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 13-6 Australia, 19 minutes
Another loose restart defusal from England, the ball spilling free from the hands and pounced upon by Australia. England are able to clear soon after though, Ben Youngs making okay distance on his box kick from a tough angle.
Australia look to attack from the lineout, working the ball to the left and then sweeping back to the right with James O’Connor’s late dart across field, but Kurtley Beale’s pass over the top is too tall for Michael Hooper, try though the Australian captain might to retrieve it from the top shelf. Hooper was just a touch narrow - if he’d been on the touchline he might have been able to run in.
England are offside, so Australia will have another go at goal.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 13-6 Australia (Owen Farrell penalty, 18 minutes)
...And over it goes.
England 10-6 Australia, 17 minutes
England play away from the set-piece and here comes Manu Tuilagi! Like a great battering ram he is brought on to the shoulder of Ben Youngs with Jonny May also darting dangerously, Tuilagi well hit by Hunter Paisami, but over the gainline.
Australia then infringe once more and Owen Farrell again beckons for the tee...
England 10-6 Australia, 16 minutes
Nifty from Freddie Steward, twirling around like a waltzing ballroom dance to avoid a tackler and stay infield.
England continue to win midfield collisions and Izack Rodda fails to vacate a ruck swiftly enough for Jaco Peyper’s liking - the South African whistles again and Owen Farrell will push his side into the Australia 22 for a lineout.
PENALTY! England 10-6 AUSTRALIA (James O’Connor penalty, 15 minutes)
No issues from just right of centre as O’Connor knocks it through.
England 10-3 Australia, 14 minutes
That’s an excellent restart drill from Australia, though, getting after a lovely high drop-kick and smothering Freddie Steward as he lands after taking it, piling bodies in, driving over the ball and drawing an offside Jonny Hill to seal the ball off.
James O’Connor will look for an immediate answer back from the tee...
PENALTY! ENGLAND 10-3 Australia (Owen Farrell penalty, 13 minutes)
A steadying step back and then four paces into the ball - Farrell knocks another simple one through.
England 7-3 Australia, 11 minutes
Better from Bevan Rodd, carrying hard on the shoulder of a jinking Marcus Smith and taking three defenders with him as he makes an extra yard or two. Australia then infringe at the breakdown - Michael Hooper caught with his hands in the cookie jar. An ambitious Smith chip collides with Australian arms, so back England will come - and Owen Farrell points at the uprights.
England 7-3 Australia, 10 minutes
Sinckler is staggering about in some discomfort but a shake of the legs and a healing rub from the England medics and he’ll be ready to go again, stomping down to lend his weight to England’s maul drive.
It stalls, and England will play away from it.
England 7-3 Australia, 9 minutes
Freddie Steward is the widest man on the England line as they set a scrum inside their own 22, Manu Tuilagi pushed inside him.
Ben Youngs produces a perfectly weighted box kick and Australia fall foul of Jaco Peyper - just as Bevan Rodd had been earlier, they are pinged for a blocking line on a chaser.
England kick brilliantly to the left corner but Kyle Sinckler is down and needing some treatment.
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