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 17:58 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 12-13 Wales, 80 minutes

A minute left as South Africa restart proceedings.

Knocked on by Wales! Shades of the third British and Irish Lions Test in 2017 - has an offside player played it after the knock-on? Now, as then, the ruling is no.

Just a scrum. 35 metres out, just right of centre. A scrum penalty might suit the Springboks...

[9 July 2022 17:55 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! South Africa 12-13 WALES (Josh Adams try, 78 minutes)

Josh Adams hustles into the left corner! Surely not! Wales have been right out of this game for long periods of the second half but if Gareth Anscombe can convert this, they will be ahead with less than 90 seconds to play.

It is a well worked try, Josh Navidi pivoting at the line, feeding to Tomos Williams who fizzes wide to the backs. The hands are sharp, and Adams is over.

Can Anscombe convert from the touchline?...

He can! It’s over, and Wales lead!

[9 July 2022 17:55 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 12-6 Wales, 77 minutes

Dewi Lake scored from a maul in similar position last week - can the hooker burst over again? No, but South Africa’s maul stall is illicit. Penalty coming and Wales can play with freedom!

[9 July 2022 17:54 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 12-6 Wales, 76 minutes

Yet another errant Dewi Lake lineout means we can get a look at how South Africa assemble themselves. Damian Willemse will presumably step forward to ten, with Williams possibly on to the wing and Warrick Gelant to full-back.

We won’t get a look - Wales are awarded a timely scrum penalty! Debutant Ntuthuko Mchunu is pinged, and Wales kick into the right corner.

[9 July 2022 17:53 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 12-6 Wales, 74 minutes

But it all goes wrong again. Handre Pollard fancies a cross-field kick but loses his balance, teetering like a tipsy teenager, and only stabbing ten metres in the vague direction of teammates to his right.

The ball ricochets to Taulupe Faletau, and Wales can play. They kick higher and longer, Damian Willemse making a hash of his collection and just about scrambling away a clearance.

Pollard injured himself kicking that ball, perhaps tweaking a hamstring, forced as he was to extend his right peg with his left entirely unsteady. Grant Williams replaces him, which will mean a backline reshuffle.

[9 July 2022 17:50 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 12-6 Wales, 72 minutes

A prolonged period of Welsh possession just inside the South African half ends, almost inevitably, with an error. Adam Beard is surprised by the speed of the pass to him and knocks on.

Warrick Gelant thumps the kick deep into the Welsh 22, where Liam Williams kicks up. Wales clear, but not out of their own half, and South Africa can attack.

[9 July 2022 17:47 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Missed penalty! South Africa 12-6 Wales, 70 minutes

Not the easiest for Gareth Anscombe. Wide on the left, some distance out...and pulled wide.

[9 July 2022 17:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 12-6 Wales, 69 minutes

Hmm. Wales are clawing their way back in to this. Another lineout mishap appears to have granted South Africa possession, but the officials have spotted Eben Etzebeth’s big left paw slapping away Adam Beard’s arm as the two locks competed for Dewi Lake’s throw.

On comes the tee.

[9 July 2022 17:44 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! South Africa 12-6 WALES (Gareth Anscombe penalty, 67 minutes)

And where Dan Biggar erred earlier, Gareth Anscombe’s first kick for goal is true. Wales back to within a single score and restored to a full complement as Alun Wyn Jones, just about over the bemusement at his carding, returns from the sin bin.

[9 July 2022 17:43 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 12-3 Wales, 67 minutes

South Africa aren’t really putting this one to bed, though, even against 14 men. Wales earn another holding on call at a ruck on South Africa’s ten-metre line.

Dillon Lewis is down in some discomfort; he will be replaced by Sam Wainwright, who makes a Wales debut.