Image source, Getty Images

So, England remain unbeaten, defeating Australia 48-15 in their WXV Global Series opener.

The world champions were pushed hard by their visitors, trailing 10-5 at half-time, but recovered from an error-strewn opening 40 minutes to run in seven second-half tries.

Make sure you read Alastair Telfer's report from the CorpAcq Stadium here.

We'll be back next Saturday for England's meeting with Canada in Exeter.

See you then! Goodbye!

Results

• 12 Sept – England 48-15 Australia (Salford)

Upcoming fixtures

• 19 Sept – England v Canada (Exeter)
• 26 Sept – England v New Zealand (Twickenham)
• 16 Oct – Canada v England (Toronto)
• 23 Oct – Canada v England (Ottawa)
• 30 Oct – USA v England (Harrison, NJ)

• England are unbeaten in a record 39 matches, stretching back to the 2022 World Cup final.
• They are unbeaten in 52 matches on home soil, last tasting defeat in November 2016.

Australia captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona on taking the lead into half-time: "We were super stoked, unfortunately I don't think that score is a reflection of the game we produced. I know that we didn't finish the way we wanted to but we're going to take a lot of positives.

"That's the first time England have trailed since 2019, I believe, and so we'll take a lot of confidence. Against a world-class team like that we can actually give it, so for us it's about stringing it on for a full 80-minute game now"

Image source, Getty Images

England head coach John Mitchell: "I just thought that first half was very static, it was a lot of our own doing as well. We were very calm with our process at half-time to understand how we could get back control and make it faster and I think we demonstrated that really well in the second half."

On facing Canada next week: "It's awesome. We go into a series against Canada. They're great rivals, fantastic rugby team, well-coached, a different team to Australia. We only have a very short turnaround. With this being our first pre-season game, lots of players got rugby, so we'll be in a great place."

More from England's Abi Burton, speaking on BBC iPlayer about how much she's enjoying her rugby: "I'm absolutely loving it. I feel so emotional because I'm just a girl from Castleford who is playing rugby in the north for the first time ever in an England shirt.

"It's just so incredible. My family are here and I just come out every single time trying to be the best person and best version of myself, so maybe one day I'll finish one of those breaks but who knows."

Image source, Getty Images

England second row and player of the match Abi Burton, speaking on BBC iPlayer: "It was tough. they definitely made us work for it. The message at half-time was we know that we weren't at our best, so we knew we needed to come out and rip back into them and give it to them physically because they came out absolutely gunning. At the end that cohesiveness started to kick in.

"There's so much more to come from this team, just a few teething issues we needed to sort out.

"I think if you look at some of these teams that we're going to end up playing against, they have been playing consistent rugby since their Pac Four Series but for us we've had some time off. It's going to take us time to get back into it with a shorter pre-season but it's about adapting quickly and getting ready for our next Test match.

"It's a different group of players in some aspects but naturally the message has always been the same. We always strive to be the best version of ourselves, to be as cohesive as possible on and off the pitch. It's an ever-evolving Red Roses team."

Lucy Packer and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald added two more scores for the hosts in the final 15 minutes, either side of Eva Karpani's consolation try for Australia.

However, England were in relentless form in the second half, with May Campbell crashing over from a driving maul before Meg Jones - who had a try ruled out in the first half - caught a pinpoint kick from Holly Aitchison for their third.

A further three tries followed in a six-minute burst, with debutant Bryony Field, Mia Venner, and Sadia Kabeya putting England out of Australia's reach with 20 minutes to play.

Australia opened the scoring in Salford, Samantha Wood kicking an early penalty.

Although Abi Burton put the Red Roses in front in the 19th minute, Faliki Pohiva sent Australia into the break leading 10-5.

Nick Heath
Commentating on BBC iPlayer

It's a phenomenal winning record that England are on and they'll take that on against Canada in Exeter next week.

Kat Merchant
2014 World Cup winner on BBC iPlayer

England showed exactly why they are world number one and world champions with that comeback performance.

Australia kept England at bay for 40 minutes, leading the world champions 10-5 at half-time.

The Red Roses went into demolition mode after the break, with May Campbell, Meg Jones, Bryony Field, Mia Venner, Sadia Kabeya, Lucy Packer, and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald adding to Abi Burton's first-half score.

But it's a testament to Australia's defending that England were forced to turn to their destructive driving maul for at least three of those tries.

Georgina Friedrichs bursts down the right wing but her pass inside to Emily Chancellor is knocked on.

The whistle blows.

England win 48-15, extending their unbeaten run to 39 matches.

Image source, PA Media

Kat Merchant
2014 World Cup winner on BBC iPlayer

It's that step to then go around the outside that does it for Claudia Moloney-MacDonald. If she goes at full pace she gets taken out. It's world-class.

We're into the final minute. Australia want to leave Salford on a high note, pushing up towards England's 22.

No shove this time. England are happy to hold firm at the scrum before quickly shifting the ball to the left flank.

Australia debutant Jemma Bemrose is penalised for a knock-on.

England will have a scrum about 15 metres into Australia's half. Brace for a big shove from Botterman and co.

Katy Daley-McLean
England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC iPlayer

The front row have gone well for Australia. Smart line-out play again and it's a good finish from Eva Karpani.