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.”
YELLOW CARD! Tom Wright is sent to the sin bin, England 13-9 Australia, 29 minutes
Yellow! Kurtley Beale had clung to George around the waist and Wright had arrived on his heels, failing to dip as he tackles and making limited attempt to wrap as George’s bonce bounces against the top of his arm.
“We don’t believe it is a high level of danger,” says Jaco Peyper, citing the fact that Wright was on the back foot and not launching himself at George. Into his pocket he goes, and out comes the yellow square - Wright will have a ten-minute sit on the naughty step.
England 13-9 Australia, 29 minutes
Jamie George on the rumble! A delightfully deft use of hands and eyes at the line from Courtney Lawes, taking a wallop but slipping his hooker through a gaping hole that opens as he does, and George sets off with fierce intent.
He’s dragged down, and where is Tom Wright’s shoulder going? Right into the head of George as he tries to join his teammate in the tackle! This could be red.
England 13-9 Australia, 28 minutes
Henry Slade just about gets beneath an awkwardly bouncing ball and kicks to James O’Connor, who puts up his own skyward hoist.
O’Connor sprints after it but leaps about a year and a half too soon for it, colliding awkwardly with Freddie Steward as the full back collects above him. Penalty to England.
England 13-9 Australia, 27 minutes
England play to width off the lineout and CRUNCH! Hunter Paisami flies out of the line and tonks Marcus Smith, rather leading with his head and copping a nasty bang but forcing Smith’s pass to fly errantly - and forward.
Paisami stays down for a moment, but he’s reasonably swiftly back on his feet. He has a chat with Wallabies (and former England) attack coach Scott Wisemantel, lugging the liquids as a water carrier.
England 13-9 Australia, 26 minutes
A lively little front of the lineout move is well executed by Australia, but Folau Fainga’a wastes the good work of him and his teammate by failing to keep his feet at the ruck. England penalty.
England 13-9 Australia, 24 minutes
Excellent maul defence from Australia, but where are England going here? A gorgeous fade on the pass from Henry Slade as Marcus Smith whips it to him, but the centre fails to square up the defence and forces Jonny May to check on his pass, allowing Australia to get two men across and force him into touch.
Australia then win a penalty at the lineout to allow them an easy clearing job.
England 13-9 Australia, 23 minutes
But, almost inevitably, the scrum collapses in a heap, with James Slipper picked out as the cause of it - the Wallabies’ makeshift loosehead is penalised.
An outstanding kick for the touchline means Jamie George will throw a five-metre lineout, the hooker sprinting down in anticipation of a muscular maul...
England 13-9 Australia, 22 minutes
We’ve heard rather a lot of Jaco Peyper in this half, and he’s again putting his Acme to his mouth as Folau Fainga’a joins a lineout too soon. England take a scrum option for a chance to have a shove 15 metres in on halfway, with plenty of attacking options to the openside and Freddie Steward lurking on the blind.
PENALTY! England 13-9 AUSTRALIA (James O’Connor penalty, 21 minutes)
James O’Connor taps through his third penalty
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