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:
23 mins
It’s a scrum near the English 22 to resume. There’s some real intuition shown in the backline as a poor netball-type pass is then punched on brilliantly by Pietsch.
Australia come again but England are penalised for not moving away, and the Wallabies kick to the corner.
Tom Curry injury a significant blow
A worrying incident for Tom Curry, but pleasing to see him able to walk off the field having seemingly been out cold. That’s a significant blow, though, both today - with Alex Dombrandt on and Ben Earl shifting to the openside - and with South Africa to come next week in a game that Curry will now surely miss as he observes the concussion stand-down period. His twin Ben would have been a like-for-like replacement (literally) but isn’t in today’s 23.
England 15-3 Australia
23 mins
A solid start from England overall, with two well-taken tries from Cunningham-South the difference at the moment. The hosts have been bright in attack, though some fine-tuning is still needed.
England 15-3 Australia
22 mins
Sloppy from England as Genge’s pass is to a gold shirt, and Australia make plenty of ground from the confusion. They play several phases short through the forwards, but the game is stopped as it looks like Curry has been knocked unconscious.
England 15-3 Australia
21 mins
There’s a brief break after some confusion, but in the end Feyi-Waboso is heading off for an HIA, and he’s replaced by Sleightholme.
England 15-3 Australia
18 mins
Perhaps a harsh penalty as Ikitau is penalised for going over the top of the ruck, and Smith will have kicking opportunity. 39m, and slightly to the right, but it favours a right-footer.
Drilled straight and low for 15-3!
England 12-3 Australia
16 mins
The penalty goes against Tupou from the scrum, and England kick for the lineout. George delivers the lineout and then picks it from the maul, but England lose the ball in the ruck.
That’s followed by a quick Aussie counter attack, with Pietsch and Wright combining to make 40 yards, but they can’t keep it!
Mistakes from both sides as England make plenty of ground of their own, but Furbank mistimes his pass and we’re soon back around halfway.
TRY! England 12-3 Australia
12 mins
TRY! England extend their lead!
Great running from the home side! Ollie Lawrence is the first to break the gain line, before Smith dummies and sneaks between two men to take England to within 10 metres. The forwards lead from there, until a penalty is given on the 5m line.
It’s a tap-and-go, with Genge shipping it to Cunningham-South, who goes over again!
Wait...there’s a review. It appears the back row might have lost control of the ball from his hands when going over, but the slow-motion replays show that he just about kept his hand around it when under the tackle.
Smith makes the conversion easily for 12-3!
England 5-3 Australia
9 mins
Good work from Australia as they get their first break of the game, with Wilson making ground in the middle of the park. They work it well to Pietsch, who comes back in and eventually the ref blows for the advantage. The Wallabies opt for the kick from around 45m.
Lolesio lines it up – it’s smooth and easily over for three points.
TRY! England 5-0 Australia
5 mins
TRY! England are ahead within five minutes!
England win the lineout and Earl leads the forward charge. Smith receives it, sees he’s short on space and drops a chip into the path of Ollie Lawrence – it bounces kindly and the Bath man takes it well. England work it from the ruck and spread it wide to the right, making use of the extra man to send in Cunningham-South in the corner!
Smith misses the conversion so we stay at 5-0.
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