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Ryan Hall HAD TO MAKE IT. Cooper Cronk fizzed a sizzler of a kick out to his left wing and the England winger leapt like the proverbial salmon to clutch it out of the air and to safety.

More last tackle play woes for England as Australia roll forward once again.

Let's get to the sheds unscathed...

Major blow for England - back-rower Sam Burgess is off at the moment to have that knee looked at.

Baited breath and fingernails chewed about his future... meanwhile England cough up the ball in a decent position again and there's an exhale of frustration from those in red and white.

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Ouch!published at 35 mins

35 mins

Australia 10-4 England

England make headway into the Australia half, getting to tackle six but the final play is poor.

More importantly there's a huge concern about the right knee of Sam Burgess. The talismanic back-rower has been England's best player but he doesn't look comfortable.

England get head and feed 10 away.

James Roby enters the fray for England, his go-forward from acting half will be massive. If the forwards can give him a platform.

I'm reliably informed James Graham has Union Jack underwear on as well. Patriotic to the core.

Six and a bit to the break.

Brian Noble
Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC Two

The penalty gave Australia the field position and Billy Slater collected Matt Gillett's pass. He was too quick.

Australia look slick, efficient and speedy on the outside. Apart from scoring, England have spent pretty much the whole half in their own defence.

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Ian Millward
Former St Helens coach on BBC Two

John Bateman had to go forward towards Billy Slater there. He was stuck on his own line.

It is just all about possession - and you feel confident that when it gets into the right player's hands - Cronk, Slater - that they are going to execute well.

Every kick from Australia's pivots is like a dagger through the heart. England are desperate for field position, they are starting each set pinned to their goalline, under the sticks.

Their last tackle kicks are coming just around half-way. That pattern needs to change, as it's merely glugging out the energy.

Ian Millward
Former St Helens coach on BBC Two

England start every set coming off their own line, Australia start every set 40 metres off their line. It is a massive difference and Australia are definitely winning that battle.

Big period for England now. Australia have the try to back up their dominance and that will settle them.

England have rolled on some interchanges to freshen things up, as have the Aussies. No let up in that middle part of the field.

Bruising.

Ian Millward
Former St Helens coach on BBC Two

England have got to make sure they are good around their edges, the edge of their defensive areas.

Australia's Cooper Cronk just said 'we need to complete our next five sets' - they want to get in a rhythm. Both teams needs to do that.

Brian Noble
Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC Two

That was fatigue for England, too much defence and too much to do. Matt Gillett was too fast and too strong. He sprung off his right foot and stepped on the gas to go over.

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Australia might be down on the board but they are the dominant force at the moment. They have drained England defensively, and are smart enough just to turn them round in the backfield with booming kicks downfield.

The Kangaroos are picking the ball up after England's sets 20 metres out and marching the same again up field.

Time for an interchange Wayne?

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Brian Noble
Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC Two

Good D England, good D. Great defence. They have dug in there.

Ian Millward
Former St Helens coach on BBC Two

The big thing for England is when they work together as a line - they are solving their problems very well when they are doing that,

Australia knock-on in sight of the white stripe! Somehow England do enough to force the error with the line beckoning.

Meanwhile, Roos prop David Klemmer is some sort of cyborg, I'm sure of it. He's like a shaven headed Terminator.

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Brian Noble
Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC Two

The disappointing thing for England is that they have not finished their sets. The ball has gone to ground or gone to Australia. They need a little more method in their play.

Luke Gale sent up his first tester off the boot, but Dane Gagai was equal to it.

Scored on his Queensland debut, he will be one to be wary off here tonight.

Jonny Lomax at the other end for England pouches his first bomb of the night. Cool under pressure.

Sam Burgess by the way, is playing like a man possessed. Just as you sense England have a foothold, Sean O'Loughlin uncharacteristically lobs the ball into touch and Australia get the scrum head and feed.

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Huge tackle on Aaron Woods who is within a metre, then Michael Morgan teases another deft kick in behind and AGAIN Jermaine McGillvary is there to mop up.

Australia throwing such a bewildering array of running lines, of angles, of variations at England and that is why they're such a threat.

Then England win the ball back off the drop out and McGillvary shows another facet of his game - ball carrying. They're on the front-foot.