Pollock shines as England eventually overpower Australia

Rising star Henry Pollock came off the bench to score a key try as England began their quest for an unbeaten Autumn Nations Series campaign with a 25-7 win over a lacklustre Australia at a rainswept Twickenham on Saturday.

England, despite dominating territory and possession, led just 10-7 at half-time through a George Ford penalty and Ben Earl’s converted try, before Harry Potter’s superb solo length-of-the-field intercept score got Australia back into the match.

And it wasn’t until the 59th minute of a scrappy encounter that the score changed with Pollock, one of five replacements who revived the hosts’ pack, crossing for a third try in two Tests for England, after a double off the bench on debut against Wales in Cardiff in March.

The 20-year-old’s effort left the hosts eight points ahead going into the final quarter before further tries from scrum-half Alex Mitchell and replacement hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie sealed England’s eighth straight win.

“You are just trying to be in right position and luckily it worked out (for my try),” Pollock, yellow-carded late on, told TNT Sports. “Steve (England coach Steve Borthwick) said to come on and make an impact.”

Fellow back-row Earl said: “I think the experience over the last 18 months helped coming here today. A year ago we may not have won that game.”

‘England intensity’ 

Australia were missing several first-choice players in Len Ikitau, Tom Hooper, James O’Connor and Will Skelton, with their European clubs not obliged to release them for a match staged outside World Rugby’s designated window for November internationals.

England, by contrast, were at full-strength thanks to a player-release agreement between the Rugby Football Union and the Prem in a match that will still have a bearing on the world rankings and the quest to secure a premium top-six seeding for December’s draw for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Australia coach Joe Schmidt, however, told a post-match press conference: “I don’t want to make excuses, England were very, very good tonight.”

The Wallabies edged England 42-37 at Twickenham last year, thanks to Max Jorgensen’s last-ditch try but Potter’s intercept was their lone score on Saturday.

“I think we were right in the game at 10-7 at half-time,” said Schmidt.

But the New Zealander, who made eight changes to the Australia side that edged Japan 19-15 in Tokyo last week, added: “I did think that the bench made a difference from England.

“They really did step up the level of intensity and the physical combat that they brought.”

England eventually broke the deadlock through Ford’s 35-metre penalty in the 20th minute.

And moments later they led 10-0.

Mitchell’s clearing box-kick was caught by Tom Roebuck, the wing outjumping Australia centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, noted for his skill under the high ball.

Roebuck then found Sam Underhill, with the flanker releasing No 8 Earl, who sprinted in between the posts for a try converted by Ford.

Potter magic 

Earl almost had a second try on the half hour but was held up over the line by Potter.

The wing went from try-saver to try-scorer when he picked off England centre Fraser Dingwall’s pass near Australia’s line and sprinted clear in the 34th minute, with fly-half Tane Edmed landing the conversion.

Borthwick made five changes — all of them Lions — to his pack early in the second half, including a new front row of Ellis Genge, Cowan-Dickie and Will Stuart, with loose forwards Tom Curry and Pollock also coming off the bench.

Pollock, after Roebuck tapped a high kick back, collected the loose ball and raced clear for a try despite being ankle-tapped just short of the line. Ford couldn’t convert but England now led 15-7.

England then kicked for an attacking line-out near Australia’s line before the sniping Mitchell broke away for another unconverted try.

And five minutes from time, Cowan-Dickie marked his 50th England cap with a try off a driving maul.

England face Fiji at Twickenham a week on Saturday, when Australia play Italy in Udine.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.