England v Australia LIVE rugby: Result and reaction after Wallabies snatch victory in Twickenham thriller
England 37-42 Australia: Steve Borthwick’s side suffered another narrow defeat as their search for a win goes on
Australia secured a dramatic victory over England in a Twickenham thriller as Max Jorgensen’s final-minute try piled more pressure on Steve Borthwick.
After a narrow defeat to the All Blacks in their Autumn Nations Series opener continued a run of close losses, England raced out of the blocks, surging in front through two tries from Chandler Cunningham-South and a Marcus Smith penalty. But their control soon lapsed as Australia came to the party, showing off their entertaining attacking game to take the lead before half time. After the interval, the Wallabies widened the gap as Jeremy Williams powered into the corner, leaving the hosts staring down the barrel of a fourth successive defeat.
Some excellent play from Harlequins’ Marcus Smith and Alex Dombrandt set up Ollie Sleightholme for two tries in quick succession to edge England back in front, before Andrew Kellaway and Maro Itoje traded scores as the game swang back and forth. But Jorgensen’s scamper to the corner snatched victory at the last in another difficult day for Borthwick’s side.
Re-live all of the action from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in our live blog below:
CONVERTED TRY! England 37-35 Australia
79 mins
TRY! England are back ahead!
A great reply from England as they advance around the 22 and Smith pokes in a kick that Wright is forced to touch down behind his own try line for the scrum.
England win it and Earl picks and goes from the back, and England win the penalty advantage. They don’t need it though, as Itoje picks up and flies over the line!
It’s a simple kick for Smith and he squeezes it in!
CONVERTED TRY! England 30-35 Australia
75 mins
TRY! Again out of nowhere, but this time for the Wallabies!
England work it through the backs and it’s looking good but the pass is slightly behind Lawrence and he fumbles it! Kellaway picks it up and he’s got free space to run into. He’s got the legs and he goes over!
England 30-28 Australia
74 mins
England win their scrum on halfway but the kick chase isn’t successful, and both sides exchange kicks in between a few phases each, before Randall’s kick is chased down by Salakaia-Loto for a lineout.
Cowan-Dickie is down so there’ll be a break here.
England 30-28 Australia
70 mins
Smith, who has moved to full-back now, is still co-ordinating a lot of the England threat.
Australia bring off Bell and Lolesio for Slipper and Donaldson, while England have brought on Cole for Stuart.
CONVERTED TRY! England 30-28 Australia
67 mins
TRY! Out of nothing for the home side.
England work out wide but they’re dragged out of play, and it’s a lineout for the Wallabies within their own 5m line. The away side work a couple of phases before McDermott’s box kick finds touch.
But England play it quickly and there are plenty of gaps in the Aussie backline. Smith finds the first one before finding Lawrence. From the ruck, they spread it wide again and the defence can’t keep up, with Sleightholme going over in the corner.
England 23-28 Australia
65 mins
England lose it about five metres from the try line, but Australia fluff their chance to clear and it’s straight to Freeman.
The game is stopped with Wilson stumbling, and he’ll need to be taken off.
England 23-28 Australia
62 mins
A bit too much on the pass from Genge and the ball is out for a Wallabies lineout in their half. It’s won cleanly but there’s a mix-up in midfield and it’ll be a penalty for the away side.
England make more changes, as Baxter, Randall and Ford replace Genge, Spencer and Furbank.
England 23-28 Australia
60 mins
Great play from both sides as Australia get it through the backs with a series of impressive offloads, before Smith comes in with an important challenge to deny Jorgensen. There are then huge cheers as England win a penalty.
Both sides make a change as Martin comes off for Nick Isiekwe and Williams is replaced by Salakaia-Loto.
TRY! England 23-28 Australia
56 mins
TRY! So much better from England.
It comes as Smith makes some ground before the referee blows for holding on. Smith kicks for the lineout, which is taken easily, but the maul seemingly fails to make any ground.
However, they sweep it out from the back and Smith dummies inside before poking a kick through the gap and perfectly into the path of Sleightholme, who goes over unchallenged.
In the meantime, Jamie George has been replaced by Luke Cowan-Dickie.
England 18-28 Australia
53 mins
Scintillating stuff from the Wallabies as Wright bursts through the gap from his own 22 before offloading to Lolesio. The fly-half kicks into the space and the phases end with a penalty for the Wallabies, which Lolesio knocks over to extend the lead.
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