Overview
- England defeated Australia 25-7 at Twickenham to open the Autumn Nations Series and extend their winning run to eight Tests.
- Impact substitute Henry Pollock scored the momentum-shifting try and now has three Test tries from two appearances, later receiving a late yellow card.
- Steve Borthwick’s Lions-stacked bench and a kick-pressure plan proved decisive, with Tom Roebuck’s high-ball wins directly leading to two England tries.
- South Africa overpowered Japan 61-7 at Wembley, with Rassie Erasmus praising the intensity and warning that facing France next will be a step up.
- Prop Ox Nche suffered an ankle and knee injury and will miss the rest of the tour, with Gerhard Steenekamp and Thomas du Toit set to cover and a possible call-up for Asenathi Ntlabakanye.