Australia v England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as England keep series alive with win

Follow all the reaction from Brisbane as England bounce back with victory over the Wallabies

(Getty Images)

Owen Farrell kicked 20 points as England took an imposing early lead and held off a spirited Australia fightback to level the three-match series at 1-1 with a 25-17 victory in Brisbane on Saturday.

An early Billy Vunipola try and four penalties had England 19-0 ahead in the 32nd minute and two more three-pointers from Farrell in the second half proved enough for victory.

Australia, 30-28 winners in the series opener last week, scored tries through prop Taniela Tupou and centre Samu Kerevi either side of halftime but were unable to extend their 10-match winning streak at Lang Park.

The third and deciding test takes place at Sydney Cricket Ground next Saturday.

Follow the reaction with our live blog:

Australia vs England

• England keep the series alive with victory in Brisbane
• Billy Vunipola’s early try and Owen Farrell’s boot take England to glory
• FULL-TIME! Australia 17-25 England
• 67’ - PENALTY! Farrell moves England beyond a score in front (17-25)
• 54’ - SIN-BIN! Smith yellow carded and Wallabies close gap (17-22)
• 49’ - TRY! Kerevi scores on the overlap to narrow the gap (14-22)
• 38’ - TRY! Tupou drives over to get Australia on the board (7-19)
• 32’ - PENALTY! Fourth Farrell penalty of the half extends England’s advantage (0-19)
• 5’ - TRY! Vunipola is mauled over the line for the opening try (0-7)

[9 July 2022 12:41 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 17-22 England, 57 minutes

The reason Frost is on the field is another injury worry for Australia - it’s last week’s debutant Cadeyrn Neville, and it looks another potentially serious one, Neville unable to continue and carted off.

Sam Underhill has departed, too, after taking a bang to the head. Lewis Ludlam in the England defensive line as Australia launch again from the lineout.

[9 July 2022 12:39 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 17-22 England, 57 minutes

Luke Cowan-Dickie is on the field and performs his duties well, allowing Jack van Poortvliet to clear long after a safe lineout.

But this is beginning to feel familiar for England. James O’Connor threatens to crack their kick chase wide open as he counter-attacks, while Samu Kerevi is again growing in influence, making metres up the left. Another penalty the Wallabies’ way - kicked again to the corner.

Before the lineout, a debut for Nick Frost in the Australian second row. No sign of Simon Pegg.

[9 July 2022 12:37 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 17-22 England, 55 minutes

Momentum is very much with Australia now. Nic White is beginning to take jurisdiction over this contest, producing an outstanding diagonal kick from halfway, punching air with delight as Tommy Freeman fails to hurry back and keep it in the field of play.

50:22? Not quite! White argues the toss but the tackled player at the ruck after which he kicked is ruled to be just inside the England half. A marginal call, but a big one - England will have the lineout throw.

[9 July 2022 12:35 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 17-22 England (Noah Lolesio penalty, 54 minutes)

Noah Lolesio bisects the posts. Australia close the gap.

[9 July 2022 12:34 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

YELLOW CARD! Marcus Smith is sent to the sin bin! Australia 14-22 England, 53 minutes

England are wobbling - again! An extended hand from Marcus Smith as he shoots from the line to try and stop a flat Australan pass. A clear deliberate knock-on and off he is sent for a stint on the naughty step.

[9 July 2022 12:33 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 14-22 England, 52 minutes

Angus Bell’s rear end would have made little imprint upon the bench - he’s back into action with Sio guided off.

Australia beginning to build back into the contest. Rob Leota arrives from deep, gathering speed up the runway, grabbing Nic White’s floated pop as he takes off into Ollie Chessum and Sam Underhill.

The England pair handle Leota, but Underhill then curiously rips the ball free from the Australian’s hand having failed to re-take his feet. Australia again deep into English territory after kicking the penalty down towards the 22.

[9 July 2022 12:29 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 14-22 England, 51 minutes

Changes in the Australian front row - Scott Sio and James Slipper replace Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou.

More injury woe, though, for the Wallabies - moments after coming on, Sio fails to get up swiftly from a collision with the sharp bits (knee, hip) of both Will Stuart and Sam Underhill’s lower limbs.

[9 July 2022 12:26 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! AUSTRALIA 14-22 England (Samu Kerevi try, 48 minutes)

Space on the left and Samu Kerevi scores! Another meaty carry from Taniela Tupou, brushing off Marcus Smith and condensing the England defence.

Over to the backs with a two-man overlap, and Noah Lolesio picks his option well, fizzing across the face of James O’Connor to Kerevi, who rounds the bend to make the conversion easier, just about remembering to ground before Smith covers across.

It was a useful little wander in-field, though - over goes the conversion. Much better from the Wallabies.

[9 July 2022 12:25 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 7-22 England, 47 minutes

A good initial maul drive from the Wallabies, who then go to close-in carries with five metres left to be gained. Taniela Tupou bristles around the corner with support from Michael Hooper, and then it is the variation - wider to Noah Lolesio, launching Hunter Paisami from his inside shoulder. Advantage coming...

[9 July 2022 12:24 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Australia 7-22 England, 45 minutes

Looks of disbelief from the England front row towards Andrew Brace as they are penalised despite getting a nudge on at the scrum - but this time, it looks a fair enough call against Will Stuart, losing his bind more certainly than when pinged in the first half. Australia kick into the left-hand corner for their first visit to the England 22 of the half.