mens
nations-championship
England provided the backlash promised in support of their head coach Steve Borthwick as Henry Pollock starred in a record 45-22 defeat Australia at the Allianz Stadium.
With a report published on Thursday claiming Borthwick reigned in a toxic environment during the July tour, seven tries were scored in a show of unity among his players.
One of the best attacking displays of the Borthwick era was lit up by electric performances from Pollock and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who crossed three times between them.
The blow after the explosive Feyi-Waboso limped off with a leg injury at half-time after repeatedly punching holes in Australia’s defense was cushioned by his replacement Pollock who shone on his debut on the wing.
Back-row Borthwick identified as a winger, the headline-grabbing 21-year-old adapted to his new position with style.
Australia looked like a team fresh off the plane, plagued by unforced errors and a lack of bite in contact, and were duly crushed in the final clash of rivals before their scheduled World Cup quarter-final meeting next year.
England dominated the collisions and benefited from ending the self-defeating disciplinary problems that saw them receive 15 yellow cards in the previous eight Tests in 2026.
Henry Slade was named man of the match after taking over in midfield and there were impressive changes from Ollie Chessum and Maro Itoje, although Seb Atkinson joining Feyi-Waboso on the limp was a setback.
In the sequel to their last Test against Argentina in July, Feyi-Waboso was launched as often as possible, and England was rewarded with the same types of fireworks.
He slid in after just 81 seconds but a try was ruled out for a forward pass from Ben Curry to Chessum a phase earlier, but alarm bells were already ringing in the Wallabies camp.
He had three goals by the fifth minute but it was the forwards who scored the first try with Jamie George finishing off a maul to become the nation’s record 18-goal winner, surpassing Lawrence Dallaglio.
Ryan Lonergan converted a penalty and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was a threat in the air, but otherwise Australia were passive and toothless and unable to mount any pressure.
Feyi-Waboso’s dart on a counter-attack launched by George Furbank led to England’s second try as a series of misses sent Chessum through.
The Wallabies were dealt another blow when prop Angus Bell was booked for a leg tackle and the ensuing penalty saw another maul and Joe Heyes scored.
Australia were thrown a lifeline when Max Jorgensen ran in an attempted interception from Jack van Poortvliet’s pass on the edge of half-time, but it was a short-lived fightback as Pollock and Freeman made ground down the wings for Van Poortvliet to cross.
England looked to have seized a chance to score down the right, but Pollock latched on to a loose pass to tap home before turning on the afterburner for his second corner as his side’s attack clicked beautifully.
Filipo Daugunu hit back for Australia and after the hosts squandered a number of chances as accuracy deserted them at key moments, Jeremy Williams added a third try.
England, however, had the final say when Ben Spencer picked a late interception to put the Wallabies out of their misery.
