71 min: That was Donaldson’s poor pass to Jorgensen on the right wing. But they get the ball back after a little kick ahead from Furbank off the back of a lovely pass from JvP (my player of the match). But the bounce is kind for Australia and they mop up at the back. Soon after there’s an England line-out on Australia’s 22 and then an England spill – M Smith knocking on without any pressure – so Australia get a scrum on their 22. They then win a penalty so the Wallabies can hoof it upfield.

70 min: England maul and again and it stalls again. JvP told to use it. Another maul is held up so Australia get a scrum after making the ball unplayable.

I was criticising Atkinson, who is off with an injured knee, but his control from midfield is now conspicuous by its absence. They look a bit rushed now.

Doesn’t matter as Australia have been their own worst enemies. From the scrum five from their own line, they go right and pretty much fling the ball straight out inside their own 22.

Consolation at least. It was messy, it was scrappy, but thanks to some rare link-up play between Donaldson and Lonergan has Daugunu over in the left corner. Barely a celebration. England turned them over with Itoje pinching it, but then when Australia stole it back they kept coming and eventually, despite them pretty much falling over themselves, they accidentally create the space, rather than orchestrate it, down the left and they’re over. The conversion, though, is wayward.

Our reader Jon Piper has, ahem, piped up:

double quotation mark Watching on TV, but wondering about the near silence from the crowd. Where is the English support? They make a noise if England score, but it’s hard to hear any encouragement beforehand. They seem to just sit back and expect entertainment.
Compare with Edinburgh, Cardiff, Glasgow……
As for the game, a good performance in many ways but England seem able to cock things up at any moment.

Fair comment. And you’re right. The crowd come alive when Fayi-Waboso touches the ball, or the rolling maul get a rumble on. But it’s not been a great watch from where I’m sitting. England at best are producing a 6/10 performance. More like a 5/10 if you’re asking what I think.

Should fans be obligated to back their boys even when they’re failing to entertain? Is boisterous fandom unconditional? I’ll let you chew on that.

So, what’s worked and what hasn’t for both teams?

First, the positives for England.

Feyi-Waboso has been the difference. Every time he’s touched the ball he’s lit up the game. But will that knock rule him out for the second half? Also a word for Chessum and Earl. They’ve been great around the contact area.

Unfortunately, it’s the same story in midfield. For all their ball, England just don’t have a player who can provide that go forward down the 12 channel. I had to look up if Atkinson was actually on the field. A perennial headache for England.

What about Australia? In truth, nothing has worked. Their line-out has been a mess, they’ve not rallied on defence and they’ve failed to get their exciting backs in the game.

I suppose the only positive for them is that the score doesn’t quite resemble a cricket card just yet. And they do have firepower off the bench.

If they go on and snatch an unlikely victory it’ll be a comeback for the ages.

Can’t see it happening, though.

If this match was judged like a boxing match it might already be over.

But a sloppy pass from the England 9, plus some mistakes elsewhere, means it’s only a nine point game.

Australia have been terrible. England have been better without being great. In truth, it’s not been a spectacle.

But Borthwick won’t care about the optics. His team are leading and fully deserve to be in front at the break.

33 min: Australia just haven’t got out of second gear. They’re back inside their own 22 after Wright has to field a Smith grubber close to his own try-line. The fullback doesn’t kick but chooses to run. He needs help as he’s swamped by three men in white. Eventually they clear, but Lonergan hooks his kick and England will get the line-out inside the Wallaby’s 22.

Oh, sad news though as it looks like Feyi-Waboso’s race might be run. Was that an illegal tackle by Bell who fell on the winger’s leg? They call that a hip drop tackle as the tackler drops his weight onto the ball carrier’s limbs.

What a start for England! Oh my word, how clinical! They won the line-out (just) and went down the blind. Chessum with a meaty carry got them rumbling. It came back infield. Earl with a carry in the build up, Curry too. Then Smith with a little pass for Atkinson who then found Feyi-Waboso off his right wing and he did the business.

Oh wait, was there a forward pass? Yes, there was. Curry’s pass to Chessum down the blind was forward. But that was ages ago! But fair dos, them’s the rules.

Australia scrum.

Two years ago, in his first senior rugby union match, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii dazzled at centre as the Wallabies pulled off a dramatic heist.

Since then, he’s not really made that 13 jumper his own but he’s too good to sit on the bench. That means he starts on the wing and will no doubt join the line as well as offer threats in the air.

It’s a big game for Declan Meredeth at fly-half. He’s one of seven starting 10s for the Wallabies since the 2023 World Cup in a position that appears more cursed than the Defence Against the Dark Arts post at Hogwarts.

This is his fifth start at first receiver in this period (tied now with Ben Donaldson and Tane Edmed, but still catching Noah Lolesio’s tally of 12). If he can get enough front-foot ball, a sparkling backline will surely cause havoc.

Fraser Mcreight, holder of the John Eales medal for best Wallaby of the year, wins his 50th Test cap. There is surely no better fetcher in the game.

Rob Valetini surprisngly starts on the bench. But that just means an already hefty looking list of replacements, which includes prop Taniele Tupou and flyer Filipo Daugunu, carries even more threat.

Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Isaac Henry, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii; Declan Meredith, Ryan Lonergan; Angus Bell, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Jeremy Williams, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).

Replacements: Josh Nasser, Isaac Kailea, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.

Maro Itoje returns after an international sabbatical and the birth of his son to skipper his nation once again.

Not only does he bring leadership but also class to a second row that includes the tall timber of Alex Coles.

George Furbank starts at 15 with Fin Smith at 10; Borthwick has been desperate for that axis for some time and finally has both playmakers fit.

The experienced Henry Slade wins the battle for the 13 jersey while Tom Curry’s injury means his twin, Ben, gets the nod at openside. A formidable bench – with Henry Pollock alongside the debutant Greg Fisilau – promises to bring some power in the closing stages.

Perhaps the most significant development is the return of Fin Baxter who starts at loosehead. His presence means Steve Borthwick has four elite props in the group.

England: George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Seb Atkinson, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; Fin Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Fin Baxter, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje (capt), Alex Coles, Ollie Chessum, Ben Curry, Ben Earl.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Martin, Greg Fisilau, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, Marcus Smith.

Preamble

English rugby is under siege.

That’s not a yarn peddled by the Guardian. No, that’s the message coming out of the England camp after a piece published on Thursday triggered a circling of the wagons.

The gist is that Steve Borthwick lacks the charisma and nous needed to turn things around after a worst ever Six Nations campaign and an exodus of assistant coaches. That less than a year out from a World Cup, this is a team that is merely making up the numbers.

Not so was the resounding retort from some senior players including the returning skipper Maro Itoje and the former skipper Jamie George. They say that things are right as rain and they’ll prove how much they rate their coach with a performance against the Aussies.

But which Australian side will they face? The swashbuckling world beaters who stuffed the Springboks, or the no-hopers who got spanked by the All Blacks? Look up the word mercurial in the dictionary and you’ll see an accompanying picture of Les Kiss’ Wallabies.

This all adds up to a cracking occasion. A packed Twickenham. Two teams with something to prove. Two coaches desperate for a win. I can’t wait!

I’m lucky enough to be in the stadium this afternoon. If you spot something on your TV or radio and you’d like to flag it, then please do drop me a line.

I’ll quickly make my way to my seat where I’ll bring you team news and other bits. Between then and now, get your drinks and snacks ready and get comfy. I’ve got a feeling this will be quite special.