11/08/2026 11:18:00
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11/08 11:16 CST Pollock stars with 2 tries as a winger as England beats
Australia in Nations Championship rugby
Pollock stars with 2 tries as a winger as England beats Australia in Nations
Championship rugby
LONDON (AP) --- Henry Pollock came on at halftime and scored two tries in as
many minutes as a makeshift winger to lead England to a 45-22 win over
Australia in Nations Championship rugby on Sunday.
The most talked-about player in English rugby grabbed the headlines again with
a second-half performance that highlighted both his versatility and
explosiveness, while also wrapping up a significant victory for England coach
Steve Borthwick following pre-match reports of player unrest and rifts in the
squad.
England, which sealed a third win in four games of the inaugural global
tournament, had seven tries in total at Twickenham on the way to scoring more
points than ever before against Australia. The first was scored by hooker Jamie
George, who became the most prolific try-scoring England forward in test
history with 18.
Ollie Chessum and Joe Heyes, two more members of England's pack, also went over
in the first half before Max Jorgensen's interception try from inside his own
half gave Australia hope at halftime at 19-10.
After England scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet --- to blame for Jorgensen's score
because of an errant pass --- made amends with his own try, it turned into the
Pollock show.
The back-row forward with a distinguishable headband and shock of blond hair
came on as an emergency winger following an injury to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and
made an instant impact with a left-wing surge that set up Van Poortvliet's try.
He then crossed himself in the 55th after collecting a mispass to the right
wing and cutting through Australia's defensive line to score.
Pollock went over again in the 57th and was soon thrilling the Twickenham crowd
by kicking the ball through an opponent's legs as he made another break down
the wing.
Ben Spencer wrapped up England's try haul in the 76th, after Filipo Daugunu and
Jeremy Williams added their own for the Australians.
England has more tests against Japan and New Zealand at Twickenham over the
next two weekends, before the playoff finals at the same stadium from Nov.
27-29. Borthwick's team beat Argentina and Fiji in July, while also losing to
South Africa.
Australia plays Scotland and Wales next.
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See AP's full rugby coverage here
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