England face Australia at Twickenham this weekend as the 2026 Nations Championship resumes. Steve Borthwick's side restart rugby union's inaugural international competition against their long-time rivals, kicking off the concluding autumn block that ends with a series of play-off finals on home soil later in November.
England's Mixed Start to the Competition
England opened the Nations Championship poorly in July, losing 45-21 to reigning back-to-back world champions South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The defeat followed their worst-ever Six Nations campaign, though they responded by scoring 11 tries in a 73-8 win over a 14-man Fiji in an "away" game played on Merseyside, before beating Argentina 31-24 in a feisty encounter in Buenos Aires.
Despite those victories lifting them to third in the Northern Hemisphere table, Borthwick remains under significant pressure less than a year before the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, following reports of unrest in the camp over the summer. The RFU extended his contract through the 2028 Six Nations in September, and chief executive Bill Sweeney has given him fresh backing this week.
Australia's Form Under New Coach
The Wallabies arrive at Twickenham third in the Southern Hemisphere table. They beat Italy 57-10 at home in the summer to end a run of six successive defeats under Joe Schmidt, whose team later lost 42-26 to France after a second-half comeback, having previously been edged out 33-31 by Ireland.
Les Kiss has since taken over as coach, starting with a 35-32 win over Eddie Jones' Japan, who were then beaten 56-17. Australia also won 27-21 away in Argentina, drew 28-all in the follow-up, and beat a much-changed South Africa 42-38 in Perth despite being reduced to 11 men. However, New Zealand cruised to a 50-19 victory at Eden Park before a 43-21 win in Sydney, extending the All Blacks' run to 13 successive wins over their neighbours.
Team News and Lineups
England are led by regular captain Maro Itoje, who returns after being rested over the summer, taking back the captaincy from Jamie George. Fin Smith has been cleared to start at fly-half following a calf injury, while George Furbank is at full-back after his summer was cut short by appendicitis.
Furbank replaces Marcus Smith in one of four changes to the XV that started against Argentina. Fin Baxter is preferred to Ellis Genge at loosehead prop, Itoje replaces George Martin, and Ben Curry starts at openside flanker instead of Guy Pepper. Baxter joins George and Joe Heyes in the front row, with Ollie Chessum and Ben Earl completing the back row.
Jack van Poortvliet partners Fin Smith at half-back, with Alex Mitchell missing the entire autumn with another hamstring injury. Henry Slade and Seb Atkinson continue at centre, with Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wings. Henry Pollock is on a 6-2 bench alongside Marcus Smith, with Genge and Will Stuart providing prop cover. Ben Spencer is scrum-half cover after being called up this week, with Harry Randall, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Martin and Exeter back row Greg Fisilau also in reserve. Tom Curry and Archie McParland miss out through injury.
For Australia, Len Ikitau returns at centre alongside Isaac Henry following concussion, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii moving to the right wing in place of Harry Potter. Declan Meredith continues at fly-half ahead of Ben Donaldson, with Carter Gordon omitted completely. Ryan Lonergan is at scrum-half, Tom Wright at full-back, and Max Jorgensen on the left wing. Angus Bell and Billy Pollard replace Aidan Ross and Josh Nasser in the front row, with Allan Alaalatoa at tighthead. Josh Canham comes into the second row to partner Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, with Jeremy Williams at blindside, Fraser McReight at openside for his 50th cap, and Harry Wilson captaining from number eight. Rob Valetini drops to the bench, joining Taniela Tupou, Carlo Tizzano, Nasser and Isaac Kailea in a 5-3 split, with Donaldson, Tate McDermott and Filipo Daugunu covering the backs. Kurtley Beale, a surprise selection for the autumn, does not make the matchday squad.
Head-to-Head and Prediction
The sides last met at Twickenham last autumn, when England won 25-7, avenging a 42-37 loss from 12 months earlier. England have won three of their last five matches against Australia and won eight in a row between 2016 and 2021 under Eddie Jones. Overall, England have 29 wins to Australia's 27, with one draw.
This has the feel of a must-win game for Borthwick to ease scrutiny on his position. England bounced back from their Six Nations and the defeat in South Africa with back-to-back wins, but Fiji were poor and played much of the game with 14 men, while a controversial last-gasp TMO intervention saved them against Argentina. Australia have made an inconsistent start under Kiss, beating a second-string South Africa and winning series against Japan and Argentina, but struggling against the All Blacks.
England are predicted to win by 10 points. Match odds are England 1/3, Australia 5/2, and draw 22/1, via UK betting sites, subject to change.
