England swat aside Wallabies to back up Borthwick

England provide emphatic on-pitch backing for head coach Steve Borthwick as they swat aside a listless Australia at Allianz Stadium. Henry Pollock came off the bench to play on the wing in place of injured Immanuel Feyi-Waboso Tries: George, Chessum, Heyes, Van Poortvliet, Pollock (2), Spencer Cons: F Smith (5) England provided emphatic on-pitch backing for head coach Steve Borthwick as they scored seven tries to swat aside a listless Australia at Allianz Stadium. The build-up was marked by questions over England's form, which has been poor for most of 2026, and a reported rift between players and coaches during the summer. Senior players angrily insisted on Friday the squad and staff were still united, and their performance on Sunday would demonstrate as such.

There are stiffer Tests to come, with New Zealand arriving in a fortnight, but Borthwick sailed through this referendum with flying colours. His team played with determination and physicality, but also dexterity and ambition, in their most complete display of the year by a long margin. They were heartily endorsed by the home crowd, who spent the final quarter serenading their side with Swing Low and willing Henry Pollock, brought on to fill in for wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, to complete a hat-trick after an enterprising cameo out wide. Pollock was denied his third, but it was