England 45-22 Australia: Nations Championship – rugby union as it happened

November 9, 2026
1:27 am

Key events

Match report

The great Rob Kitson has filed his report, just in time to grab a pie and coffee before we hear from Steve Borthwick.

As Rob says, England have done their talking on the pitch which will surely make the coach’s presser a little less hostile than it might have been.

Thanks for keeping me company. Hope you enjoyed it. Catch you at the next one.

Did anyone else forget that this fixture comes with a prize?

Well, Maro Itoje has lifted the Ella-Mobbs Cup into the cold crisp air after that shellacking.

Player of the match, Henry Slade, has his say

I am really happy. We have only come together in the last week and prep time has been short but we have put on a great performance.
[On the record-breaking score against Australia]: That is really pleasing, it is nice for us to get some points on the board and to do it so early on in the competition is really pleasing.
We are just excited about whatever is put in front of us.

Guy Hornsby writes in:

It’s hardly been a great advert for rugby but we’ve done more than enough to a really poor Australia side to deserve this win, Daniel. Our D is looking better – just as a try goes in from Danguni – especially recovering busts, but we still need work here. The forwards have eaten up things in the loose and tight, and Earl has been everywhere too, as he often is. I’d argue Fin Smith is making this shirt his own: he is defensively superb, and does so much incisive, sharp work that lets others get the glory.
Slade’s also been really good, and while his partnership with Atkinson is still a work in progress, he’s been good in defence. We don’t have a big 12 banger, so I was happy with that being stuck with, but that injury to Seb looked bad and untimely, and we’re going to end up with another combination next week. It almost feels like we’re cursed in the centres. It’s reasonable to question the 6-2 split given we had so many players with knocks behind the scrum. But a really pleasing win for sure. And one we really needed with the pressure and narrative this week.

Sad news for Feyi-Waboso who is wearing a moon boot.

That is a record points tally for England over Australia.

Furbank sparking moves in the backline is a major reason why they’ve done that.

On second thought, he was my player of the match.

Full-time! England 45-22 Australia

The final act fittingly fizzles to nothing as a scrappy game comes to a close.

England were good enough to bury a truly rubbish Australian side who are much, much better than that.

But England were decent in patches and their defence looks tighter. You can only beat what’s in front of you and England did the business.

Henry Pollock and Maro Itoje of England celebrate at full time. Photograph: Javier García/Shutterstock

80 min: Slade pings a touch finder to set up a line-out inside Australia’s 22. Australia rise to disrupt but it’s still with England as they rebuild on the Wallaby’s 22.

78 min: Swing Low rings out as England hold up an Aussie ball carrier shortly after the restart to get a scrum.

Henry Slade is named player of the match. Yeah, fair enough. I’d have given it to Van Poortvliet, but no complaints here. The veteran has been great as well.

TRY! England 45-22 Australia (Spencer, 76)

Right back at ya! This game has totally fallen apart. Australia run from their 22, giving it a bit of air, those maniacs. Daugunu looks to work an edge and unfurl an offload that Spencer snaffles in the right tram on Australia’s 22 and runs away to score in the corner. F Smith slots the tricky conversion from out wide.

TRY! England 38-22 Australia (Williams, 74)

That’s an own goal! From a line-out on their own line, Itoje loses the ball and Williams is there to score. Donaldson lands the extras to create a scoreline that flatters Australia.

73 min: Brilliant defence in the far corner from Slade denies Australia a try from their best (first?) decent move of the match. Lovely work from front to back with McDermott and then Valetini (why didn’t he start?). Wright scythed through on the wraparound and found Suaalii who then shovelled for Jorgensen who looked destined for the right corner, but that was great covering work from Slade who nudged the Aussie winger out of touch.

71 min: That was Donaldson’s poor pass to Jorgensen on the right wing. But they get the ball back after a little kick ahead from Furbank off the back of a lovely pass from JvP (my player of the match). But the bounce is kind for Australia and they mop up at the back. Soon after there’s an England line-out on Australia’s 22 and then an England spill – M Smith knocking on without any pressure – so Australia get a scrum on their 22. They then win a penalty so the Wallabies can hoof it upfield.

70 min: England maul and again and it stalls again. JvP told to use it. Another maul is held up so Australia get a scrum after making the ball unplayable.

I was criticising Atkinson, who is off with an injured knee, but his control from midfield is now conspicuous by its absence. They look a bit rushed now.

Doesn’t matter as Australia have been their own worst enemies. From the scrum five from their own line, they go right and pretty much fling the ball straight out inside their own 22.

67 min: After the maul stalls, Pollock does have it after M Smith dinks a cross-field kick that compels Pollock to shift slightly backwards. From a standing start he sqaures up Wright and then looks to grubber, actually going through Wright’s legs, but the Aussie fullback’s turns around and gathers to dot down.

66 min: Earl picks up and goes himself off the scrum, making great ground. They have an advantage as they build towards the edge of Australia’s 22. Genge picks and goes. M Smith carries and wriggles. They’re five out. Oh, they tried to spark the killer move out the back Furbank feeds M Smith who loses it in contact. But they come back for the penalty and nudge to the corner on the left. Pollock, on the opposite wing, wants it.

64 min: A spill around halfway, just inside Australia’s half, means there’ll be a scrum for England. Daugunu was menacing there as he cantered upfield on the counter. Australia have looked much better since Donaldson has come on. Did Les Kiss get his fly-half pick wrong?

Marcus Smith comes on for Atkinson, which means F Smith moves to 12.

TRY! England 38-15 Australia (Daugunu, 62)

Consolation at least. It was messy, it was scrappy, but thanks to some rare link-up play between Donaldson and Lonergan has Daugunu over in the left corner. Barely a celebration. England turned them over with Itoje pinching it, but then when Australia stole it back they kept coming and eventually, despite them pretty much falling over themselves, they accidentally create the space, rather than orchestrate it, down the left and they’re over. The conversion, though, is wayward.

60 min: That sums up Australia’s afternoon. Rare ball inside England’s 22 ends with Donaldson, on for Meredith, spilling a pass that was just ahead of him. Good pressure from Earl. Donaldson slaps the turf in frustration. But they’ll get a crack here as England give away a free kick at the scrum.

TRY! England 38-10 Australia (Pollock, 58)

He’s done it again! There’s your front page pic on every newspaper tomorrow! He’s scored a belter. This is a serious move from England who are hammering their guests now. Off the line-out, they went down the line, Slade with the little loop to ignite the space for Freeman who then found Furbank. Could he find Pollock lurking in space down the right? You bet! Catch and pin the ears back young man. That he did as he beat the covering tackle with a step and a skip and meandered to the poles and celebrated with gusto. The conversion from bang in front is good.

TRY! England 31-10 Australia (Pollock, 55)

Who else? Of course he scores. It was a decent finish too from the right wing as he gets up, points to his chest as he looks directly into a camera. It started with a mual that stalled so Earl had to use it. They picked and went several times and inched their way towards the poles. A few had a dart before Smith flung the pass to the right. It was almost intercepted but the loose ball was picked up by the lad with blond locks and the world at his feet.

Henry Pollock of England celebrates scoring his team’s fifth try. Photograph: Alex Davidson/RFU/The RFU Collection/Getty Images

54 min: Penalty to England after they go round the corner and keep things right after the line-out. Into the 22 with some big carries. JvP snipes. They inch their way towards the try line. England lose their feet but there was an advantage for an Aussie straying off-side in the build up. England will get the throw five out. If it’s not done already, one more try will kill this contest.

53 min: Freeman beats Suaalii in the aiar and tips back a JvP box. Australia are playing fast and loose in their own 22 but manage to work the ball from left to right as Wright and Canham show good hands. Ikitau kicks but straight out of touch beyond his 22. So that’s a gimme back to England who will throw to the line 25 metres out on the left.

51 min: Australia counter after a JvP kick after the turnover at the line-out. Henry runs over Earl in midfield. He’s in the 22. Bell carries well. 10 metres out. They need to score. McReight gives it to Tupou and then Meredith who takes it to the line. But in their desperation for quick ball Australia lose their feet as they try and clear out the ruck, giving away a soft penalty in England’s red zone.

50 min: Australia go off the top of the line-out and through the hands. Ikitau involved in a loop that has the ball on the floor. Freeman tries to kick it ahead but misses. Ikitau then picks up and rakes a lovely 50-22. No matter, Chessum rises high and wins the turnover at the line-out. Chessum is having a great game.

48 min: There’s a break as a George needs attention. While that happens Earl shouts and screams and waves his arms at Pollock who seems to be refusing orders to hug the right wing. We restart with a free kick for England after the scrum. Smith hoists it high. Then England give away a penalty as Freeman and Jorgensen collide. The call is for obstruction so Australia get a clearing kick that finds touch on halfway.

46 min: After some great carries from Earl JvP snipes from the fringe of a ruck and charges upfield. He’s tack;ed by Wright inside Australia’s 22. Soon after there’s a turnover and Canham carries it back. Australia go through the hands with Suaalii off his wing. They keep coming. Henry the centre runs as Swing Low rings out. Jorgensen is then tackled by Pollock and Earl and spills down the right wing. Better from Australia, but England always had them covered. Scrum for England 10 in Aussie’s patch down the left.

45 min: Australia knock-o from the restart. So poor!

TRY! England 26-10 England (Van Poortvliet, 43)

What a try! Wow, that was proper rugby. So slick. After Pollock’s break down the left they cam back infield where Smith found Furbank who dummied to create the space on halfway. When he does pass he finds Freeman screaming down the right. He has a one on one but gets his head up and flings a 20 metre pass back infield where JvP is in support like all good 9s and he has the simple job of scoring under the poles. The extras mean it’s a 16 point game and, probably, game over.

42 min: Australia win an early line-out 10 in England’s patch down the left. They then hois a box that is won by England. They attack down the line and Pollock gathers on the left wing, steps inside and makes about eight metres. Fair play.

Second half

Both sets of players are back out there.

Room for improvement for both.

Sadly there’s no Feyi-Waboso is off. And Henry Pollock is on! Is he playing left wing? Oh Steve, you mad man.

This’ll be fun.

Our reader Jon Piper has, ahem, piped up:

Watching on TV, but wondering about the near silence from the crowd. Where is the English support? They make a noise if England score, but it’s hard to hear any encouragement beforehand. They seem to just sit back and expect entertainment.

Compare with Edinburgh, Cardiff, Glasgow……

As for the game, a good performance in many ways but England seem able to cock things up at any moment.

Fair comment. And you’re right. The crowd come alive when Fayi-Waboso touches the ball, or the rolling maul get a rumble on. But it’s not been a great watch from where I’m sitting. England at best are producing a 6/10 performance. More like a 5/10 if you’re asking what I think.

Should fans be obligated to back their boys even when they’re failing to entertain? Is boisterous fandom unconditional? I’ll let you chew on that.

So, what’s worked and what hasn’t for both teams?

First, the positives for England.

Feyi-Waboso has been the difference. Every time he’s touched the ball he’s lit up the game. But will that knock rule him out for the second half? Also a word for Chessum and Earl. They’ve been great around the contact area.

Unfortunately, it’s the same story in midfield. For all their ball, England just don’t have a player who can provide that go forward down the 12 channel. I had to look up if Atkinson was actually on the field. A perennial headache for England.

What about Australia? In truth, nothing has worked. Their line-out has been a mess, they’ve not rallied on defence and they’ve failed to get their exciting backs in the game.

I suppose the only positive for them is that the score doesn’t quite resemble a cricket card just yet. And they do have firepower off the bench.

If they go on and snatch an unlikely victory it’ll be a comeback for the ages.

Can’t see it happening, though.

Half-time: England 19-10 Australia

If this match was judged like a boxing match it might already be over.

But a sloppy pass from the England 9, plus some mistakes elsewhere, means it’s only a nine point game.

Australia have been terrible. England have been better without being great. In truth, it’s not been a spectacle.

But Borthwick won’t care about the optics. His team are leading and fully deserve to be in front at the break.

TRY! England 19-10 Australia (Jorgensen, 40+1)

They’ve burgled a try! Just like last year, they’ve pinched a turnover on halfway from seemingly nothing and Jorgensen steps up, grabs the pass from Van Poortvliet and the Aussie winger scampers away and won’t be caught as he runs in to dot down under the poles. Lonergan slots the extras to close the gap.

Australia’s Max Jorgensen scores his side’s first try of the game. Photograph: David Davies/PA

40 min: OH! did Freeman score? Almost! Not quite though. The kick from Smith from centre field to the right corner bobbles and sits up. Meredith takes an age to cover it but its knocked on by Freeman in goal. So so close.

39 min: So sloppy from Australia! My goodness they have been poor. They try to work a clever routine at the front of the line-out but make a proper mess of it, spilling it. England run it and get it to Feyi-Waboso in no time. Soon after Australia give away a penalty on the floor that Smith kicks out to set up a line-out on the 22 to the left.

37 min: Penalty for Australia on the 10 metre line and a chance to kick to the corner and land a blow before the break. Itoje tried to steal from McReight’s carry. That was loose from the skipper. The kick finds touch inside the England 22. Can they get themselves in gear?