We could also be two years out from the 2027 Rugby World Cup, however England’s try to scale Everest for a second time begins in earnest this autumn.
Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina all head to Allianz Stadium over the following month, the place solely victories will suffice for Steve Borthwick’s males.
This flawless goal stems from final yr’s autumn marketing campaign, which noticed England undergo three defeats – towards the All Blacks, Wallabies, and world champions South Africa – in 4 matches.
It is also an affordable expectation for a bunch that harbours World Cup-winning aspirations on the daybreak of a brand new cycle.
Ford up first to stake fly-half declare
Fin Smith and Marcus Smith dominated the controversy over who would put on England’s No. 10 shirt this autumn, however Borthwick ensured it remained within the fingers of George Ford.
Ford edged out Fin Smith for fly-half duties towards Australia, whereas Marcus Smith was omitted from the matchday 26 altogether.
The 32-year-old orchestrated England’s collection win on this summer time’s tour to Argentina and the US from fly-half, as each Smiths reported for British and Irish Lions obligation.
With Andy Farrell probably delivering the ultimate Lions snub of Ford’s profession, there could also be a contact of sentiment in Borthwick’s choice to unleash him towards the Wallabies on Saturday.
However as Ford’s performances in Argentina proved, the evergreen Sale fly-half’s powers present no signal of waning. He nonetheless has a key position to play as he units his sights on main England to a fourth World Cup.
Wallabies to throw one other spanner within the works?
Australia could have misplaced this summer time’s Lions collection in two video games, watched New Zealand retain the Bledisloe Cup for a twenty third successive yr, and seen the Springboks go back-to-back within the Rugby Championship for the primary time – however consider it or not, 2025 has been a yr of progress for the Wallabies.
They salvaged pleasure with a rousing efficiency within the second Take a look at towards the Lions in Melbourne, then prevented a collection whitewash with victory within the third Take a look at in Sydney.
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Highlights of the third Take a look at between Australia and the British and Irish Lions in Sydney
It despatched Australia bounding into the Rugby Championship, the place they stormed Johannesburg for the primary time since 1963 to stun the Springboks at Ellis Park.
On Saturday, they return to the scene the place this renaissance started. Max Jorgensen’s last-gasp attempt sealed a 42-37 victory over England at Allianz Stadium final November, and the Wallabies now eye back-to-back Twickenham wins for the primary time since 2009.
England squad to face Australia
Beginning XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12, Fraser Dingwall, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Fin Baxter, 2 Jamie George, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Man Pepper, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Ben Earl.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Fin Smith.
England’s Autumn Nations Sequence schedule
November 1
England vs Australia – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (3.10pm)
November 8
England vs Fiji – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (5.40pm)
November 15
England vs New Zealand – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (3.10pm)
November 23
England vs Argentina – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (4.10pm)
