England vs Australia LIVE: Rugby result, final score and reaction from 2021 Autumn internationals

England chalked up an eighth successive victory over Australia on Saturday as tries for Freddie Steward and Jamie Blamire and the pinpoint goalkicking of Owen Farrell and Marcus Smith settled a penalty-ridden game 32-15 for the hosts.

England made most of the running in the first half and scored a superb try through fullback Steward after seven minutes but as both teams conceded a succession of penalties, Farrell and James O’Connor punished each other from the tee to keep it tight at 16-12 at halftime. The ragged, indisciplined nature continued in the second half Australia were hit with two yellow cards in the game - with neither side really threatening the tryline but England still in the ascendancy.

Farrell, winning his 100th cap for England and the Lions, went off injured after landing five penalties and a conversion but Smith added another penalty to stretch the lead before replacement hooker Blamire sent the home fans wild when he galloped in from 60 metres in the final minute.

England have now won all eight of their games against the Wallabies, who conceded 18 penalties, since they lost to them in the pool phase to be knocked out of the 2015 World Cup.

“We stuck at it,” said coach Eddie Jones. “We’ve had a tough week. Two Covid, Kyle Sinckler was injured in the first 10 minutes of the match - he was incapacitated. Australia have been in a bubble since June, so congrats to them for staying in it.”

England vs Australia

• Kick-off 5:30pm GMT at Twickenham

• England: Freddie Steward; Manu Tuilagi, Henry Slade, Owen Farrell, Jonny May; Marcus Smith, Ben Youngs; Bevan Rodd, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Courtney Lawes, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry

• Australia: Kurtley Beale; Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau; Hunter Paisami, Tom Wright; James O’Connor, Nic White; Angus Bell, Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper, Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda, Rob Leota, Michael Hooper, Rob Valentini.

Farewell!

20:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That just about does us for our live coverage of England’s win over Australia. Eddie Jones’ side survive a strange affair at Twickenham to make it two from two this autumn, both games won without conceding a try. Their attack will have to fire more fully against the Springboks next week, you’d think, but for the eighth successive time since Jones took charge England have won the Cook Cup.

We’ll have plenty more reaction to and analysis of today’s game over the next couple of days. Thank you for joining us.

England defeat stubborn Australia as Marcus Smith shines at Twickenham

Owen Farrell on his injury

20:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Farrell reveals he took a bang to the ankle, but reckons he should be fit for next weekend’s game against South Africa.

Jamie George took a knock to the knee, Eddie Jones says, and England will assess him on Monday. Joe Marler is out of isolation on Thursday evening and is “a possibility” for South Africa next Saturday.

Eddie Jones on England’s win

20:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“We’ve had a disrupted week. We had two Covid positives, a young prop come in and have one training run and start, we lostJamie George at halftime. We had to battle hard. It turned out to be a really heavy penalty game, a lot of set-piece battles. I was really pleased with the way our finishers finished the game.

“Bevan Rodd, to make his debut against someone with 113 caps and play 65, 70 minutes is a remarkable job from a young prop. Jamie Blamire we have identified can make a really good Test hooker. He’s got the scent for the ball. He’s got to do some work on his set-piece but most guys do. Both the young guys went well.”

Australia struggle to get going

20:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It was an odd sort of performance from Australia, who defended well at times but never really got going in attack.

“We haven’t performed with the accuracy or consistency that we needed,” says Dave Rennie post-game. “We’ve got to be disciplined and we’ve got to be accurate - we were neither tonight.”

Michael Hooper adds: “We are not building momentum. We’ve got to work out what that looks like.”

Owen Farrell’s injury a concern

19:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Owen Farrell looked to be moving far more freely when shaking hands after full-time. He had been having a right old natter with his head coach moments beforehand.

Will he be available for South Africa? England’s attack flickered today without properly igniting, and the first indications from the Farrell/Marcus Smith playmaking partnership were largely positive.

England make it two from two

19:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle

FT: England 32-15 Australia

19:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Victory by a not insubstantial margin in the end for England, but that was a curious affair, a game England controlled almost completely but never looked close to putting beyond doubt. Australia stuck around well, tightening up defensively in their own red zone to frustrate England and keep them from building on plenty of nice attacking moments in the middle portion of the pitch.

Plenty of penalties took a little of the steam out of the game, which never really built momentum, but England make it two from two for the autumn.

FULL TIME: ENGLAND 32-15 AUSTRALIA

19:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle

TRY! ENGLAND 32-15 Australia (Jamie Blamire try, 80 minutes)

19:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Jamie Blamire simply cannot stop scoring in England white! Another try for the replacement hooker and England add some final gloss to the victory.

It comes from outstanding attacking play from Australia, dancing in open space for only the second or third time all evening. Tolu Latu combines with Len Ikitau down the right but the ball is spilled as they try and work intricate patterns, and Sam Simmonds looks up to see room in front of him as the ball ends up in his breadbasket.

Down the left touchline he sprints, burning the fatigued Australian chasers and drawing the last defender. Blamire wisely lurks in the Australia half, waiting for his teammate to arrive and getting his engine started as he does, collecting the pass and romping home in what is, by now, trademark fashion.

Marcus Smith puts over the extra two and that makes the win look a little prettier for England.

England 25-15 Australia, 78 minutes

19:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England twice threaten to cut pleasant shapes through the Australian defence. Max Malins first tumbles over a tackler as he tries to jink and jump inside having been freed in a strip of space on the right, before Henry Slade arcs, arcs, and arcs some more to the outside edge but finds support lacking and forces an errant offload.

Australia play to potential counter-attacking space but an outstanding chase down from Alex Dombrandt on the angle forces the ball free.

England 25-15 Australia, 75 minutes

19:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Another England change and this will necessitate another change of captain. Courtney Lawes is replaced by Sam Simmonds, and Tom Curry takes over as chief point of contact as Australia feed a scrum.

The Wallabies win a free kick and tap quickly, but a dreadful grubber is picked up by an offside player and Jaco Peyper has his arm up again. England penalty, and as the time ticks by you’d say that is probably that for Australia’s chances. Henry Slade pushes the penalty down towards the 22.

England 25-15 Australia, 73 minutes

19:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Tom Robertson has come on fo Australia and is taken man and ball as he tries to swivel away a pass, just about clinging on.

The two sides exchange kicks, as they have done for much of this half. Raffi Quirke goes underground as he lands after clutching one ball tumbling from the heavens, cleverly avoiding a heavy contact.

Australia try something more adventurous, a chip that lands in open pasture, but eventually Freddie Steward grasps it. That’s poor, though - a skew straight out with acres and acres of space in to which he could have prodded the ball and Australia will have a lineout inside the England half.

PENALTY! ENGLAND 25-15 Australia (Marcus Smith penalty, 72 minutes)

19:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Before Smith has his shot at goal, an England debut for Raffi Quirke. He’s on at scrum-half, arriving at the party together with Trevor Davison and Will Stuart as England also swap props.

Here’s Smith’s kick - it’s over! England lead by ten.

England 22-15 Australia, 71 minutes

19:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There is still a disrupted feel to this contest. Australia have barely had a sniff of a try but with a seven-point margin, one clean break and they could be level. England thus play the percentages - Ben Youngs booting as far as he possibly can as he box kicks ball away.

Hang on, England have a penalty, too! Nic White protests his innocence but the moustachioed scrum-half has clearly stepped across Max Malins as he chases. White is still arguing even as the footage on the big screen confirms it. Marcus Smith has taken over kicking duties and will look to put England out of the reach of a single score...

England 22-15 Australia, 68 minutes

19:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Trouble for England - Owen Farrell is limping off! Very, very slowly, too - he doesn’t look in a good way at all.

Max Malins replaces him, presumably taking Manu Tuilagi’s spot on the wing as Tuilagi re-familiarises himself with his more conventional midfield home. Courtney Lawes takes the captaincy, and immediately questions Jaco Peyper as the referee awards a breakdown penalty the way of Australia.

England 22-15 Australia, 67 minutes

19:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Impressive from Bevan Rodd! Another emphatic win of his individual battle at the scrum and another penalty awarded England’s way. 67 minutes in on debut and still making an impact - it’s been a solid opening performance from the 21-year-old.

England 22-15 Australia, 66 minutes

19:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Australia throw a lineout quickly, the oval ball drifting invitingly on the autumnal evening air but into James O’Connor’s hands with just enough time for the fly-half to sprint away from an arriving Manu Tuilagi and lessen the force of the England wing’s hit.

O’Connor gets a good offload away and Rob Valetini has space into which he can sprint, but Marcus Smith just about grabs his shoelaces and Australia soon knock-on.

PENALTY! ENGLAND 22-15 Australia (Owen Farrell penalty, 65 minutes)

19:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Owen Farrell is accurate on this occasion - his fifth three-pointer, and England extend their advantage.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes: Alex Dombrandt is on permanently, with Sam Underhill’s return a short one, while Australia swap hookers - Tolu Latu, now France-based, makes his Wallabies return with Folau Fainga’a off.

England 19-15 Australia, 63 minutes

19:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Before they can set it, Australia call for the enormous Will Skelton to lend some second row mass. Rory Arnold goes off.

It matters not - Bevan Rodd munches his man and draws a penalty advantage.

England kick crossfield...into Australian hands, and Freddie Steward is a touch lucky that the catcher lands safely as he rather bashes against them while still in the air.

England 19-15 Australia, 62 minutes

19:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Australia concede a free kick at the lineout, though. Neither side has really found true flow in this half, plenty of scrappy, inaccurate stuff.

Marcus Smith sends the free kick for the moon, asking Manu Tuilagi to get after it, and Tuilagi makes the tackle.

There is space on the right for Australia, but a poor pass falls from the fingertips of Kurtley Beale, and England will now have fine attacking position and the scrum feed on the fringes of the Australia 22.

England 19-15 Australia, 60 minutes

18:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Bell goes into battle here as England feed a scrum on halfway, and he’s won a penalty, too! Coaches Petrus du Plessis and Scott Wisemantel chuckle in delight as the loosehead forces Kyle Sinckler to ground.

England 19-15 Australia, 58 minutes

18:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Sam Underhill has been stitched back together and has rejoined affairs, with Alex Dombrandt, prominent since coming on, back to the bench for a presumably brief refresh before coming on permanently in the not too distant future.

Angus Bell has also been back with us for the last minute or so at the conclusion of his ten minutes in the bin.

England 19-15 Australia, 57 minutes

18:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England are just making a few silly errors now, Courtney Lawes isolating himself with an aimless wander inside his 22 and England infringing at the ruck.

Hang on! Stuart Berry, rather earning his money this evening, calls in - there’s a no-arms tackle on Lawes. The penalty is reversed.

England 19-15 Australia, 56 minutes

18:54 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England pinch more Australian ball at the back of the lineout and play to width, the ball tumbling free as Henry Slade tries to release the outside man. The home side think there was an Australian hand involved - actually, it’s off the head, so it will be an Australia lineout.

England 19-15 Australia, 54 minutes

18:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle

End-to-end! First England scythe through, Manu Tuilagi making a half-break and offloading to Alex Dombrandt, who sets his ship on a collision course into Kurtley Beale, who actually does a rather good job as a speed bump.

Australia then nick the ball, and Hunter Paisami answers with a break of his own, weaving hither and thither and charging unchallenged some sixty metres. England win a turnover, but are then loose at a ruck and Australia have it back.

They will eventually have a lineout after Marcus Smith claims a mark from an ill-advised chip, and the Australian captain is down!

Michael Hooper’s race is run! The openside sits on the Twickenham turf, clearly in pain, and he won’t be able to continue. Pete Samu replaces him - that’s a significant blow for Australia. Hooper had been typically ubiquitous.

MISSED PENALTY! England 19-15 Australia, 53 minutes

18:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Dragged wide! Owen Farrell curses under his breath as he gets his kick wrong and that’s the first miss of the evening.

England 19-15 Australia, 51 minutes

18:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Can England use their man advantage better in this half? They start well, winning a penalty, but then have another lineout mishap as Jamie Blamire overthrows Courtney Lawes at his apex.

But Australia then hold on and Owen Farrell is asking for the tee again. The cone carriers are earning their money.

PENALTY! ENGLAND 19-15 Australia (Owen Farrell penalty, 49 minutes)

18:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Owen Farrell duly knocks through the three points, while England have been forced into a change - Sam Underhill had blood pouring from his face a moment ago and he will trot off, with Alex Dombrandt into the game.

YELLOW CARD! James Slipper is sent to the sin bin! England 16-15 Australia, 48 minutes

18:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Another yellow! It’s a horrible tackle from Bell, unnecessarily lifting Lawes after the England flanker releases a pass.

Bell lays down the Lawes rather abruptly, dropping him on his shoulder, and Jaco Peyper lays down the law after a consultation with the TMO - Australia lose their loosehead.

England 16-15 Australia, 48 minutes

18:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Howls of disapproval from the England fans - twice! First an awkward high shot on a carrying player, which is just a penalty, but Angus Bell is probably in more trouble for his late, unsafe dumping of Courtney Lawes...

HELD UP! England 16-15 Australia, 46 minutes

18:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Nearly an opportunistic England score! The ball somehow springs free of an assembling Australia maul, falling perfectly for Jonny Hill, who sets about rumbling for the line.

His teammates join him and over it goes at some speed, but Australia manage to get bodies beneath the ball and hold Hill up. Goalline drop out.

England 16-15 Australia, 45 minutes

18:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England defuse another high bomb from Nic White - they’ve coped well aerially so far, with Manu Tuilagi seldom, if ever, in the backfield.

Ben Youngs pushes Australia back with his own boxed number, a flatter one that tumbles down just short of the Australian 22, where it trundles into touch.

England 16-15 Australia, 44 minutes

18:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A nervy moment inside the Australian 22 as a rare second pass deep in their own territory slips free of O’Connor’s grasp, but it tumbles backward - fortunately for the Wallabies.

Nic White then clears well. Jamie Blamire’s first dart rather misses the board, on the outside of Courtney Lawes’ leap and called not straight. Australia somewhat surprisingly will opt for a lineout rather than a scrum.

PENALTY! England 16-15 AUSTRALIA (James O’Connor penalty, 43 minutes)

18:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Penalty number five knocked between the posts.

England 16-12 Australia, 41 minutes

18:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Bevan Rodd carries in midfield with Maro Itoje, without a scrum cap today, interestingly, alongside him for support, but the second row goes off his feet and is rightly pinged by Jaco Peyper.

Here’s a picture we’ve seen before - James O’Connor will plant the ball on the tee.

KICK OFF!

18:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The second half is underway.

The players are back out there

18:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A half-time change for England - Jamie George was struggling at the end of the first half after injuring himself in attempting to score in the corner, and he has not re-emerged. Jamie Blamire is on in his stead as Australia kick off...

Freddie Steward celebrates

18:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The Wright decision?

18:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Australia will be relieved that they did not fold during the yellow card period, but they are probably a touch fortunate that it was yellow and not red for Tom Wright - he got his technique all wrong and though Jamie George stepped late in to him, Wright was high all the way and made direct contact with the head. Jaco Peyper and TMO Stuart Berry’s reasons for mitigation were fair enough, but given the crackdown on that sort of collision other officials might have concluded differently.

The Marcus Smith Show

18:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The Twickenham crowd has cheered every glimpse of the Marcus Smith show so far. His pass for Steward’s score was perfectly timed and England are broadening their attack nicely with Smith and Owen Farrell in combination, and Eddie Jones will be disappointed his side have been a little loose at times in the 22, for much of their phase play in the middle third of the pitch has been excellent.

HT: England 16-12 Australia

18:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A slightly strange half, that, punctuated and punctured by the interventions of Jaco Peyper and his whistle, with Australia penalised ten times. England have had plenty of ball and territory but have lacked a little bit of final accuracy to make it count, other than Freddie Steward’s early burst through for the opening try.

Of course, but for Nic White’s sharp defensive work, Jamie George would have been over, too, but as it is a four-point lead leaves both sides very, very much in it.

HALF TIME: ENGLAND 16-12 AUSTRALIA

18:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle

PENALTY! England 16-12 AUSTRALIA (James O’Connor penalty, 40 minutes)

18:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Through it flies and, as a bonus, Australia are restored to fifteen men as Tom Wright makes his return for the final exchanges of the first half.

England 16-9 Australia, 39 minutes

18:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England are then offside in midfield after the lineout as they get over-eager in rushing up in defence. Indeed, touch judge AJ Jacobs confirms that the entire England backline was offside. James O’Connor will line a fourth penalty up for the posts.

England 16-9 Australia, 37 minutes

18:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“Yes Slippy!” is the cry as Australia win a scrum penalty! James Slipper gets the pats on the back as he drives through Bevan Rodd, who is turned inwards, and Jaco Peyper penalises England.

England 16-9 Australia, 36 minutes

18:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Australia kick it long and England give Manu Tuilagi a runway, thundering in to two Australian tacklers who just about fell the fast-moving centre-cum-wing.

England are a little short of numbers on the right as Owen Farrell assess his options, the England skipper eventually electing to kick. It hits an Australian hand - ruled a knock-on. England scrum feed on the ten metre line inside the Australian half.

NO TRY! England 16-9 Australia, 35 minutes

18:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

What a tackle from Nic White! That is an incredible intervention from the scrum-half, rushing back to jar the ball free from Jamie George’s grasp as the hooker readied his grounding having burst away from the maul.

Michael Hooper had done magnificently to slow George sufficiently to allow White to race back, but the Saracen was over for all money. White targets the ball and out it spills - five points saved for certain.

Australia will have a goalline drop out.

England 16-9 Australia, 33 minutes

18:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The Twickenham crowd howls in disapproval as Owen Farrell pokes through and Manu Tuilagi appears to be blocked, but there was no clear change of line from the Australian player and England will have to be content with the penalty they had earned at the maul.

After a brief scintilla of excitement as England score having quick-tapped from the wrong mark, back for the corner the burly men will go.

England 16-9 Australia, 31 minutes

18:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England strip a Wallabies carrier in the tackle and suddenly there are possibilities on the right! Owen Farrell toes ahead into space left vacant by the absent wright and off after it are Freddie Steward and Manu Tuilagi, somehow each contriving to miss the bobbling ball.

Eventually England do smother it and Tom Curry is taken over the shoulder in the tackle. Nic White penalised for his high shot...

...Owen Farrell prods it into the corner

PENALTY! ENGLAND 16-9 Australia (Owen Farrell penalty, 30 minutes)

18:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And as Wright makes his way off, Owen Farrell plops the ball down on the tee and adds three more to his and England’s tally.

YELLOW CARD! Tom Wright is sent to the sin bin, England 13-9 Australia, 29 minutes

18:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Yellow! Kurtley Beale had clung to George around the waist and Wright had arrived on his heels, failing to dip as he tackles and making limited attempt to wrap as George’s bonce bounces against the top of his arm.

“We don’t believe it is a high level of danger,” says Jaco Peyper, citing the fact that Wright was on the back foot and not launching himself at George. Into his pocket he goes, and out comes the yellow square - Wright will have a ten-minute sit on the naughty step.

England 13-9 Australia, 29 minutes

18:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Jamie George on the rumble! A delightfully deft use of hands and eyes at the line from Courtney Lawes, taking a wallop but slipping his hooker through a gaping hole that opens as he does, and George sets off with fierce intent.

He’s dragged down, and where is Tom Wright’s shoulder going? Right into the head of George as he tries to join his teammate in the tackle! This could be red.

England 13-9 Australia, 28 minutes

18:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Henry Slade just about gets beneath an awkwardly bouncing ball and kicks to James O’Connor, who puts up his own skyward hoist.

O’Connor sprints after it but leaps about a year and a half too soon for it, colliding awkwardly with Freddie Steward as the full back collects above him. Penalty to England.

England 13-9 Australia, 27 minutes

18:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England play to width off the lineout and CRUNCH! Hunter Paisami flies out of the line and tonks Marcus Smith, rather leading with his head and copping a nasty bang but forcing Smith’s pass to fly errantly - and forward.

Paisami stays down for a moment, but he’s reasonably swiftly back on his feet. He has a chat with Wallabies (and former England) attack coach Scott Wisemantel, lugging the liquids as a water carrier.

England 13-9 Australia, 26 minutes

17:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A lively little front of the lineout move is well executed by Australia, but Folau Fainga’a wastes the good work of him and his teammate by failing to keep his feet at the ruck. England penalty.

England 13-9 Australia, 24 minutes

17:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Excellent maul defence from Australia, but where are England going here? A gorgeous fade on the pass from Henry Slade as Marcus Smith whips it to him, but the centre fails to square up the defence and forces Jonny May to check on his pass, allowing Australia to get two men across and force him into touch.

Australia then win a penalty at the lineout to allow them an easy clearing job.

England 13-9 Australia, 23 minutes

17:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle

But, almost inevitably, the scrum collapses in a heap, with James Slipper picked out as the cause of it - the Wallabies’ makeshift loosehead is penalised.

An outstanding kick for the touchline means Jamie George will throw a five-metre lineout, the hooker sprinting down in anticipation of a muscular maul...

England 13-9 Australia, 22 minutes

17:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

We’ve heard rather a lot of Jaco Peyper in this half, and he’s again putting his Acme to his mouth as Folau Fainga’a joins a lineout too soon. England take a scrum option for a chance to have a shove 15 metres in on halfway, with plenty of attacking options to the openside and Freddie Steward lurking on the blind.

PENALTY! England 13-9 AUSTRALIA (James O’Connor penalty, 21 minutes)

17:54 , Harry Latham-Coyle

James O’Connor taps through his third penalty

17:53 , Jack Rathborn

England 13-6 Australia, 19 minutes

17:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Another loose restart defusal from England, the ball spilling free from the hands and pounced upon by Australia. England are able to clear soon after though, Ben Youngs making okay distance on his box kick from a tough angle.

Australia look to attack from the lineout, working the ball to the left and then sweeping back to the right with James O’Connor’s late dart across field, but Kurtley Beale’s pass over the top is too tall for Michael Hooper, try though the Australian captain might to retrieve it from the top shelf. Hooper was just a touch narrow - if he’d been on the touchline he might have been able to run in.

England are offside, so Australia will have another go at goal.

PENALTY! ENGLAND 13-6 Australia (Owen Farrell penalty, 18 minutes)

17:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

...And over it goes.

England 10-6 Australia, 17 minutes

17:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England play away from the set-piece and here comes Manu Tuilagi! Like a great battering ram he is brought on to the shoulder of Ben Youngs with Jonny May also darting dangerously, Tuilagi well hit by Hunter Paisami, but over the gainline.

Australia then infringe once more and Owen Farrell again beckons for the tee...

England 10-6 Australia, 16 minutes

17:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Nifty from Freddie Steward, twirling around like a waltzing ballroom dance to avoid a tackler and stay infield.

England continue to win midfield collisions and Izack Rodda fails to vacate a ruck swiftly enough for Jaco Peyper’s liking - the South African whistles again and Owen Farrell will push his side into the Australia 22 for a lineout.

PENALTY! England 10-6 AUSTRALIA (James O’Connor penalty, 15 minutes)

17:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle

No issues from just right of centre as O’Connor knocks it through.

England 10-3 Australia, 14 minutes

17:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That’s an excellent restart drill from Australia, though, getting after a lovely high drop-kick and smothering Freddie Steward as he lands after taking it, piling bodies in, driving over the ball and drawing an offside Jonny Hill to seal the ball off.

James O’Connor will look for an immediate answer back from the tee...

PENALTY! ENGLAND 10-3 Australia (Owen Farrell penalty, 13 minutes)

17:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A steadying step back and then four paces into the ball - Farrell knocks another simple one through.

England 7-3 Australia, 11 minutes

17:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Better from Bevan Rodd, carrying hard on the shoulder of a jinking Marcus Smith and taking three defenders with him as he makes an extra yard or two. Australia then infringe at the breakdown - Michael Hooper caught with his hands in the cookie jar. An ambitious Smith chip collides with Australian arms, so back England will come - and Owen Farrell points at the uprights.

England 7-3 Australia, 10 minutes

17:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Sinckler is staggering about in some discomfort but a shake of the legs and a healing rub from the England medics and he’ll be ready to go again, stomping down to lend his weight to England’s maul drive.

It stalls, and England will play away from it.

England 7-3 Australia, 9 minutes

17:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Freddie Steward is the widest man on the England line as they set a scrum inside their own 22, Manu Tuilagi pushed inside him.

Ben Youngs produces a perfectly weighted box kick and Australia fall foul of Jaco Peyper - just as Bevan Rodd had been earlier, they are pinged for a blocking line on a chaser.

England kick brilliantly to the left corner but Kyle Sinckler is down and needing some treatment.

TRY! ENGLAND 7-3 Australia (Freddie Steward try, 8 minutes)

17:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A delicious delay on the Smith pass and Freddie Steward is cantering in!

England had won the gainline and been afforded quick ball, Smith again roaming behind Owen Farrell at first receiver and drawing two defenders on to him, churning his feet to hold them and waiting just long enough to usher Steward, arriving well, through a great chasm.

He weaves beyond the backfield defenders for the try, converted simply by Farrell.

England 0-3 Australia, 7 minutes

17:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A free kick on the set-up and Ben Youngs goes quickly, Marcus SMith looping around the back and breaking a tackle as Twickenham begins to purr.

He is well held by the next tackler but the spaces open two phases later....

England 0-3 Australia, 6 minutes

17:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Freddie Steward is quite the specimen and all the more impressive when leaping high to claim a hick kick, as he does well with Australian chasers a little close for comfort.

Australia, however, fumble Marcus Smith’s high bomb, Andrew Kellaway misjudging the flight, but a chance to attack inside the Australian half is ended when Smith is dragged down just as he tries to paint something ornate with runners arriving from depth. Back for the Kellaway knock on and a scrum, the first of the evening.

PENALTY! England 0-3 AUSTRALIA (James O’Connor penalty, 4 minutes)

17:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Cleanly struck, and sailing between the uprights. The touch judges’ flags flutter and Australia are on the board early.

England 0-0 Australia, 3 minutes

17:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A first intervention from Jaco Peyper - he’s spotted Bevan Rodd altering his line to block a Wallaby haring after a Nic White box kick. It’s a kickable penalty, 40 metres out and left of centre. James O’Connor is going to have a go...

England 0-0 Australia, 2 minutes

17:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Jonny May is asked to turn and retrieve a well-directed kick but just about gets the better of the resulting game of tennis played with the boot.

England 0-0 Australia, 1 minute

17:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England begin with Henry Slade in the backfield, allowing Manu Tuilagi an early chance to deliver a meaty midfield hit. Smith and Slade are the deepest England players - Tuilagi defending at outside centre.

Kick off

17:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Marcus Smith has the ball in his hands - England will kick-off. Jaco Peyper peeps, Smith hoists high, and the Cook Cup is underway!

Anthems

17:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Time for the anthems, to be delivered by married opera singers - Englishman Rodney Earl Clarke and Australia’s Louise Callinan, who kicks things off with a delightful final vibrato on the closing note of Advance Australia Fair.

Earl Clarke has 80,000 extra voices lending their punch to God Save The Queen

The Last Post

17:26 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Twickenham falls silent for the blaring of the bugler in recognition of Remembrance Day.

Maro Itoje leads England out

17:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A great ovation for Maro Itoje, too, as he leads England out, all fire and flames behind him as he pivots to invite his teammates to join him.

The crowd are up for it

17:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle

the Twickenham crowd are being treated to a rather impressive coordinated light show, like something out of an Edgar Wright film, with sound and vision coalescing in time.

The crowd are in good voice, too - Marcus Smith’s name gets an enormous, pulse-lifting roar.

The Cook Cup

17:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Australia must override ‘inferiority complex’ to beat England, claims Eddie Jones

A shake of the hands

17:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Conditions

17:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s a balmy enough evening at Twickenham for the middle of November, the sun long since set and the stands filing nicely. A bit of moisture in the air, but both sides appear to be handling well in the warm-up.

The England skipper’s back

16:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Emma vs Eddie

16:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There will be more than 80,000 people packed in to Twickenham today, but Emma Raducanu won’t be one of them. It is understood that having been made aware of Eddie Jones’ comments last week the US Open champion declined an invite to attend either this game or next week’s clash with South Africa.

Jones confirmed that he had written privately to Raducanu to explain his ham-handed attempt to keep Marcus Smith grounded.

Eddie Jones writes to Emma Raducanu to clarify comments on her loss of form

One to watch - Nic White

16:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Eddie Jones had plenty of nice words to say about Nic White this week, the former Exeter scrum-half a developed player in recent years.

Without Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi in midfield, White takes on additional importance, with the Wallabies likely to play off nine a lot of the time. A shrewd kicker, White will also surely try to test out this new-look England backfield – it will be fascinating to watch how England set up in obvious kick return situations with Tuilagi on the wing.

White was also compared to a wicketkeeper in the build-up to this game due to his chatty, in your face nature on the pitch – after Matthew Wade’s heroics at the T20 World Cup on Thursday evening it has been a good week for chirpy Australians.

One to watch - Bevan Rodd

16:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It has been a strange week for Bevan Rodd. He would have begun it preparing for the start of Sale Sharks’ Premiership Rugby Cup campaign but now finds himself ready to run out, on debut, in front of a Twickenham full house for an encounter with fierce

Scottish born but reared on the Isle of Man, Jones believes Rodd to be the most promising loosehead in the country, and while he would probably not have preferred to give him a debut after three days of training, needs must. Rodd was in camp with England both in the summer and in September, partly to keep him away from the clutches of Gregor Townsend who was rather keen to tempt him north, but he has had limited time to prepare with new teammates. He will, for instance, have only fully met Jamie George on Wednesday.

It is not the worst week to blood a loosehead – Australia are short of their two top tightheads, of course - but England will very quickly find out if the Shark can sink or swim at this level.

England vs Australia - Talking points

16:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Talking points ahead of England vs Australia at Twickenham

Team News - Australia

16:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England aren’t the only team with prop problems. Australia rather hit a bump at Murrayfield last weekend, beaten in a nerve-jangler by Scotland, and defeat was compounded by the news that neither Allan Alaalatoa nor Taniela Tupou would be available. That forces the experienced James Slipper to switch sides and, in quite the story, Ollie Hoskins to get a late call, with the solid London Irish performer’s proximity counting in his favour and ready for a, not undeserved, but unexpected debut.

Kurtley Beale is back in the starting side lending experience and ball-playing ability at full-back, while in the absence of Quade Cooper it is again James O’Connor at fly-half. On the bench lurks the imposing frame of Will Skelton, rediscovered at Saracens and now stomping around with typical elephantine elegance at La Rochelle.

Team News - England

16:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Let’s peruse more fully at the England team, then. Having spent much of the week considering who to leave out in midfield with Owen Farrell back available and Marcus Smith fully fit, Eddie Jones has made four go into three by pushing Manu Tuilagi on to the wing for just the second time in an England shirt. That allows Smith and Farrell to form a midfield playmaking partnership, with Henry Slade retaining his place at outside centre. Adam Radwan is the unfortunate man left out.

Before Ellis Genge’s positive test, the England pack was unchanged, a back row that functioned well last week kept in place for a significantly sterner test with Sam Underhill’s shoulder swiftly healing after a first half bang against Tonga. There is extra beef on the bench, with a six forwards, two backs split, enabling a return to an England matchday squad for Sam Simmonds. Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke awaits a debut.

England’s Covid chaos

16:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle

New week, same Covid chaos for Eddie Jones, with news of a positive test on match eve disrupting the England head coach’s plans again. Unlike last week, the RFU are satisfied that Ellis Genge’s positive is not false, and with Joe Marler already in isolation after his positive test on Monday Jones is down his two first-choice looseheads.

Bevan Rodd thus steps up and steps in to start on debut, with Trevor Davison, more typically a tighthead but capable on both sides, on to the bench.

Fortunately, the RFU confirmed this morning that all PCR tests conducted yesterday were negative.

England on Covid ‘rollercoaster’ after Ellis Genge positive, Eddie Jones admits

England vs Australia

16:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Australia must override ‘inferiority complex’ to beat England, claims Eddie Jones

England vs Australia odds

16:06 , Karl Matchett

Result:

England 5/18

Draw 33/1

Australia 9/2

First tryscorer:

Jonny May 7/1

Manu Tuilagi 9/1

Jamie George 10/1

Alex Dombrandt 10/1

Marcus Smith 10/1

Odds via Betfair.

Owen Farrell won’t celebrate century of caps until he does it with England

16:03 , Karl Matchett

Owen Farrell reaches a century of caps in Saturday’s clash with Australia but will wait until the milestone is registered with England before celebrating.

The Lions’ decision not to award full Test status to their match against Japan at Murrayfield in June means that Farrell has made only six international appearances for the tourists, in 2013 and 2017.

When combined with his 93 games for England, it leaves him on the brink of a landmark achievement heading into the Autumn Nations Series clash with the Wallabies.

But instead Maro Itoje will lead the team out at Twickenham in recognition of his imminent half-century of Red Rose caps.

“I didn’t celebrate my 50th cap with the other Test matches in it, it was always England. So that’s how we’ve been looking at it here,” Farrell said.

“Maro has his 50th cap for England this week which is an achievement we will celebrate. We’re looking forward to doing that.”

Owen Farrell will wait for 100th England cap before celebrating milestone