England pull away from Australia with second-half surge

England swept aside Australia 37-18 to claim a sixth successive victory over the Wallabies and complete a successful autumn series at Twickenham marred only by a controversial defeat to New Zealand.

The old enemies were deadlocked at 13-13 entering half-time but blistering tries from Elliot Daly and Joe Cokanasiga opened up daylight before the win became a rout when Owen Farrell touched down in the closing stages.

Apart from losing their way in the second quarter, England dominated the Cook Cup showdown with man of the match Kyle Sinckler, Jonny May and Cokanasiga outstanding.

Victory was secured against one of the poorest Wallaby teams seen at Twickenham in recent years, the tourists enfeebled by the loss of David Pocock to a neck injury and tumultuous build up due to senior players Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper being disciplined for bringing women back to their hotel rooms.

Among the biggest roars of the afternoon was reserved for Manu Tuilagi, who finally made his first Test appearance for two years as a final-quarter replacement having overcome a groin strain.

Once again in an eventful autumn, controversy reigned as Farrell escaped punishment for his shoulder charge on Izack Rodda as the galloping Australia lock approached the line on the stroke of half-time.

It was an illegal challenge that could have been punished by a red card but referee Jaco Peyper - who endured a poor afternoon - declared it was shoulder to shoulder despite protests from the Wallabies.

Sir Clive Woodward, speaking in his role as TV pundit, said "England have got away with that one", claiming a penalty try should have been awarded. Farrell was lucky to avoid censure for a similar hit in the autumn opener against South Africa.

It took just 133 seconds for England to take the lead as Mark Wilson broke from a rapidly advancing scrum and fed Ben Youngs, who took a few steps before supplying May with a simple try.

Australia ran aimlessly at times with only the kicking of Matt Toomua asking any questions and summing up their muddled play was a moment when Scott Sio and Samu Kerevi collided in midfield as they jogged into position.

But taking advantage of Genia's intercept of a pass thrown by Ben Te'o, they made inroads that ended when Dane Haylett-Petty appeared to have crossed despite a forward pas from Kerevi.

Peyper awarded the try immediately and it was only as Toomua was about to take the conversion and the forward pass was replayed on the big screen that the South Africa official called for the TMO's assistance and the score was ruled out.

Peyper blundered again when he gave only a penalty for Rodda's tip-tackle on May but at least England were able to take a 13-3 lead with the ensuing penalty by Farrell.

A brilliant line taken by the gliding Israel Folau helped narrow the gap to three points, but he found the hole between Farrell and Maro Itoje too easily amid a general decrease in defensive aggression from Eddie Jones's men.

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Once a large scuffle had died down early in the second half, England surged back in front with a try out of nothing, Farrell seeming to run out of options until Daly began a perfectly-timed run that saw his raw pace sweep him over the whitewash.

Daylight was opened up when an attack down the left was revived by a weak tackle from Haylett-Petty, who bounced off Cokanasiga to create a gap that the powerful Bath wing sped through to score under the posts.

Cokanasiga almost added a second shortly after, catching a high ball and racing off, side-stepping Toomua before being stopped just short of the line. May then a try disallowed for ball in touch.

The result was sealed when Farrell sped through a vast hole in Australia's disintegrating defence, but Folau had the final say in injury time. PA

4:53PM

Full-time | England 37 Australia 18 

That's it. England finish 2018 with an important win. Owen Farrell is with Sky Sports.

 "It was pretty simple how we played. We were direct. I thought we turned out well in the second half."

4:48PM

Try, Israel Folau! England 37 Australia 18, 80 minutes

Haylett-Petty has had a poor game in defence but he's just carved England open again. The ball comes back to the left and that's a slick finish. Foley slides through a grubber for Folau to score. To'omua misses the conversion.

4:44PM

Try, Owen Farrell! England 37 Australia 13, 77 minutes

Lovely. Ford takes the ball to the line, firing back a pass to Farrell behind a barreling run from Tuilagi. Australia defenders swarm to Tuilagi and Farrell waltzes in untouched, converting his own try. It's comfortable now.

4:41PM

England 30 Australia 13, 75 minutes     

Australia hold out and win an offside penalty. George Ford comes on for Ben Te'o as Wigglesworth scampers away.

4:40PM

England 30 Australia 13, 74 minutes    

England maul inside the Australia 22 and Hartley breaks away. Check out this moment:

4:37PM

England 30 Australia 13, 72 minutes   

Brad Shields throws an over-the-head ball off the top of the lineout and Tuilagi bumps away another tackle. It gets messy again for a little spell. Itoje rushes up and Australia knock on. Scrum to England.

4:35PM

England 30 Australia 13, 68 minutes  

Here he is. Huge roar from the Twickenham crowd.

 Manu Tuilagi gets a carry straightaway. 

4:31PM

TMO

Have England scored a remarkable breakaway through Jonny May?! 

Sefa Naivalu was tackled by Daly and threw an inside to nobody. Slade picked it up and chipped down-field. May collected. Did he drop it while dotting down? It doesn't metter. The ball was out:

4:31PM

England 30 Australia 13, 67 minutes 

Australia maul towards the England line and go wide...

4:29PM

England 30 Australia 13, 65 minutes

Kyle Sinckler comes off for Harry Williams. He's been excellent.

Meanwhile, Haylett-Petty marauds through England into the 22. Itoje is penalised...and the Wallabies go to the corner. 

4:27PM

Penalty, Owen Farrell! England 30 Australia 13, 64 minutes

Scott Sio is penalised for collapsing the scrum. Farrell tries a cross-kick but it comes to nothing. and Peyper brings back play. Farrell adds three from the tee. 

4:24PM

England 27 Australia 13, 61 minutes 

Cokanasiga is enjoying himself now. He plucks an Australia box-kick and shreds the disinterested chase. He's hauled down a metre short by Hooper...and England are held up trying a pick and go. Five-metre scrum.

4:20PM

Hard to argue with this

4:19PM

Try, Joe Cokanasiga! England 27 Australia 13, 55 minutes   

A couple of scrum re-sets here...and then a fantastic burst from Wilson off the base before Lawes and Underhill cross the 22.

It's slightly untidy but it works. The ball is worked to the left flank and the entire Australia defensive line seems to over-chase, opening up a hole for Cokanasiga to cut back against the grain. Haylett-Petty is bumped away and the Bath man bursts through. Farrell converts. 

4:14PM

Stat

Owen Farrell has now scored more points against Australia than any other Englishman.

4:13PM

England 20 Australia 13, 52 minutes  

Bit of a stalemate here...and it ends with Dane Haylett-Petty dropping a Matt To'omua high ball.

4:11PM

England 20 Australia 13, 49 minutes 

Australia clear down to Jonny May and England work through a few phases. Sinckler rumbles over the gain-line...but Farrell kicks out on the full. That little passage just about sums up the game.

4:10PM

Elliot Daly's try

4:08PM

England 20 Australia 13, 46 minutes

Messy period of kick-tennis ends with May slicing into touch. We'll start again with an Australia lineout on England's 10-metre line. Farrell makes a big, legal tackle on Foley and then Sekope Kepu is penalised for picking the ball up from an offside position. 

England hit touch just outside the Australia 22 and maul...more frustration. Pete Samu strips Maro Itoje.

4:04PM

Try, Elliot Daly! England 20 Australia 13, 44 minutes 

Farrell tries to snake a grubber through but has to collect the ricochet. He's back at first-receiver a couple of phases later, throwing a quick dummy and then offloading to Daly, who skates clear. Nice try.

Farrell converts.

4:03PM

England 13 Australia 13, 43 minutes

Farrell hits touch and and Jamie George plays a short one-two with Sinckler at the front of the lineout... 

4:01PM

Second half

We're off again. Mark Wilson takes the restart and Ben Youngs goes to the air. Good start from England there. England press up and Kyle Sinckler forces a turnover with a big tackle on Adam Coleman. 

England celebrate loudly and there are a few handbags. The hosts needed that...and they force a scrum penalty too. 

3:56PM

'Curate's egg' might be kind

3:55PM

Worth keeping in mind...

3:51PM

Half-time | England 13 Australia 13

Australia have been very poor, conceding five penalties  and looking very disjointed. Israel Folau's finish was superb, though.

Even so, it is a real indictment of England's display that they are level. The hosts have not been good.

3:47PM

Penalty, Matt To'omua! England 13 Australia 13, 40 minutes

Drama before half-time. Australia make ground all too easily and Rodda clean through later in the phase play! Is that a shoudler charge from Farrell? It isn't checked, and England creep offside on the following phase.

Remarkable exchange between Michael Hooper and Jaco Peyper. Hooper asks the referee to check the collision between Farrell and Rodda. Peyper replies: "I thought your carrier also dropped the shoulder". 

Anyway, To'omua chips over the penalty and we are level.

3:41PM

England 13 Australia 10, 38 minutes

A couple of bring moments from Kyle Sinckler, first an offload to Te'o and then a little charge. But then Jack Dempsey rips away a turnover. Australia kick down to Daly, who shanks his attempted clearance into Peyper. Scrum to Australia.

3:39PM

Try, Israel Folau! England 13 Australia 10, 35 minutes

England clear to touch from the restart and Australia swing the ball wide to the left touchline. When they come back to the right, Folau slices straight through under the posts  between Itoje and Farrell. What a finish. 

To'omua converts and the Wallabies are within three.

3:35PM

Penalty, Owen Farrell! England 13 Australia 3, 34 minutes

Farrell punishes Rodda's error.

3:34PM

England 10 Australia 3, 31 minutes  

Daly breaks in midfield with an electric step...but then kicks into the dead-ball area, giving Cokanasiga too much to do.

This is a really ill-disciplined performance from Australia. Izack Rodda tips Daly in a tackle. 

 I don't know why that isn't a card.

3:31PM

England 10 Australia 3, 29 minutes 

Maro Itoje swoops to nab a breakdown penalty.

3:30PM

England 10 Australia 3, 29 minutes

Has Dane Haylett-Petty scored for Australia? He has, we're not going to the TMO. Oh, we are. Haylett-Petty latched onto an offload from Kerevi to score but after seeing it on the big screen, referee Peyper calls play back for a forward pass from To'omua.

3:26PM

...commentator's curse

Poor strike from Daly, who scoops under the strike. England can come again from the lineout...but Genia intercepts! Oh no. He tries to find Foley with a long pass but it drops low. England recover and clear.

3:25PM

Apart from that, though...

Australia have just disintegrated at another scrum.  Daly lines up the shot from around 55 metres. This is well within his range.

3:22PM

England 10 Australia 3, 21 minutes  

Henry Slade had started well but he'll be annoyed there. A burly carry from Ben Te'o sees Mark Wilson shunt over the gain-line. Farrell then tries to find Slade but the pass is spilled.

To'omua chips into space. Daly slides across...and into touch. To'omua then forces a pass to Hooper then floats forwards.

3:20PM

England's opening try

3:19PM

England 10 Australia 3, 18 minutes 

Really untidy period with both teams spilling the ball. Foley throws a speculative pass towards Jack Maddocks, Courtney Lawes and Ben Moon make the tackle and Sam Underhill is over the ball. Jaco Peyper awards England a scrum.

3:17PM

England 10 Australia 3, 16 minutes

Farrell clears from the restart and Slade lassos Haylett-Petty.

Although Daly spills a high ball England force a turnover through Slade after Kerevi is halted by Farrell. Ben Youngs goes to the sky and the chase swarms Australia with Brad Shields winning the penalty.

3:14PM

Penalty, Owen Farrell! England 10 Australia 3, 15 minutes

This time he nails it.

3:14PM

England 7 Australia 3, 13 minutes  

Jonny May climbs to take a high ball and then a Daly kick allows Slade and Te'o to flood through onto Israel Folau. Michael Hooper seals off at the breakdown, giving Farrell a chance from the tee.

He hits the post, but will get another chance after the Wallabies stray offside in the centre of the pitch.

3:11PM

Match action

Jonny May dots down. 

3:10PM

England 7 Australia 3, 10 minutes 

Another Australian breakdown turnover halts England's momentum. Joe Cokanasiga had burst down the blindside and Kyle Sinckler had charged through the middle...but those issues at the tackle area are slightly concerning.

3:09PM

England 7 Australia 3, 9 minutes

Another very untidy piece of play from Australia - Genia totally missing first-receiver To'omua - gives England field position on the edge of the Wallabies 22.

Australia force a breakdown turnover, though.

3:07PM

Penalty, Matt To'omua! England 7 Australia 3, 7 minutes

Nice strike from To'omua. That's frustrating for England.

3:05PM

England 7 Australia 0, 5 minutes

England gather the restart, go through one slightly scrappy phase and then clear to touch via a Ben Youngs box-kick.

Ah. Itoje concedes a penalty for offside from the lineout.

3:04PM

Try, Jonny May! England 7 Australia 0, 4 minutes

Wow. England's scrum utterly splinters Australia. Wilson picks, ties in two of Australia's back row before feeding Ben Youngs, who unselfishly releases May.

Can Owen Farrell convert from the right touchline....yes he can. 

3:02PM

England 0 Australia 0, 1 minute

What a start for the hosts. After two robust England tackles, Genia spills at the base and Youngs charges down Dane Haylett-Petty. Kyle Sinckler is through to force the Wallabies over their own try-line.

Five-metre scrum to England.

3:00PM

Kick-off

Jaco Peyper peeps his whistle and Owen Farrell starts the game with a high, hanging kick. Michael Hooper fields it and Maro Itoje makes the tackle.

3:00PM

Anthems now

Advance Australia Fair first and then God Save the Queen. Here we go. 

2:56PM

Gladiators....ready?

 Will Genia leads out Australia on the occasion of his 100th cap. Congratulations to him.

2:49PM

Ten minutes until kick-off

The players will be out shortly.

2:42PM

"My God I'd hate to play against him"

Michael Lynagh on Sam Underhill there. Quite amusing. Meanwhile, Underhill's opposite number gees up his Australia side.

2:38PM

"I've always been taught that hard work prevails"

 Nice sentiment from Mark Wilson, arguably England's player of the autumn.

2:36PM

Big day

2:36PM

Eddie Jones

Jones also says that he is "delighted" to see Manu Tuilagi back. 

2:28PM

Michael Cheika

Speaks to Gail Davis of Sky Sports. He says he has learned a lot this year, which has been a tough one. Australia, Cheika explains, will be "charging all that energy up".

2:26PM

Ouch

2:22PM

Quiet moment 

What is going through Jamie George's mind, do you think?

 There is a big opportunity for him today.

2:14PM

'We want a fast start'

England's full-back has been chatting to Sky Sports. He's been slightly coy on whether he feels he has done enough to oust Mike Brown long-term. What do you think? Have your say below the line.

2:09PM

Rainbow laces

Today has been earmarked by the RFU as a day of promotion for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity Stonewall UK. England’s match-day squad have been provided with a pair of rainbow laces to raise awareness.

2:02PM

One hour until kick-off

That's referee Jaco Peyper, who oversaw this fixture in 2016.

2:01PM

It's happening...

2:00PM

Australia will wear their Indigenous jersey today

1:54PM

What a player

Twickenham will celebrate the 100th cap of scrum-half Will Genia today.

 This will be his eighth Test against England as well.

1:51PM

'Nothing has changed'

Did you really expect Owen Farrell to make a big deal of the fact that he will be captaining England today?

1:44PM

Why is Australian rugby in crisis?

Let Daniel Schofield tell you with this excellent, wide-ranging feature.

1:42PM

England have arrived

Some moving pictures for you as well:

1:39PM

Sliding doors

Remember when New Zealand-born Ben Te'o was earmarked as Ireland's answer in midfield? My colleague Ben Coles has charted his journey from there to today, when he'll face Israel Folau - a former housemate - for England.

1:31PM

Hello

Good afternoon and welcome to The Telegraph's live text commentary of England's final Test of 2018 against Australia. It's a bit grey at Twickenham and has been raining...

 ...which is a little bit of a shame. However, this will still be extremely interesting. Here are the teams, for a start.

England are poised to unleash Manu Tuilagi from the bench. Jamie George and Courtney Lawes start in the pack with Joe Cokanasiga on the wing. Eddie Jones has still named Dylan Hartley as a co-captain with Owen Farrell, but the latter will lead out the hosts.

Michael Cheika's selection has been even more eventful. David Pocock pulled out yesterday, when it also emerged that Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper had not been considered because they broke team protocol last week. This is the 23 that Australia have ended up with. You'll notice that there are two specialist wingers on the bench...which is pretty inconvenient for them.