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.”
HT: England 16-12 Australia
A slightly strange half, that, punctuated and punctured by the interventions of Jaco Peyper and his whistle, with Australia penalised ten times. England have had plenty of ball and territory but have lacked a little bit of final accuracy to make it count, other than Freddie Steward’s early burst through for the opening try.
Of course, but for Nic White’s sharp defensive work, Jamie George would have been over, too, but as it is a four-point lead leaves both sides very, very much in it.
PENALTY! England 16-12 AUSTRALIA (James O’Connor penalty, 40 minutes)
Through it flies and, as a bonus, Australia are restored to fifteen men as Tom Wright makes his return for the final exchanges of the first half.
England 16-9 Australia, 39 minutes
England are then offside in midfield after the lineout as they get over-eager in rushing up in defence. Indeed, touch judge AJ Jacobs confirms that the entire England backline was offside. James O’Connor will line a fourth penalty up for the posts.
England 16-9 Australia, 37 minutes
“Yes Slippy!” is the cry as Australia win a scrum penalty! James Slipper gets the pats on the back as he drives through Bevan Rodd, who is turned inwards, and Jaco Peyper penalises England.
England 16-9 Australia, 36 minutes
Australia kick it long and England give Manu Tuilagi a runway, thundering in to two Australian tacklers who just about fell the fast-moving centre-cum-wing.
England are a little short of numbers on the right as Owen Farrell assess his options, the England skipper eventually electing to kick. It hits an Australian hand - ruled a knock-on. England scrum feed on the ten metre line inside the Australian half.
NO TRY! England 16-9 Australia, 35 minutes
What a tackle from Nic White! That is an incredible intervention from the scrum-half, rushing back to jar the ball free from Jamie George’s grasp as the hooker readied his grounding having burst away from the maul.
Michael Hooper had done magnificently to slow George sufficiently to allow White to race back, but the Saracen was over for all money. White targets the ball and out it spills - five points saved for certain.
Australia will have a goalline drop out.
England 16-9 Australia, 33 minutes
The Twickenham crowd howls in disapproval as Owen Farrell pokes through and Manu Tuilagi appears to be blocked, but there was no clear change of line from the Australian player and England will have to be content with the penalty they had earned at the maul.
After a brief scintilla of excitement as England score having quick-tapped from the wrong mark, back for the corner the burly men will go.
England 16-9 Australia, 31 minutes
England strip a Wallabies carrier in the tackle and suddenly there are possibilities on the right! Owen Farrell toes ahead into space left vacant by the absent wright and off after it are Freddie Steward and Manu Tuilagi, somehow each contriving to miss the bobbling ball.
Eventually England do smother it and Tom Curry is taken over the shoulder in the tackle. Nic White penalised for his high shot...
...Owen Farrell prods it into the corner
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