Rugby League World Cup final live: England suffer narrow 6-0 defeat to see Australia retain their title

32 mins: England are trying to force it a little bit, with a rash offload from Bateman finding no one and causing a brief moment of panic inside the English half. Gale calms nerves though with another thumping kick that finds touch inside the Australian 20, and that allows both sides to have the breather they desperately need.

34 mins: Smith tries to go for a 40-20 that has Hall rushing back to try prevent the ball from going out. He can't do it, but the ball goes out just outside the 20m line and England breathe a sigh of relief. They then march up-field and win a penalty on the Australia 20m. Another big chance here. But once again, they try to force it and a rushed pass to Bateman is behind him, going to ground and leading to a knock-on as the centre tries to regather it. That's three wasted chances to score from England, and it's also six points spurned through kickable penalties.

38 mins: Cronk puts up an enormously high ball that allows Gagai to challenge McGillvary for. he knocks the ball forward as he tries to collect it on the English line, and that gives the visitors a scrum on their own line. Just two minutes left of the half.

Half-time: Australia 6-0 England

H/T: An energy-sapping half sees Australia lead 6-0 thanks to Boyd Cordner's try, but England could easily be level and could even have been ahead had they taken their chances. The half ended with Cronk attempting a snap drop-goal from the scrum, but Roby charged the ball down and for a moment it looked to be on for England, only for Gagai to wrap the ball up as the hooter went.

An absorbing 40 minutes, but while England are definitely in this, Australia's fitness might start to tell in the second half.

H/T: The players area heading back out onto the field ready for the second half. 40 minutes left to decide who will be the world champions of 2017. Can England go on and win it?

We're about to find out.

41 mins: England kick-off and the second half is underway!

41 mins: Widdop comes up with a major error as he drops a high ball under no pressure at all. It gives Australia the scrum on the English 10m line, and that could prove to be a pivotal error.

43 mins: England survive, and credit to him, it's Widdop who saves them as he comes soaring through the air to collect a high ball from Cronk that Slater was threatening to catch on the English line. Gale's kick is charged down though and the referee decides it wasn't played up - which is an odd call - so Widdop has to get the retrieve the ball and he kicks it to touch just inside the Australian half.

46 mins: Cronk makes a lovely break and Australia smell blood. They attack left and it's... INTECEPTED! McGillvary gets out of the line and flicks the ball on, catching it as it comes back down and he's off! He has no support with him though and the Australians do brilliantly to get back and tackle him. England surge into the Australian half, but Gale's kick after the set if poor and Duggan can take the catch in the try zone to force a 20m drop.