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 09:56 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-23 Ireland, 71 minutes

And a creaking scrum won’t help their chances. Again New Zealand are penalised at the set piece as Forsyth Barr Stadium falls silent.

[9 July 2022 09:54 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-23 Ireland, 70 minutes

It is hard, of course, to play such long periods down a player but I am struggling to recall an All Blacks performance as bad as this in attack. Their basics, normally so solid, have been far short of the required standard in the face of a strong Irish defensive showing.

[9 July 2022 09:53 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-23 Ireland, 69 minutes

Conor Murray is on for Ireland, a steady hand at the tiller to see them safely home.

Pita Gus Sowakula is introduced for the All Blacks and lurks on the right wing, but the back-row can’t collect Richie Mo’unga’s long fling to him.

[9 July 2022 09:51 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

PENALTY! New Zealand 7-23 IRELAND (Johnny Sexton penalty, 68 minutes)

Three more points to the Irish tally. 16 points, 12 minutes, the All Blacks down to 14 men - is Ireland’s duck in New Zealand about to come to an end?

[9 July 2022 09:50 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-20 Ireland, 66 minutes

But again All Black hands get up to nick the Irish lineout!

New Zealand play deep inside their own 22. Foolishly, it transpires, as Richie Mo’unga is snared with no support and righly penalised for clinging on as the Irish bodies arrive.

Once more the tee comes on for Johnny Sexton to extend the lead.

[9 July 2022 09:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-20 Ireland, 65 minutes

What a kick from Peter O’Mahony! It’s a 50:22! Another error in possession from New Zealand, the two debutants Folau Fakatava and Aidan Ross not on the same page.

The ball pops up into O’Mahony’s arms and the blindside flanker produces a cultured effort with the outside of his right boot, finding open space behind Jordie Barrett to give Ireland an attacking lineout.

[9 July 2022 09:48 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-20 Ireland, 64 minutes

Ireland are pinged for lifting a leg at the maul. That isn’t the first time today, and Jaco Peyper warns the Irish pack to sort their maul defence discipline. The lineout drive about the one thing that has functioned consistently for New Zealand today. Can they force their way back into this?

[9 July 2022 09:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-20 Ireland, 63 minutes

This is properly, properly physical. New Zealand defend well and force a knock-on with a hard hit on the otherwise irrepressible Tadhg Beirne.

Folau Fakatava replaces Aaron Smith, making his international debut, and fellow first-capper Aidan Ross is back with us, too, after his brief first-half appearance. Back row Jack Conan and hooker Rob Herring are introduced for Ireland.

[9 July 2022 09:43 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-20 Ireland, 61 minutes

Twice New Zealand nearly burst free! That is an extraordinary tap tackle from Caelan Doris, Jordie Barrett breaking the first tackle after a clever short ball from Rieko Ioane but somehow snared at the ankle by Doris just as he and Ioane look set to romp away into the Irish backfield.

New Zealand keep hold of the ball and big George Bower produces a nasty piece of footwork to make a half-break, but is then isolated, allowing the Irish scavengers to feast on an under-resourced ruck and draw the holding on call.

[9 July 2022 09:41 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

New Zealand 7-20 Ireland, 59 minutes

Ireland are again rewarded with a scrum penalty, but Sevu Reece shows some circus skills to keep the Johnny Sexton’s punt out of touch as he pirouettes back into the field of play.