Pollock double helps seven-try England beat Australia 45–22

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Henry Pollock scored two tries after coming on as a makeshift winger as England beat Australia 45–22 at Twickenham on Sunday, 8 November. The hosts finished with seven tries in their opening home match of the Nations Championship’s November programme.

England thought they had scored almost immediately through Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, but a forward pass ruled out the try. Jamie George then opened their account from a maul, and Ollie Chessum extended the lead with a finish out wide.

Joe Heyes added England’s third try after Australia prop Angus Bell was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Feyi-Waboso. That put the hosts 19–3 ahead, before Max Jorgensen’s interception try brought the Wallabies back to 19–10 at half-time.

Pollock replaced Feyi-Waboso on the wing after the interval and helped create Jack van Poortvliet’s try early in the second half. He then crossed twice himself, with Fin Smith’s long pass supplying the first of his scores as England moved 38–10 clear.

Australia found a response from their bench. Filipo Daugunu scored in the corner, and Jeremy Williams capitalised on an English lineout mistake to add another try. The visitors reduced the deficit to 38–22 with only the closing stages remaining.

The recovery ended when Ben Spencer intercepted a pass from Daugunu near the Australian 22 and ran in England’s final try. Fin Smith finished with five conversions in a victory built on the hosts’ attacking pressure and productive set piece.

Australia now face a trip to Edinburgh to play Scotland next weekend, having been unable to contain England’s second-half acceleration despite their late rally.

Sources

• Rugby Australia: Completed England–Wallabies report and scoring timeline
• Nine Sport: England’s seven-try victory over Australia