Information checked: November 8, 2026, 11:14 a.m. UTC (11:14 a.m. GMT, UTC+00:00 in London).
England host Australia at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, London, on Sunday, November 8, for the fourth round of the 2026 Nations Championship. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. London time (GMT, UTC+00:00), or 15:10 UTC. Both starting lineups have been announced, with Maro Itoje captaining England and Harry Wilson leading the Wallabies. At the time of this check, the competition's official fixture page still lists the match as upcoming, so there is no verified final score to report.
The fixture matters for more than a familiar northern-versus-southern-hemisphere rivalry. Points earned in London count toward separate hemisphere standings, which determine each team's opponent at the Nations Championship Finals Weekend on November 27–29. England and Australia therefore have a chance to strengthen their positions before the final two rounds of pool play.
England vs. Australia is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, London, formerly known as Twickenham Stadium. The Rugby Football Union's event information and the Nations Championship's official schedule both give a 3:10 p.m. kickoff. The United Kingdom ended daylight saving time on October 25, meaning London is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+00:00) for this match. Consequently, the local kickoff and UTC timestamp are both 15:10 on November 8.
Australian viewers should note the change of calendar date: Rugby Australia lists the match at 2:10 a.m. on Monday, November 9, in Sydney and Melbourne (AEDT, UTC+11:00). This is the same instant as the London kickoff, not an additional fixture. The host federation lists stadium gates opening at 11:40 a.m. GMT for spectators attending in person.
Steve Borthwick has selected Fin Smith to wear No. 10 after he recovered sufficiently from a calf issue to complete final training. George Furbank returns at fullback, while Maro Itoje resumes captaincy in the second row. The team announced before kickoff is:
England starting XV, by jersey number: 1. Fin Baxter; 2. Jamie George; 3. Joe Heyes; 4. Maro Itoje (captain); 5. Alex Coles; 6. Ollie Chessum; 7. Ben Curry; 8. Ben Earl; 9. Jack van Poortvliet; 10. Fin Smith; 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; 12. Seb Atkinson; 13. Henry Slade; 14. Tommy Freeman; 15. George Furbank.
England replacements: 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie; 17. Ellis Genge; 18. Will Stuart; 19. George Martin; 20. Greg Fisilau; 21. Henry Pollock; 22. Ben Spencer; 23. Marcus Smith.
England's selection combines experienced forwards with different options for changing tempo late in the match. Baxter is preferred in the starting front row, with Genge available as a replacement. Fin Smith's distribution and territorial kicking could shape how England use Slade and their outside backs, although those are tactical possibilities rather than confirmed match developments.
Wallabies coach Les Kiss has named Harry Wilson as captain at No. 8. Fraser McReight is scheduled to earn his 50th Test cap, while Len Ikitau returns in midfield. Ryan Lonergan and Declan Meredith form the starting halfback pairing, and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright make up the back three.
Australia starting XV, by jersey number: 1. Angus Bell; 2. Billy Pollard; 3. Allan Alaalatoa; 4. Josh Canham; 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto; 6. Jeremy Williams; 7. Fraser McReight; 8. Harry Wilson (captain); 9. Ryan Lonergan; 10. Declan Meredith; 11. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii; 12. Len Ikitau; 13. Isaac Henry; 14. Max Jorgensen; 15. Tom Wright.
Australia replacements: 16. Josh Nasser; 17. Isaac Kailea; 18. Taniela Tupou; 19. Rob Valetini; 20. Carlo Tizzano; 21. Tate McDermott; 22. Ben Donaldson; 23. Filipo Daugunu.
The Wallabies' bench offers experienced ball carriers and fresh back-row options, including Valetini and Tupou. Australia may look to challenge England at the breakdown through McReight and Wilson and create space for Wright and the wings, but no successful strategy or in-game performance can be confirmed before kickoff.
The new tournament brings together six northern-hemisphere and six southern-hemisphere nations. Each side plays six cross-hemisphere matches across the July and November windows, gaining points toward its own hemisphere table. Official competition rules award four points for a win, two for a draw, and potential bonus points for scoring four tries or losing by seven points or fewer.
At the end of July's third round, the official standings showed England in third place in the Northern Hemisphere with 10 points from three matches and Australia third in the Southern Hemisphere with eight points. These are the round-three baseline figures, not a claim that the tables remained unchanged after other round-four fixtures on November 6–7.
A win in London would add at least four competition points for the winner, while bonus points could narrow or extend gaps to nearby teams. The precise ranking impact will depend on England–Australia's score, any bonus points, and results elsewhere. Final standings cannot be calculated from the teams' announced selections alone.
One major contest is the breakdown battle. England can call on Ben Curry, Ollie Chessum and Ben Earl to pressure possession, while Australia features McReight and Wilson in a mobile back row. The kicking exchanges between Fin Smith and Meredith, plus the work of the back-three players under high balls, could also be significant if either team prioritizes territory.
Both benches offer ways to change the rhythm of play. England have Marcus Smith and Ben Spencer as backline replacements, while Australia can introduce Tate McDermott and Ben Donaldson. Whether those moves become decisive will be known only once the match is underway; the team sheets do not establish who will come on or at what time.
According to the official Nations Championship schedule, England next host Japan on Saturday, November 14, at 4:40 p.m. GMT (16:40 UTC), then New Zealand on Saturday, November 21, at 2:10 p.m. GMT (14:10 UTC). Australia travel to Scotland on Sunday, November 15, for a 3:10 p.m. GMT (15:10 UTC) kickoff, before facing Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, November 21, at 8:10 p.m. GMT (20:10 UTC).
The six-round tables decide the pairings for Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium on November 27–29. Teams ranked first in their respective hemispheres meet in the Grand Final, second plays second, and so on. A result in this round can materially affect those pairings, but it does not by itself decide the final matchups.
For verified live developments and the eventual result, use the official Nations Championship fixture and results pages. Confirmed team information is also available through Rugby Australia's England lineup report and Super Rugby's Wallabies team announcement. The RFU's matchday information provides arrival and stadium details.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. in London on Sunday, November 8, 2026 (GMT, UTC+00:00), which is 15:10 UTC and 2:10 a.m. AEDT on Monday, November 9, in Sydney and Melbourne.
Maro Itoje captains England and Harry Wilson captains Australia, according to the announced starting lineups.
At the November 8, 2026, 11:14 UTC verification point, the game had not yet kicked off and no final score was available. Refer to the official Nations Championship results page after the match for the confirmed score.
England vs. Australia on November 8, 2026: confirmed starting XVs, 15:10 UTC kickoff at Allianz Stadium, key matchups and Nations Championship standings stakes.
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New Zealand beat Scotland 43–21 at Murrayfield on Nov. 7, 2026. See the verified final score, Ashman hat trick, lineups and Nations Championship standings.
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England vs. Australia on Nov. 8, 2026: verified starting XVs and benches, 3:10 p.m. GMT kickoff, captaincy, referee and latest team news.
Spain beat Uruguay 18–12 on Nov. 7, 2026, in Madrid. See Gauthier Minguillon’s winning try, full scoring summary, confirmed lineups and next fixtures.
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