England posted their biggest ever score against Australia's Wallabies with a 45-22 victory at Twickenham. The hosts scored seven tries to three and led 19-10 at half-time. Captain Harry Wilson said England were the better side.
England repeatedly picked apart the Wallabies' defence, both wide and narrow. Back-rower Angus Bell was sin-binned before half-time for a hip-drop tackle, which had just been outlawed, and the Wallabies' attack was hampered by a steady stream of errors and penalties.
The defeat was a far cry from the Wallabies' 2024 heroics at Twickenham. The team had hoped to bounce back with a strong start on the spring tour, but opened with a defeat.
After the break, England continued to dominate, with back-rower Henry Pollock, playing on the wing, scoring two tries in three minutes to end the contest. Late tries to Filipo Daugunu and Jeremy Williams narrowed the final margin, but an intercept try by Ben Spencer sealed England's biggest ever score against Australia.
“We struggled to get our game going, England put us under the pump in the first half and we didn’t get too many a-zone entries,” Wilson said. “They fronted up physically. Our defence wasn’t physical enough, and we didn’t slow the ball down. Credit to England.”
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Wallabies' record defeat raises questions about their competitiveness ahead of the rest of the spring tour.
- England's dominant performance signals their growing strength in international rugby.
- The loss puts pressure on the Wallabies' coaching and player selection for upcoming matches.
Background
The Wallabies and England have a long rugby rivalry. In 2024, Australia defeated England at Twickenham in a celebrated result, but this year's match saw England turn the tables emphatically. The game was played under new rules banning hip-drop tackles, which contributed to Bell's sin-binning.
What to Watch
- The Wallabies' response in the next match of their spring tour after this heavy loss.
- Whether England can maintain this form in future international fixtures.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedEngland posted a record 45-22 score against the Wallabies at Twickenham.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “trounced the Wallabies by a record score of 45-22 at Twickenham”
- SupportedAustralia’s spring tour opened with a defeat.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The Wallabies’ hopes of bouncing back with a strong start on the spring tour have been smashed by a rampant England”
- SupportedCaptain Harry Wilson said England were the better side.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““England were the better side. They fronted up physically. Our defence wasn’t physical enough, and we didn’t slow the ball down. Credit to England.””
- SupportedEngland scored seven tries to Australia’s three.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The hosts repeatedly picked apart Australia’s shoddy defence, both wide and narrow, and scored seven tries to three.”
- SupportedEngland led 19-10 at half-time.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Australia only trailed by 19-10 after a lacklustre opening 40 minutes”
- SupportedWilson said: “We struggled to get our game going, England put us under the pump in the first half and we didn’t get too many a-zone entries,” and “They fronted up physically. Our defence wasn’t physical enough, and we didn’t slow the ball down. Credit to England.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““We struggled to get our game going, England put us under the pump in the first half and we didn’t get too many a-zone entries,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said. “England were the better side. They fronted up physically. Our defence wasn’t physical enough, and we didn’t slow the ball down. Credit to England.””
- SupportedEngland repeatedly picked apart the Wallabies’ defence, both wide and narrow.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The hosts repeatedly picked apart Australia’s shoddy defence, both wide and narrow”
- SupportedAngus Bell was sin-binned before half-time for a hip-drop tackle that had just been outlawed.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The Wallabies’ problems got worse when Angus Bell was sin-binned in the 32nd minute for a hip-drop tackle, which have just been outlawed in rugby.”
- SupportedThe Wallabies’ attack was hampered by a steady stream of errors and penalties.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “most promising opportunities were ruined by a steady stream of errors or penalties.”
- SupportedThe defeat was a far cry from the Wallabies’ 2024 heroics at Twickenham.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “There was to no repeat of the Wallabies’ 2024 heroics at the famous venue”
- SupportedHenry Pollock, playing on the wing, scored two tries in three minutes to end the contest.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “two tries in three minutes midway through the second half to flashy back-rower Henry Pollock - while deployed as a winger - was enough to end the contest.”
- SupportedLate tries by Filipo Daugunu and Jeremy Williams narrowed the final margin, and Ben Spencer’s intercept try sealed England’s biggest-ever score against Australia.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Late tries to Filipo Daugunu and Jeremy Williams in the last quarter helped the scoreline but the game was well and truly lost by then. ... a late intercept try to Ben Spencer ensured England did the other way, posting their biggest ever score over the Wallabies.”