Overview
- England briefed referee Nika Amashukeli with a dossier of roughly 40 clips alleging Wallabies side-entry clean-outs, citing World Rugby laws and player-safety risks.
- Australia captain Harry Wilson publicly denied the tactics are illegal or dangerous, calling the examples cherry-picked and saying his side want a fair contest.
- Pre-match coach–referee briefings are standard, but England’s move has heightened the gamesmanship narrative, with England staff declining to detail private discussions.
- Team context shapes expectations: England make bold picks with George Ford starting and Henry Pollock on the bench, while Australia lack Europe-based players including Will Skelton, Len Ikitau, James O’Connor and Tom Hooper due to the calendar window.
- The Test kicks off at 15:10 GMT on Saturday at Twickenham, with bookmakers listing England as clear favourites despite Australia’s preference for the underdog role.