England survive sluggish start to overwhelm Australia in second half

England had to execute something they have not had to do in John Mitchell’s reign against Australia, a comeback win after being down at half-time. It was the first time in almost six years the Red Roses had been trailing after the first 40. But whatever was said in the changing room shook the team to life as they scored 43 second-half points to keep their winning streak going.

Australia gave England quite the scare in the first half. The Wallaroos were not just clinical when in attack, but were thorough and physical in defence to disrupt England’s front-foot ball. The visitors played some of their best rugby since last year’s World Cup, when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals, before falling apart in the second half. England were uncharacteristically poor at times with several knock-ons and other handling errors hampering their attack.

This was the first game with the smaller ball. Throughout the WXV matches this autumn, teams are playing with a size 4.5 ball instead of the usual size five. World Rugby has introduced the trial to see if it has a positive impact after similar trials in youth competitions and in sevens. At a windy Salford, Australia dealt with the change better. Teams, coaches and officials will give feedback to the governing body after the WXV is concluded in October.

England’s Holly Aitchison (right) lines up a conversion while tMia Venner steadies the smaller ball in the wind. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The England fly-half, Holly Aitchison, won her 50th cap less than 40 miles from her childhood club of Firwood Waterloo. She led the team out and her teammates congratulated her as they lined up for the anthems. Just like the last time the two nations played, at last year’s World Cup, Australia scored the first points with a penalty from Samantha Wood’s boot.

Some ferocious defence pushed England backwards as the Red Roses tried to edge towards the tryline and they eventually turned it over. All of their good work looked to have been undone by a Meg Jones try from a charged-down kick, but Tatyana Heard was offside.

A deliberate knock-on from Wood meant the visitors were down to 14 and while England were sloppy with the ball they went over through Abi Burton. The Wallaroos thought they had hit straight back after Wood’s reintroduction as Brittany Merlo dotted down, but it was ruled out because of obstruction at the previous lineout.

Abi Burton goes over to score England’s first try. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The Wallaroos were the next over through Faliki Pohiva and another impressive defensive set allowed them to hold a thoroughly deserved 10-5 half-time lead.

England were sharper in the second half, starting it with a try by May Campbell. Just as the scrum was the Red Roses’ not-so-secret weapon in the 2025 World Cup final and Six Nations grand slam decider this year, it gave them much needed momentum – particularly after the front row was changed – and it generated a try for Jones. Credit must go to the captain too, with a bit of individual skill sealing the score.

The Red Roses scoring tap was firmly on and the debutant Bryony Field, Mia Venner and Sadia Kabeya added tries . The replacement scrum-half, Lucy Packer, made an acrobatic finish and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald also went over.

Captain Meg Jones scores one of England’s seven try in the second half. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The Red Roses will have to be much improved when they face their World Cup final opponents, Canada, next Saturday if they are to extend their 39-game winning run. For Australia, if they can produce the rugby they did in the first half for their entire match against France they could come away with their first victory since March.