England vs Australia LIVE: Rugby match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction

Return: George Furbank missed England’s whole summer with appendicitis

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Rugby’s Nations Championship heads to Twickenham for the first time today as England face old rivals Australia in a blockbuster showdown. The pressure is firmly back on Steve Borthwick after a tumultuous week that has included explosive reports of a rift in camp, continuing a difficult year that included England’s worst-ever Six Nations showing and a bruising defeat by South Africa. Though they bounced back to beat Fiji and Argentina, more questions are being asked of their direction less than 12 months out from the start of the World Cup.

Borthwick’s contract was extended in September and he has received more public backing from the RFU in recent days, but he could really use a convincing win here to calm the storm. Australia head north for the autumn after an inconsistent start to Les Kiss’ tenure, winning two-test series against both Japan and Argentina before continuing their woeful Bledisloe Cup record in two emphatic defeats by the All Blacks.

Maro Itoje is back to captain the hosts as Fin Smith starts, Ellis Genge is dropped and Henry Pollock begins on the bench, while Len Ikitau returns for the Wallabies. Follow England vs Australia live below!

England vs Australia latest news

Live updates

Maro Itoje back as Fin Smith fit to start for England

England are significantly bolstered for the autumn by the return of influential captain Maro Itoje, who was rested throughout the summer following an intense season that began with him leading last year’s British and Irish Lions tour in Australia.

He is back in the second row at the expense of George Martin and takes the captaincy back from stand-in replacement and predecessor Jamie George.

The other headline England team news is at fly-half, where Fin Smith has proven his fitness in time to start against the Wallabies following a calf injury suffered while playing for Northampton against rivals Leicester in the Prem last month.

That keeps namesake Marcus Smith on the bench, with George Ford not in the matchday squad.

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England vs Australia lineups

England XV: Furbank; Freeman, Slade, Atkinson, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Van Poortvliet; Baxter, George, Heyes; Itoje (c), Coles; Chessum, B Curry, Earl

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Stuart, Martin, Fisilau, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith

Australia XV: Wright; Jorgensen, ​Henry, ⁠Ikitau, Suaalii; Meredith, Lonergan; Bell, Pollard, Alaalatoa; Canham, Salakaia-Loto; Williams, McReight, Wilson (c)

Replacements: Nasser, Kailea, Tupou, Valetini, Tizzano, McDermott, Donaldson, Daugunu

How to watch England vs Australia

TV channel: England vs Australia in the 2026 Nations Championship is being televised live and free-to-air in the UK on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 2pm GMT.

Live stream: The match is also available to watch live online via the ITVX website and app, which is free with a sign-up.

England vs Australia live

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's live coverage of England vs Australia in rugby's Nations Championship.

An old rivalry is renewed once again at Twickenham this afternoon, with Steve Borthwick desperate for a statement win to end what has been another testing week following the explosive reports of unrest in the camp less than 12 months out from the World Cup Down Under.

The Wallabies travel north to begin the concluding autumn portion of this inaugural tournament after back-to-back losses to the All Blacks that prolonged their dreadful Bledisloe Cup record, but there have been signs of early progress under Les Kiss and they will use this campaign as a yardstick to measure their progress ahead of next year's big show on home soil.

Kick-off this afternoon is at 3:10pm GMT, so stay with us for match build-up, team news and live game updates, including analysis from Standard Sport's Sam Tabuteau at Twickenham.