Did anyone else forget that this fixture comes with a prize?

Well, Maro Itoje has lifted the Ella-Mobbs Cup into the cold crisp air after that shellacking.

Guy Hornsby writes in:

It’s hardly been a great advert for rugby but we’ve done more than enough to a really poor Australia side to deserve this win, Daniel. Our D is looking better - just as a try goes in from Danguni - especially recovering busts, but we still need work here. The forwards have eaten up things in the loose and tight, and Earl has been everywhere too, as he often is. I’d argue Fin Smith is making this shirt his own: he is defensively superb, and does so much incisive, sharp work that lets others get the glory.

Slade’s also been really good, and while his partnership with Atkinson is still a work in progress, he’s been good in defence. We don’t have a big 12 banger, so I was happy with that being stuck with, but that injury to Seb looked bad and untimely, and we’re going to end up with another combination next week. It almost feels like we’re cursed in the centres. It’s reasonable to question the 6-2 split given we had so many players with knocks behind the scrum. But a really pleasing win for sure. And one we really needed with the pressure and narrative this week.

Sad news for Feyi-Waboso who is wearing a moon boot.

That is a record points tally for England over Australia.

Furbank sparking moves in the backline is a major reason why they’ve done that.

On second thought, he was my player of the match.

80 min: Slade pings a touch finder to set up a line-out inside Australia’s 22. Australia rise to disrupt but it’s still with England as they rebuild on the Wallaby’s 22.

78 min: Swing Low rings out as England hold up an Aussie ball carrier shortly after the restart to get a scrum.

Henry Slade is named player of the match. Yeah, fair enough. I’d have given it to Van Poortvliet, but no complaints here. The veteran has been great as well.

73 min: Brilliant defence in the far corner from Slade denies Australia a try from their best (first?) decent move of the match. Lovely work from front to back with McDermott and then Valetini (why didn’t he start?). Wright scythed through on the wraparound and found Suaalii who then shovelled for Jorgensen who looked destined for the right corner, but that was great covering work from Slade who nudged the Aussie winger out of touch.

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.

67 min: After the maul stalls, Pollock does have it after M Smith dinks a cross-field kick that compels Pollock to shift slightly backwards. From a standing start he sqaures up Wright and then looks to grubber, actually going through Wright’s legs, but the Aussie fullback’s turns around and gathers to dot down.

66 min: Earl picks up and goes himself off the scrum, making great ground. They have an advantage as they build towards the edge of Australia’s 22. Genge picks and goes. M Smith carries and wriggles. They’re five out. Oh, they tried to spark the killer move out the back Furbank feeds M Smith who loses it in contact. But they come back for the penalty and nudge to the corner on the left. Pollock, on the opposite wing, wants it.

64 min: A spill around halfway, just inside Australia’s half, means there’ll be a scrum for England. Daugunu was menacing there as he cantered upfield on the counter. Australia have looked much better since Donaldson has come on. Did Les Kiss get his fly-half pick wrong?

Marcus Smith comes on for Atkinson, which means F Smith moves to 12.

60 min: That sums up Australia’s afternoon. Rare ball inside England’s 22 ends with Donaldson, on for Meredith, spilling a pass that was just ahead of him. Good pressure from Earl. Donaldson slaps the turf in frustration. But they’ll get a crack here as England give away a free kick at the scrum.

54 min: Penalty to England after they go round the corner and keep things right after the line-out. Into the 22 with some big carries. JvP snipes. They inch their way towards the try line. England lose their feet but there was an advantage for an Aussie straying off-side in the build up. England will get the throw five out. If it’s not done already, one more try will kill this contest.

53 min: Freeman beats Suaalii in the aiar and tips back a JvP box. Australia are playing fast and loose in their own 22 but manage to work the ball from left to right as Wright and Canham show good hands. Ikitau kicks but straight out of touch beyond his 22. So that’s a gimme back to England who will throw to the line 25 metres out on the left.

51 min: Australia counter after a JvP kick after the turnover at the line-out. Henry runs over Earl in midfield. He’s in the 22. Bell carries well. 10 metres out. They need to score. McReight gives it to Tupou and then Meredith who takes it to the line. But in their desperation for quick ball Australia lose their feet as they try and clear out the ruck, giving away a soft penalty in England’s red zone.

50 min: Australia go off the top of the line-out and through the hands. Ikitau involved in a loop that has the ball on the floor. Freeman tries to kick it ahead but misses. Ikitau then picks up and rakes a lovely 50-22. No matter, Chessum rises high and wins the turnover at the line-out. Chessum is having a great game.

48 min: There’s a break as a George needs attention. While that happens Earl shouts and screams and waves his arms at Pollock who seems to be refusing orders to hug the right wing. We restart with a free kick for England after the scrum. Smith hoists it high. Then England give away a penalty as Freeman and Jorgensen collide. The call is for obstruction so Australia get a clearing kick that finds touch on halfway.

46 min: After some great carries from Earl JvP snipes from the fringe of a ruck and charges upfield. He’s tack;ed by Wright inside Australia’s 22. Soon after there’s a turnover and Canham carries it back. Australia go through the hands with Suaalii off his wing. They keep coming. Henry the centre runs as Swing Low rings out. Jorgensen is then tackled by Pollock and Earl and spills down the right wing. Better from Australia, but England always had them covered. Scrum for England 10 in Aussie’s patch down the left.

45 min: Australia knock-o from the restart. So poor!

42 min: Australia win an early line-out 10 in England’s patch down the left. They then hois a box that is won by England. They attack down the line and Pollock gathers on the left wing, steps inside and makes about eight metres. Fair play.

Our reader Jon Piper has, ahem, piped up:

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.

40 min: OH! did Freeman score? Almost! Not quite though. The kick from Smith from centre field to the right corner bobbles and sits up. Meredith takes an age to cover it but its knocked on by Freeman in goal. So so close.

39 min: So sloppy from Australia! My goodness they have been poor. They try to work a clever routine at the front of the line-out but make a proper mess of it, spilling it. England run it and get it to Feyi-Waboso in no time. Soon after Australia give away a penalty on the floor that Smith kicks out to set up a line-out on the 22 to the left.

37 min: Penalty for Australia on the 10 metre line and a chance to kick to the corner and land a blow before the break. Itoje tried to steal from McReight’s carry. That was loose from the skipper. The kick finds touch inside the England 22. Can they get themselves in gear?

36 min: England haven’t been brilliant, but they’ve bossed the basics. That is a great exit from JvP at the back of a ruck. His box kick finds touch around halfway from inside his own 22. England though give away a free-kick (so maybe scratch the first line of this post) and Australia run it hard through Canham.

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.

31 min: Jorgensen plucks a great grab from the skies. But soon after they lose it as Itoje comes away with it after a steal. He runs hard at Bell. England fling it down the right to Freeman who off-loads with one hand back infield. Was that forward? No says the referee. So they build inside the Australia 22 down the right corner. But the clear-out was illegal, deemed a neck-roll. Furbank the guilty party there. Australia get another let off.

24 min: Whenever Feyi-Waboso gets the ball, as he does soon after the scrum thanks to a lovely pass from Furbank, they look half decent. He scampers into the 22, steps and is tackled. The ball is spilled, Freeman tries to kick it but knocks-on. One step forward, one step back. Scrum to Australia down in their own right corner.

23 min: My word, this is dross! Australia now throw skew at the line-out, 10 inside England’s half.

“The way this is being broadcast is as if it’s being played behind closed doors. NO crowd noise is very off-putting! It’s weird to watch,” says Richard Slassor.

No kidding. It’s been that sort of game.

22 min: But England make another soft mistake. Not straight at the resulting line-out from George. So Australia get a scrum feed inside their own patch. England have been by far the better side but they’re only two points ahead.

Now they give away a scrum penalty. Heyes nailed.

This has been incredibly stodgy from both sides.

21 min: Lonergan hoists another high ball that Suaalii catches with ease. Australia eking out territory. Bell runs over a tackler in centre field but there’s a turnover on the floor as England win a penalty 10 out from their own 22 as Curry stoops over the ball and snatches an important steal. That’s why he’s in the side.

19 min: They don’t maul, but instead go through the hands. Feyi-Waboso collects a short pass on the angle but spills it just before he takes the contact after joining off his wing from the left. Australia run it back. They go through a few phases before Lonergan kicks and it takes a deflection so Australia will have the throw. They win that and box again. They win the ball back on halfway. It’s stodgy, but they’ve inched their way to England’s territory.

17 min: Scrum penalty for England! That will make them feel a whole lot better. Smith punts it out, inside the 22 but not quite the corner on the left. They’ll need to maul 15 metres or so to score from here.

16 min: A better box kick from JvP puts Australia under pressure, forcing Suailii to rise and grab it. He doesn’t, but it comes down for Australia and then they regroup. Wright steps inside but is tackled by Atkinson on the 22. Australia keen to run it rather than kick. Now they kick a contestable and it’s spilled on halfway by the chasing Jorgensen so it’ll be an England scrum on halfway about 10 metres in from their left touch.

13 min: Australia take an age to kick a clearance from the restart. That puts extra pressure on Lonergan who looks to box but is charged down by Itoje inside his own 22! It’s a super messy ball for the Aussies and in fact they spill it. That’s a knock-on and England get a scum feed between the Aussie 22 and the try line. Short blind on the right. Big chance here. OH! But they’ve gifted a free-kick for an early shove by Heyes back to Australia. What a let off. Borthwick must be sick with that.

11 min: JvP box kicks after the restart and finds touch 10 metres from halfway. Australia win the line-out and get to work. A rush defence puts huge pressure on the Aussie midfield and there’s a spill on halfway! Oh, but the English were too eager and in fact they were off-side. Wright has the ball as he and Wilson consider what to do. In fact, England were off-side at the line-out. They point to the poles. What a throwback!

8 min: Australia kick from the scrum. England back on it. Chessum is winning every collision. JvP box kicks, not very well. But that’s OK as two Aussies chasing get in each others’ way and there’s a penalty call for obstruction against them. So Smith can hoof the ball into the corner. England with a chance to maul from about seven out down their left.

6 min: Off the scrum England are keen to get the ball down to Feyi-Waboso as quickly as possible down the left wing. That’s what they do and the crowd fizled with anticipation. Jorgensen tackles him. Furbank and then Smith carry it on. Coles though loses his feet as he goes to clean a ruck and Australia get the penalty inside their own 22. England look sharp, but need to clean up.

3 min: England will get a scrum 10 in from the halfway inside their own patch. That came after Australia attacked down the line through Sua’ali’i who stepped in off the wing but was isolated and held up in the tackle. So it’s turnover ball for England. Early signs of what Joseph is keen to do. But that was sloppy not getting to ground after taking the hit.

1 min: Australia win the kick-off. Ikitau carries after a couple of phases before the box kick finds touch 40 metres down town. Early line-out for England.

Stirring anthems done and dusted.

Those came after a lovely tribute to those who have given their lives defending both nations.

England have history on their side.

They’ve won 15 of their last 19 meetings with Australia, including last year’s 25-7 victory here.

And what about the Wallabies?

Andy Bull makes a case that they need more than ‘moments’ to really start mixing it with the big boys:

Off the field, a pay dispute has cast a shadow over the European tour:

Beware the cornered lion.

So says Ugo Monye, who argues that this turbulent build up could bring out the best of England.