England secured top spot in Pool A as they beat Australia 47-7 in despite a sloppy first-half showing in the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The Red Roses had already booked their place in the last eight of the tournament after thrashing the United States and Samoa in their first two pool games, and matched their own record winning run of 30 matches with another victory here. The hosts were short of their best in the opening half-hour here, though, and suffered a double injury scare as both Ellie Kildunne (concussion) and Hannah Botterman (back spasm) departed. A quarter-final with Scotland in Bristol awaits.
For Australia’s Wallaroos, this was a critical fixture, and a 40-point defeat was sufficiently small to book their own place in the last eight, where Canada will be their opponents. Head coach Jo Yapp, a former England scrum half, will know the size of the task facing her side next weekend, but will have been pleased with the first half showing particularly here.
Follow all of the latest from the clash in Brighton with our live blog below:
England vs Australia live
- England beat Australia 47-7 in Pool A decider
- The Red Roses match their record unbeaten run with a 30th straight win
- 5' - Australia strike first via the maul (ENG 0-7 AUS)
- 9' - England hit back through Jess Breach on 50th cap (ENG 5-7 AUS)
- 40' - Kabeya over from maul as England finally come to life (ENG 19-7 AUS)
- 58' - Kelsey Clifford scores twice as England power out of sight
England match record winning run with Australia victory – but sloppy first half shows World Cup vulnerability
19:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt is the slightly peculiar aspect of this Women’s World Cup that England, winners in Brighton 47-7, might have come away only marginally more pleased with their performance than the Australia side that they thrashed. The Red Roses were pretty far short of their best in a sloppy first-half showing here, rocked and roughed up by a highly physical and intelligent Australian side.
The hosts came through to power out of sight in their trademark fashion to match their own record 30-match winning run, but play so sloppily for so long in the semi-finals or final and they may find themselves deeper in the mire.
England match record winning run – but sloppy first half shows vulnerability
Australia 'pose such a good challenge'
19:25 , Ciara FearnEngland's Abbie Ward speaking to BBC Sport: "Really excited to be in knockout rugby, we never get ahead of ourselves and never take anything for granted. Tonight was about tonight's game.
"I love Australia and playing against them, they pose such a good challenge.
'Amazing atmosphere' told BBC Sport:
19:20 , Ciara FearnEngland's Morwenna Talling to BBC Two: "This crowd was incredible. Australia came out firing. But it's just amazing. The atmosphere here now [is amazing].
"Women's rugby, there's 30,000 people here.
"We get presents all the time now. It's a privilege and an honour to be part of it."
'It took us a while to work them out': Natasha Hunt told BBC Sport
19:18 , Ciara FearnEngland's Natasha 'Mo' Hunt speaking to BBC Sport: "It was awesome, we are gutted because we didn't do what we wanted to do.
"Australia came our firing and it took us a while to work them out."
'We needed that' - Sadia Kabeya told BBC Sport:
19:14 , Ciara FearnEngland try-scorer Sadia Kabeya: "Yeah definitely, it was our toughest game so far. You can see in the first half we got put under pressure. But we needed it. A lot of things to work on and iron out.
"We have trust in the plan. We just went out there and did what we needed to do.
"We've got huge carriers across our forward pack. We've got threats across the park, our forwards can't take all the credit!"
On facing Scotland next: "We take each game as it comes. For me I'll be coming up against my Loughborough Lightning team-mates."
'We've shown we can do it'
19:08 , Ciara FearnPlayer of the Match – England captain Alex Matthews – speaking to BBC:
“I’m just so proud of the girls. We stuck at it in the first half, stuck to our game plan, and came out on top. That’s the challenge everyone out there has wanted us to have and we’ve shown we can do it."
Full time! England 47-7 Australia
19:02 , Ciara FearnThe final whistle blows as England complete a perfect group stage defeating Australia 47-7 in Brighton for their third straight win.
England 47-7 Australia
18:58 , Ciara Fearn79 mins: England press deep inside Australia’s 22, but Feaunati drops Harrison’s pass, resulting in a knock-on.
England 47-7 Australia
18:54 , Ciara Fearn77 mins: England win a penalty just inside Australia’s half for an offside. They kick into the 22.
With their spot in the knockout stages nearly sealed, England come close to scoring but are held up for holding on.
England 47-7 Australia
18:48 , Ciara Fearn71 mins: Australia get a penalty for a high tackle as Bern is shown yellow for a shoulder to head hit on Karpani, reducing England to 14.
England marching in to quarter-finals - and Australia set to join them
18:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleRemember, 75 points is the permissible margin of defeat that would still allow Australia to progress to the last eight after that USA result earlier - the Wallaroos are comfortably inside that, and even England would struggle to put 30 points on in 10 minutes. It will be Canada next up for Jo Yapp’s team, who showed they have the game to worry the best at this tournament in that opening half-an-hour.
England 47-7 Australia
18:45 , Ciara Fearn68 mins: Australia have a lineout five metres from England’s line, looking for a try to ease the pressure.
Try! England (Bern) 47-7 Australia
18:40 , Ciara Fearn65 mins: Bern scores England’s seventh putting Australia under more pressure as the Red Roses continue to dominate.
England 40-7 Australia
18:37 , Ciara Fearn61 mins: Momentum firmly with England as they claim a scrum penalty. Campion, L. Packer and returning Aitchison enter the fray.
Try! England (Clifford) 40-7 Australia
18:35 , Ciara Fearn58 mins: Coming on for Botterman, Clifford claims her second try.
She looked set to be held up but manages to touch down near the posts. The conversion is simple and Australia will be feeling the pressure.
England 33-7 Australia
18:33 , Ciara Fearn58 mins: England secure the lineout and drive a strong maul toward the try line only to be held up five metres out by Tuinakauvadra who wraps up Atkin-Davies.
The ball doesn’t come out, so Australia are awarded the scrum.
The bunker review confirms Moleka’s yellow card will stand. England’s forwards dominate once more, winning a penalty five metres from the Wallaroos’ line and they take a quick tap.
England 33-7 Australia
18:30 , Ciara Fearn56 mins: England earn a scrum penalty on Australia’s feed and kick into the Wallaroos’ 22.
They are forced into an HIA substitution with Feaunati coming on temporarily.
England 33-7 Australia
18:27 , Ciara Fearn55 mins: England make two front-row changes bringing on Atkin-Davies and Bern.
From inside their own half they attack down the right after a break from Jones making strong ground towards Australia’s 22 before knocking the ball on.
Try! England (Clifford) 31-7 Australia
18:26 , Ciara Fearn54 mins: Australia are down to 14, and England make the most of the numerical advantage. Kelsey Clifford picks and goes from the base of the ruck powering over for England’s fifth try under the posts.
Harrison adds the simple conversion stretching the lead further.
England 26-7 Australia
18:24 , Ciara Fearn53 mins: No penalty try is awarded, but Moleka is shown yellow for head-on-head contact with Muir.
The decision will go to the bunker review though it is likely to remain a yellow card due to the passive nature of the hit.
England 26-7 Australia
18:21 , Ciara Fearn53 mins: Abby Dow makes a sensational break from inside her own half weaving through defenders and taking England deep into Australia’s territory.
England win a penalty advantage after Australia illegally brings down the maul, and Muir is held up over the line. The TMO is reviewing a possible penalty try and potential foul play by Australia.
England 26-7 Australia
18:20 , Ciara Fearn50 mins: England have turned the game around to take a strong lead, but mistakes are still holding them back from fully pulling away.
England 26-7 Australia
18:15 , Ciara Fearn46 mins: Issues for the Red Roses as Ellie Kildunne goes down hitting her head hard in a heavy tackle.
She gets to her feet, but it’s clear her game is done. Kildunne walks off as Helena Rowland comes on. Hannah Botterman suffered a back spasm.
More bad injury news for England
18:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleEllie Kildunne slowly makes her way off, the full-back clearly not herself after hitting her head hard on the floor in a whiplash movement but finding time to clap the fans as she receives a warm reaction. She will head down the tunnel to be assessed, provide she isn’t deemed to have already shown signs of concussion - if she has, or fails an HIA, that will be her out of next week’s quarter-final.
The exceptionally versatile Helena Rowland is on at full-back having started her last two Red Roses games on the wing and at fly half.
Try! England (Kabeya) 26-7 Australia
18:11 , Ciara Fearn44 mins: Try! Kabeya scores her second capitalising on a gift from Australia.
Moleka’s low pass inside her own 22 is picked up by Hunt who offloads from the floor to Kabeya allowing her to score again. Harrison adds the conversion.
England 19-7 Australia
18:08 , Ciara Fearn43 mins: Harrison’s clearing kick is charged down. Thankfully for the Red Roses, the ball trickles dead before an Australian hand can reach it.
Kick-off! England 19-7 Australia
18:08 , Ciara Fearn41 mins: England are caught holding on, giving Australia a penalty, which they kick into England’s 22.
Clunky England fortunate to be ahead
17:56 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat was among the worst first halves of John Mitchell’s tenure as England head coach, the Red Roses error-prone and short of their usual gainline physicality. Australia, by contrast, have shown real intelligence in how they’ve attacked the backfield vulnerabilities apparent with England - the kicking game of Faitala Moleka and Caitlyn Halse is a real strength of Jo Yapp’s team, and they’ve used that well to put England on the back foot. They will be disappointed to trail by 12, having missed a number of opportunities in the first half-hour - but they look good for a quarter-final berth.
Half-time! England 19-7 Australia
17:52 , Ciara FearnThe first half comes to a close with England taking the dominant lead of 19-7.
Try! England (Kabeya) 19-7 Australia
17:50 , Ciara Fearn40 mins: Kabaya stretches England’s lead as the home side begins to pull away.
Another lineout sees the maul surge over the line giving Kabaya a simple finish. Harrison adds the conversion and England extend their lead.
England 12-7 Australia
17:48 , Ciara Fearn38 mins: Kildunne is struggling dropping the ball in contact.
England win a free-kick at a scrum on Australia’s 22 and take it quickly. They then earn a penalty which Harrison kicks into the corner.
England 12-7 Australia
17:45 , Ciara Fearn35 mins: Australia claim their second 50:22 of the half, this time executed by Moleka. But moments later, England win a penalty at the breakdown thanks to Cokayne.
England 12-7 Australia
17:44 , Ciara Fearn33 mins: Australia are forced into a substitution as loosehead prop Kavoa goes off with an injury, replaced by Pohiva.
Try! England (Ward) 12-7 Australia
17:42 , Ciara Fearn32 mins: Abbie Ward powers over from a pick-and-go to give England the lead.
Harrison converts from the touchline adding the extras.
England 5-7 Australia
17:40 , Ciara Fearn31 mins: Dow is stopped just short of the Australia line with the Wallaroos scrambling in defence.
England win a penalty advantage and Alex Matthews powers forward.
England are suddenly looking hungrier just twenty metres out with a penalty in hand.
England 5-7 Australia
17:39 , Ciara Fearn30 mins: England earn a penalty at the breakdown after Cokayne secures the ball and Harrison’s kick carries them into Australia’s 22.
England 5-7 Australia
17:37 , Ciara Fearn29 mins: England’s defence is tested as Australia work through the phases inside the 22.
When the ball goes loose Cokayne pounces before Hunt can clear. Strong defensive work from England.
Hannah Botterman injury a big blow
17:37 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe sight of Hannah Botterman trudging to the touchline will deeply concern John Mitchell. The loosehead has been outstanding over the last couple of years and offers a real point of difference with her carrying and breakdown snaffling - Kelsey Clifford, on as a replacement, is a converted tighthead, while Mackenzie Carson (the other loosehead in England’s squad) had to battle back from injury ahead of this tournament. It’s a worry.
Red Roses prop Hannah Botterman: ‘I want to be the best loosehead in the world’
England 5-7 Australia
17:36 , Ciara Fearn28 mins: Wood is brilliant peeling off a scrum in her own half and executing a perfect 50:22.
England 5-7 Australia
17:31 , Ciara Fearn24 mins: England face a worry as Botterman goes down and she appears in pain while the medical team are attending to her.
Botterman limps off the field to be replaced by Clifford. John Mitchell will be worried about her fitness for the knockout stages.
No try! England (Cokayne) 5-7 Australia
17:27 , Ciara Fearn22 mins: No try! Cokayne’s effort is ruled out after the TMO spots a knock-on as she went to ground.
England then botch the lineout, allowing Australia to steal and clear.
However, a side entry by Australia gives England a penalty and Harrison kicks to the corner.
England 5-7 Australia
17:24 , Ciara Fearn19 mins: Australia scrum. They go left, but England’s defence holds firm. Australia regain possession inside the England 22 with Halse sending a grubber through.
Hunt takes risks on her own line nearly caught, but manages a risky off-load to Kildunne, who clears to halfway. England took some big chances there.
England 5-7 Australia
17:22 , Ciara Fearn18 mins: Play stops as Australia’s try-scorer Talakai goes down with a neck injury, though she appears okay to continue for now.
England 5-7 Australia
17:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle at the Amex StadiumThis has been an outstanding start from Australia. Far be it from worrying about margins of defeat and the resulting pool permutations, Jo Yapp and her squad had been clear in the week that they had come here to win - and 15 minutes in, they are giving it a really good go, manipulating England’s backfield cleverly with the boot and then exploiting the defence when the hosts narrow. They’ve brought real physicality, too - and have six forwards on a beefy bench to keep bringing it across the 80.
England 5-7 Australia
17:20 , Ciara Fearn16 mins: Australia go over but they’re held up!
Australia full-back Halse drives them to within five metres of the England line, putting the Wallaroos under pressure.
Karpani charges forward but is well held by England leaving Australia frustrated at the missed chance.
England 5-7 Australia
17:16 , Ciara Fearn13 mins: England regain possession and begin stretching Australia, but a fumble gives away a penalty.
Australia falter again with an overhit kick from Manu Moleka.
Try! England (Breach) 5-7 Australia
17:11 , Ciara Fearn9 mins: On her 50th cap Breach scores in the corner, but the TMO checks Harrison’s long pass for a possible forward. The try is allowed, though Harrison misses the conversion, so Australia still lead. What a response!
England 0 -7 Australia
17:10 , Ciara Fearn7 mins: England push down the right with Kildunne’s pass finding Dow to carry them into Australia’s 22. The Red Roses are now on the attack.
Try! England 0-7 Australia (Talakai)
17:09 , Ciara Fearn5 mins: The Wallaroos strike first. Talakai links with Leonard at the lineout to set a rolling maul, which England can’t stop, allowing Talakai to score.
Wood’s conversion is straight giving Australia an early 7-0 lead.
England 0-0 Australia
17:06 , Ciara Fearn2 min: England quickly claim an early line-out following a loose pass from Australia.
Australia offers a very different threat with a precise kick into England’s 22 forcing Kildunne into touch and giving the Wallaroos a prime chance.
A huge early set piece is coming.
Kick-off!
17:03 , Ciara FearnThe match is underway in Brighton under perfect conditions.
England head coach John Mitchell speaking to BBC:
16:58 , Ciara Fearn"We’re hunting Australia - we will be ruthless. It’s a different context for Australia today, they have to play, they have no choice.
"It’s up to us to keep them at the right end of the field, to squeeze them, build pressure, and attack from that. I’d like us to be ruthless in the last 30 metres of the field.
"It’s going to be interesting to see Australia’s approach because they have no option but to attack."
Anthems
16:58 , Ciara FearnBoth teams have stepped into the Brighton sunshine, led out by England’s Jess Breach on her 50th cap.
The Princess of Wales is in attendance.
Australia head coach Joanne Yapp speaking to the BBC
16:57 , Ciara Fearn“I have invested so much time and energy into this group and am really passionate working with them. It is a little bit different facing England but the preparation remains the same.
“As coaches we are aware of the score-line and what we need to do, but we have told the players to focus on their roles and what they need to do to perform as we do not want them getting caught up in the numbers.
“We have shown we can score tries, we have got good attacking threat so that [scoring at least four tries] is what we are looking to do.”
'We are different characters but it works well' - Heard talking about Meg Jones to BBC Sport:
16:55 , Ciara FearnTatyana Heard on her centre partnership with Meg Jones. The pair have been John Mitchell’s regular midfield combination.
“We are polar opposites, Meg brings so much energy and I bring calm,” Heard told BBC Sport.
“Less so on the field but definitely off it. Meg is a bright spark around the place and always wants to have fun with the girls, making jokes. I just like to laugh along.
“We are different characters but it works well on the field. Meg is more of a leader than I am, she is a leader in the defence. If I’ve got something important to say then I’ll say it but generally I go with the flow.”
Final game of the group stages
16:45 , Ciara FearnEngland aim to stay unbeaten in Pool A as they face Australia in Brighton. Already through to the quarter-finals they’ll secure top spot with a win or draw.
Australia opened with a 73-0 win over Samoa before a 31-31 draw with the United States. Co-captain Emily Chancellor is eager to challenge the hosts, though England have won the last seven encounters, including a 42-7 victory in October 2023.
Alex Matthews to captain England on emotional day
16:35 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt is incredibly hard not to be delighted for Alex Matthews, one of rugby’s nicest, and quietest, people getting the chance to captain England on the World Cup stage. It will be an emotional day, no doubt, for the family with sister Fran - a former England international - over from Australia and dad Dave watching on after a sad diagnosis of terminal prostate cancer.
"I think my dad will be pretty emotional,” Matthews told the BBC this week.
"This will be my family's first World Cup game. My dad hasn't been too comfortable travelling far lately because he's been ill, but he's made it this weekend.
"He's excited and now wants to come to every game - he's definitely caught the fever.
"It means everything that he'll be there to see me lead out the team. It's something I never thought would happen, and not necessarily something I wanted to happen, but my dad always said I've had it in me. Him being at the game means everything, and having my mum there too.”
John Mitchell explains Red Roses captaincy call for key Australia clash
Meet Caitlyn Halse, Australia’s teen full-back phenom plotting England upset at Women’s Rugby World Cup
16:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleAustralia have plenty of back three talent of their own, led by 18-year-old full-back phenom Caitlyn Halse. Earlier this week, I went to meet the budding teenage superstar:
Meet Caitlyn Halse, Australia’s teen phenom out to shock England at Women’s World Cup
Unbeaten Jess Breach reveals England's 'hunter' mindset
16:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleJess Breach wins her 50th cap today with the added distinction of never having lost in an England shirt. Having crossed the 50-try mark last week, the flying wing gave a revealing insight into England’s mindset this week with the Red Roses intent on showing they are predator, not prey.
Unbeaten Jess Breach reveals England’s ‘hunter’ mindset ahead of 50th cap
Team news - Australia
16:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleAustralia welcome back Siokapesi Palu, who captains the side from No 8 with last week’s co-captain Emily Chancellor only on the bench. Jo Yapp also freshens up the front row with Adiana Talakai stationed at hooker and Lydia Kavoa and Asoiva Karpani promoted from the replacements on either side. Ashley Marsters and Trilleen Pomare also step up from the bench on the openside and at inside centre respectively.
Australia XV: 1 Lydia Kavoa, 2 Adiana Talakai, 3 Asoiva Karpani; 4 Kaitlan Leaney, 5 Michaela Leonard; 6 Piper Duck, 7 Ashley Marsters, 8 Siokapesi Palu (capt.); 9 Samantha Wood, 10 Faitala Moleka; 11 Desiree Miller, 12 Trilleen Pomare, 13 Georgina Friedrichs, 14 Maya Stewart; 15 Caitlyn Halse.
Replacements: 16 Tania Naden, 17 Faliki Pohiva, 18 Bridie O’Gorman, 19 Annabelle Codey, 20 Emily Chancellor; 21 Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 22 Tia Hinds, 23 Cecilia Smith.
Pesi makes her return 😤
— Wallaroos (@WallaroosRugby) September 4, 2025
Your 23 to face England 🦘#Wallaroos #RWC2025 pic.twitter.com/Wpg76i8LeG
Team news - England
16:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleEngland remain without captain Zoe Aldcroft, who is being managed carefully after suffering a knee injury in their opening win over the USA. John Mitchell again rotates heavily, bringing back most of those who started the opener against the USA. Alex Matthews skippers the side from No 8 while Morwenna Talling shifts to the back row in Aldcroft’s absence, with Jess Breach winning her 50th cap on the wing. Playmaker Holly Aitchison is set for her first appearance of the tournament off the bench.
England XV: 1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir; 4 Rosie Galligan, 5 Abbie Ward; 6 Morwenna Talling, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Alex Matthews (capt..); 9 Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt, 10 Zoe Harrison; 11 Jess Breach, 12 Tatyana Heard, 13 Meg Jones, 14 Abby Dow; 15 Ellie Kildunne.
Replacements: 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Lilli Ives Campion, 20 Maddie Feaunati; 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland.
Let’s go, #RedRoses 💥
— Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) September 4, 2025
John Mitchell has named his team to face Australia this Saturday at 17:00 BST 👇#RWC2025 | #WearTheRose
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 fixtures: Full schedule, results and kick-off times
15:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleNeed a reminder of every World Cup result so far and the schedule to come at the tournament? We’ve got you covered.
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 fixtures: Full schedule, results and kick-off times
What Australia have to do
15:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleSo with the United States beating Samoa 60-0, Australia can afford a 75-point margin of defeat today - though Jo Yapp and her side were clear this week that their first focus was on victory, and then they will shirt to the wider permutations.
Ruthless Red Roses ready to send World Cup message as Australia consider pool permutations
15:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleFly half Zoe Harrison has warned Australia that England will show a ruthless edge when the pair collide in their final Women’s Rugby World Cup pool game in Brighton this weekend.
The Red Roses are already assured of their place in the quarter-finals after back-to-back big wins over the United States and Samoa, while Australia’s Wallaroos need only a bonus point or better to join England in the last eight.
Australia’s position would have been stronger had they managed to secure victory over the USA, but the game in York last weekend ended in a dramatic 31-all draw, which could mean that the second qualifier from Pool A is determined by points difference.
Jo Yapp’s side will be assured of progress if they score four tries, and though they insisted on Tuesday that their approach will not change in pursuit of that goal, the nature of England’s dominance means that victory may quickly be out of reach.
But with England on the cusp of matching their record winning run of 30 matches, Harrison is clear that they intend to send a message with another professional performance in the third round of pool fixtures.
Red Roses ready to send World Cup message as Australia consider pool permutations
Samoa dance on the pitch with England after Women's Rugby World Cup defeat
15:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleThis, meanwhile, was a truly lovely moment post-match as the England and Samoa players came together to celebrate the encounter.
Last time out...
15:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleWe’ll begin the build-up to today’s encounter in a moment, but first a look back on last week. For England, it was the anticipated big win against Samoa, with John Mitchell’s rotation failing to inhibit the Red Roses scoring potential - but the three points scored by the Pacific Islanders were perhaps just as important as the 92 delivered by the hosts.
England run in 14 tries in record-breaking 92-3 Rugby World Cup rout of Samoa
Alex Matthews to captain England against Australia as Jess Breach wins 50th cap in Women’s World Cup
15:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleNo 8 Alex Matthews will captain England in their final Women’s Rugby World Cup pool game against Australia as John Mitchell again rotates his Red Roses side.
Head coach Mitchell brings back most of those who started the World Cup opener against the United States as England seek to secure top spot in Pool A and match their own record winning run.
2014 World Cup winner Matthews leads the side in the absence of Gloucester-Hartpury teammate Zoe Aldcroft, who is continuing to recover from a knee problem, with Morwenna Talling shifting to the blindside having started the opening game at lock and Rosie Galligan brought in to the second row in the lone change to the starting team against the USA.
Alex Matthews to captain England against Australia as Jess Breach wins 50th cap
England vs Australia live
06:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleGood afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of England’s final Women’s Rugby World Cup pool clash with Australia. The Red Roses’ own record winning run is within reach for John Mitchell’s side, who take on the Wallaroos seeking a 30th straight success.
Kick off in Brighton is at 5pm BST.
