England player ratings vs Australia | Nations Championship 2026

England player ratings: England picked up maximum points in the Nations Championship with a 45-22 win over Australia at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

It was a steady start to the autumn for England, who never looked scintillating, but equally never looked troubled in the first half.

The scoreline at the break, 19-10 to the hosts, was much closer than it should have been. Not only had England had a try chalked off, but an Australian interception in the final play of the half was the only time they looked vaguely close to scoring.

But Steve Borthwick’s side dominated after the break, barely letting Australia enter their own half, and they piled on the points.

A great start to the autumn for England with their most points ever against Australia. Here’s how the players rated:

15 George Furbank – 8.5
Donning an England jersey again for the first time since November 2024 after a hideous run of injuries, and played the game Borthwick has clearly wanted from his full-back. Shared playmaking duties with his former Northampton Saints club-mate, Fin Smith, and latterly his new Harlequins comrade, Marcus Smith, bringing a valuable intuitiveness. Delivered the miss pass for England’s second try with ease, showing his value in the wider channels. It was his half-break and chicken-wing pass to Henry Slade which created England’s try shortly after the break as his influence began to grow. Put Henry Pollock in for his second try to complete more fine handling from England’s backs.

14 Tommy Freeman – 8
Had a thoroughly competitive aerial battle with Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, as expected, where the Australian probably just came out on top. Could have had a try late in the first half, but failed to ground a grubber kick from Fin Smith. Got the assist after the break with a perfect wide inside pass for Jack van Poortvliet to score and joined the line nicely for England’s sixth try. As good as a winger can look without scoring.

13 Henry Slade – 9
Selected at No.13 ahead of the in-form Will Joseph, as Borthwick is presumably endeavouring to create some continuity in the midfield. But with the 24-year-old breathing down his neck, the veteran needed to show what he brings to the party, and he did. Linked with Fin Smith and Furbank for England’s second try in the exact manner England’s coaches would want, shipping a pinpoint pass out wide. Linked again with Furbank to put Freeman away down the right in England’s fourth try after the break. Yet more slick handling right at the line created England’s sixth try, linking with Fin Smith. A try-saving tackle in the closing minutes on Max Jorgensen was the proverbial cherry.

12 Seb Atkinson – 7
The England No.12 shirt has long felt up for grabs with precious little time for anyone to secure it before the World Cup, and this was another steady display without making himself undroppable. Moved the ball close to contact, manhandled and held up Sua’ali’i early on to force a scrum, but doesn’t deliver that midfield punch that England needed at times. Left the field injured just after an hour.

11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – 8
Free from his hamstring injury – hopefully – and he put his hamstrings to good use just 90 seconds into the match, steaming through a hole to score under the posts only for the try to be disallowed. Continued to pop up everywhere, and was particularly threatening in and around the ruck. Made the break on the right side which resulted in England’s second try. With his volume of carries came some handling errors, but it is a very simple equation – the more Feyi-Waboso touches the ball, the better England look. As nice as that sounds, England are maybe too heavily reliant on him to provide go-forward with his carrying. By half time alone, the 23-year-old had beaten eight defenders while no other player had beaten more than one. Went off at the break, and England lacked that punch. Was on for man of the match before coming off.

10 Fin Smith – 9
Showed no signs of the calf injury that forced him into a late fitness test. England’s first try may have come via a driving maul, but it was Fin Smith’s pinpoint penalty kick to touch that gave them the platform to launch from five metres out. Distributed very flat to the line when needed, but was perhaps most dangerous floating behind Slade and Atkinson and operating as a second receiver. Seemed really in tune with Slade and Furbank and England produced some nice attacking play as a result. Though he was pinged for being offside to give Australia their first three points of the match, the fly-half’s defensive input is such an underrated part of his game, and an area that truly stands out compared to his competitors.

9 Jack van Poortvliet – 7
Earmarked as Alex Mitchell’s deputy with the British and Irish Lions No.9 out for November, and made a strong claim to retain the shirt moving forward. Probed and threatened around the breakdown, kicked accurately and brought more tempo than usual when bringing carriers into the game. That was equally his weakness late in the first half, throwing an intercept for Jorgensen to score from keep and keep Australia in the game. Atoned for the mistake – somewhat – after half time, supporting a Freeman break to score England’s fourth try. His threat around the fringes increased in the second 40.

1 Fin Baxter – 7
Making his first outing for England in 2026 after a foot injury and made a steady return, with nine tackles in an hour. Scrum functioned well and he got his hands on the ball a few times, but he will look to raise his level as November continues.

2 Jamie George – 7
At the back of the maul to score England’s first try in the opening 10 minutes. Left the field shortly before the hour mark with the second-most tackles, 12, but with few carries to his name. Lineout operated at 90 per cent, which was solid enough.

3 Joe Heyes – 8.5
Massive defensive display, not only in his number of tackles – 10 in an hour – but by the way he was often bursting out the line to make them, pinning the Wallabies back. Had no issues at the scrum too, getting the better of Angus Bell after 17 minutes after a few solid scrums, although, to his dismay, he was penalised at the following scrum. Steered England’s maul over the line for England’s first try after it had fragmented but was the scorer himself later in the half, peeling off to catch the Wallabies unaware.

4 Maro Itoje – 8.5
Back after his summer off, and was at his menacing best. After a couple of attempted charge-downs, he had Ryan Lonergan’s number on the stroke of 12 minutes, charging down a box kick, though nothing came of it. Topped the tackle count with 17 tackles, four of which were dominant, and forced a number of errors. Can be forgiven for his spill at the end which gave the Wallabies a try.

5 Alex Coles – 7
Wore No.5 on his back, but curiously packed down at flanker for scrums. Another steady performance without truly standing out. Had a far greater output defensively, and pressurised Lonergan, but didn’t get his hands on the ball a huge amount.

6 Ollie Chessum – 8
Frequently occupied the left flank, and made some powerful carries in that area of the field, crashing over for England’s second try from that position. Often has a few standout moments every match, and, along with his try, his lineout steal in his own 22 after 50 minutes was a damaging blow to the visitors. Ran the show in the lineout for England.

7 Ben Curry – 7
Back in the England fold after a string of troublesome hamstring injuries, but was the cause of England’s first try being chalked off due to a forward pass. That was nevertheless the kind of distribution that was lacking at times earlier this year, although he didn’t attempt much thereafter. Stifled Australia’s first foray deep into the England half after 20 minutes with a turnover penalty and continued to threaten over the ball.

8 Ben Earl – 7.5
Muted by Earl’s usual standards. Got his hands on the ball a lot, but not with a huge return to his carries. That had to change after the break with Feyi-Waboso off, and there was an improvement. Finished with a huge 22 carries, but with only three defenders beaten and an average of three metres per carry.

Replacements
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie – 6
A quiet 20 minutes off the bench, but kept the lineout functioning smoothly.

17 Ellis Genge – 6
Provided an uneventful contribution from the bench.

18 Will Stuart – 6
Another player back after a long time and settled his way back in. Pinged at one scrum for an infringement pre-engagement

19 George Martin – 7
Back at Twickenham after what feels like an eternity, and showed what England fans have been missing with plenty of grunt with his carries.

20 Greg Fisilau – 6
Came on for his debut with England in a nice position, but didn’t do a lot.

21 Henry Pollock – 8.5
Was stationed on the wing as England warmed up, which hinted that something was afoot, and so it proved to be, with the 21-year-old coming at half time on the wing for Feyi-Waboso. His first carry was full of venom and he made good ground, with England scoring a phase later. He had to get on the scoresheet, didn’t he? Waited patiently on the wing for Fin Smith to sling a pass to him, although he needed to collect the ball off the ground. Had his second a few minutes later, this time racing on down the right flank from 30 metres out. Really looked like he enjoyed his dalliance on the wing.

22 Ben Spencer – 7
Only given six minutes at the end of the match, but still managed an interception try.

23 Marcus Smith – 6
Came on for the injured Atkinson and played like a dual fly-half. Perhaps guilty of being overzealous at times with England clearly on top, and there were some errors, but this was an awkward situation for him to join the action.