5 Things to Know About England vs. Australia Rugby | Autumn Nations Opener
5 Things to Know About England vs. Australia Rugby | Autumn Nations Opener
England faces Australia Nov. 1 at Allianz Stadium to open the Autumn Nations Series. See key stats, players and what to know before kickoff.
The Autumn Nations Series kicks off on Nov. 1, bringing some of the fiercest matchups between Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams.
England and Australia open the action at Allianz Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 11:10 a.m. ET.
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- World Rugby Rankings: Where Things Stand Before The Autumn Nations Series
England comes into this matchup in top form after an undefeated stretch since the Six Nations, highlighted by commanding wins over Argentina (35-12, 22-17) and the USA (40-5).
Australia, meanwhile, heads straight into the series following a demanding Rugby Championship campaign.
The quick turnaround could either test the Wallabies' endurance or highlight their cohesion.
Their 19-15 victory over Japan on Oct. 25 suggests the Wallabies may be hitting their stride at the perfect time.
Expect a hard-hitting contest as both teams look to set the tone for their Autumn campaigns.
Here’s what to know before kickoff:
Head-To-Head Record: England Leads Australia 3-2 In Last Five Meetings
In their last five encounters, England holds a narrow advantage, winning three to Australia’s two.
However, Australia claimed the most recent victory, 42-37, and will aim to even the tally in the upcoming showdown.
England vs. Australia - Stats From Last Match
England held the lead for most of the first half, until Australia snagged the advantage right before moving into the second.
The last 20 minutes were a fierce back and forth, before the Wallabies seized the 42-37 win.
Match Stats:
- Tries: ENG 5 – 5 AUS
- Possession: ENG 48% – 52% AUS
- Scrum Win: ENG 80% – 80% AUS
- Passes: ENG 146 – 182 AUS
- Ball Carries: ENG 122 – 161 AUS
- Tackles: ENG 195 – 139 AUS
Recent Form: England 5-0, Australia 2-3
In their last five matches, England remains undefeated, while Australia sits at 2-3, reflecting a hard-fought Rugby Championship run that saw the Wallabies finish third.
Key Players And Captains For The Autumn Nations Series Opener
England will be led by captains Maro Itoje and Ellis Genge, supported by vice-captains George Ford and Jamie George.
Standout players include Tommy Freeman of Northampton, who recently scored four tries against Saracens to keep his club atop the PREM Rugby standings.
Noah Caluori, a 19-year-old Saracens breakout star, has been omitted from the lineup.
For Australia, Nick Champion de Crespigny captained the squad in their recent test against Japan, though lineup changes or captaincy adjustments are expected before kickoff.
World Rugby Rules Impact Australia’s Player Availability
England benefits from full access to PREM Rugby talent, but World Rugby’s international window does not demand British or European clubs release Australian players for international play until next week.
As a result, stars like Len Ikitau (Exeter Chiefs), James O’Connor (Leicester Tigers) and Tom Hooper (Exeter Chiefs) will miss the opener and are expected to rejoin the Wallabies in Italy later in the series.
Autumn Nations Series Rugby Schedule 2025
Week 1 - Nov. 1
- England vs. Australia
- South Africa vs. Japan
- Scotland vs. USA
- Ireland vs. New Zealand
Week 2 - Nov. 8-9
- Ireland vs. Japan
- Scotland vs. New Zealand
- England vs. Fiji
- Italy vs. Australia
- France vs. South Africa
- Wales vs. Argentina
Week 3 - Nov. 15-16
- Italy vs. South Africa
- England vs. New Zealand
- Wales vs. Japan
- France vs. Fiji
- Ireland vs. Australia
- Scotland vs. Argentina
Week 4 - Nov. 22-23
- Wales vs. New Zealand
- Ireland vs. South Africa
- France vs. Australia
- Italy vs. Chile
- Scotland vs. Tonga
- England vs. Argentina
Week 5 - Nov. 29
- Wales vs. South Africa
World Rugby Rankings: Where Things Stand Before Autumn Nations (Oct. 27)
See the official rankings on World.Rugby here.
- South Africa 92.20
- New Zealand 90.02
- Ireland 89.83
- France 87.82
- England 87.64
- Argentina 83.82
- Australia 83.30
- Scotland 81.57
- Fiji 81.16
- Italy 77.77
- Georgia 74.69
- Wales 74.05
- Japan 73.25
- Spain 69.12
- USA 67.40
- Samoa 66.94
- Chile 66.72
- Tonga 66.66
- Uruguay 66.59
- Portugal 66.44
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