
Bell goes into battle here as England feed a scrum on halfway, and he’s won a penalty, too! Coaches Petrus du Plessis and Scott Wisemantel chuckle in delight as the loosehead forces Kyle Sinckler to ground.
England 19-15 Australia, 58 minutes
Sam Underhill has been stitched back together and has rejoined affairs, with Alex Dombrandt, prominent since coming on, back to the bench for a presumably brief refresh before coming on permanently in the not too distant future.
Angus Bell has also been back with us for the last minute or so at the conclusion of his ten minutes in the bin.
England 19-15 Australia, 57 minutes
England are just making a few silly errors now, Courtney Lawes isolating himself with an aimless wander inside his 22 and England infringing at the ruck.
Hang on! Stuart Berry, rather earning his money this evening, calls in - there’s a no-arms tackle on Lawes. The penalty is reversed.
England 19-15 Australia, 56 minutes
England pinch more Australian ball at the back of the lineout and play to width, the ball tumbling free as Henry Slade tries to release the outside man. The home side think there was an Australian hand involved - actually, it’s off the head, so it will be an Australia lineout.
England 19-15 Australia, 54 minutes
End-to-end! First England scythe through, Manu Tuilagi making a half-break and offloading to Alex Dombrandt, who sets his ship on a collision course into Kurtley Beale, who actually does a rather good job as a speed bump.
Australia then nick the ball, and Hunter Paisami answers with a break of his own, weaving hither and thither and charging unchallenged some sixty metres. England win a turnover, but are then loose at a ruck and Australia have it back.
They will eventually have a lineout after Marcus Smith claims a mark from an ill-advised chip, and the Australian captain is down!
Michael Hooper’s race is run! The openside sits on the Twickenham turf, clearly in pain, and he won’t be able to continue. Pete Samu replaces him - that’s a significant blow for Australia. Hooper had been typically ubiquitous.
MISSED PENALTY! England 19-15 Australia, 53 minutes
Dragged wide! Owen Farrell curses under his breath as he gets his kick wrong and that’s the first miss of the evening.
England 19-15 Australia, 51 minutes
Can England use their man advantage better in this half? They start well, winning a penalty, but then have another lineout mishap as Jamie Blamire overthrows Courtney Lawes at his apex.
But Australia then hold on and Owen Farrell is asking for the tee again. The cone carriers are earning their money.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 19-15 Australia (Owen Farrell penalty, 49 minutes)
Owen Farrell duly knocks through the three points, while England have been forced into a change - Sam Underhill had blood pouring from his face a moment ago and he will trot off, with Alex Dombrandt into the game.
YELLOW CARD! James Slipper is sent to the sin bin! England 16-15 Australia, 48 minutes
Another yellow! It’s a horrible tackle from Bell, unnecessarily lifting Lawes after the England flanker releases a pass.
Bell lays down the Lawes rather abruptly, dropping him on his shoulder, and Jaco Peyper lays down the law after a consultation with the TMO - Australia lose their loosehead.
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