England v Australia LIVE rugby: Wallabies hit back to lead England in Twickenham thriller
The Autumn Nations Series continues as Steve Borthwick’s England desperately need to turn performances into results against Joe Schmidt’s struggling Wallabies
England welcome Australia to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham as the Autumn Nations Series rolls on with the hosts desperately needing to get a victory on the board.
England have played well in each of their last six Tests but won only two of those matches, with a pair of late losses in New Zealand over the summer and last week’s heartbreaking defeat to the same All Blacks on home soil meaning they are in the midst of a frustrating losing streak.
Defeat to a flawed Wallabies side struggling to find their feet under new coach Joe Schmidt – having won just one of six games to finish bottom of the Rugby Championship – would raise serious questions about the Steve Borthwick project, giving this game a must-win feel for the hosts.
Borthwick has opted for an unchanged starting XV from a week ago, although Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ollie Sleightholme come on to the bench, while Australia give a debut to rugby league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at outside centre, as the 21-year-old plays his first-ever match in union.
Follow all of the action from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in our live blog below:
KICK-OFF! England 18-20 Australia
Australia begin the second half with the ball, and Gordon is back on after his HIA.
HT: England 18-20 Australia
The two sides are back out at Twickenham!
HT: England 18-20 Australia
A concerning half for England, sucked into an open game and increasingly struggling to combat the Wallabies as it wore on. Tom Curry is gone for good and both Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ollie Lawrence have been off for HIAs, disrupting England significantly after a bright start in attack. Could they kick more and try to take some more territorial control?
HALF-TIME! England 18-20 Australia
HALF-TIME! England 18-20 Australia
Ben O’Keefe blows for half-time and the teams head in with the scores close, but the visitors ahead despite a good start from England.
PENALTY! England 18-20 Australia
40 mins
The clock is in the red as Lolesio eases the kick over, and the Wallabies have a half-time lead of 18-20!
England 18-17 Australia
40 mins
Cunningham-South is penalised after blocking the chase from Kellaway. The Wallabies work their way into the 22, advancing after some strong running from the forwards, until they win a penalty and opt for the kick.
England 18-17 Australia
37 mins
A speculative effort fro Sleightholme – who’s come back on as Lawrence is getting an HIA – as he receives the ball on the 10m line and opts to chase a kick, but it’s overhit and runs out.
Another messy scrum and England are penalised again.
CONVERTED TRY! England 18-17 Australia
34 mins
TRY! Great play from McDermott twice. He’s just come on for Gordon, but he spots a gap after Australia play it wide through the hands. He sneaks under the tackle, darts into the space and offloads for Wilson to go over!
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