Summary

  • England finish top of Pool A and will face Scotland in the quarter-finals next weekend

  • Red Roses score four tries in second half to seal record-equalling 30th successive Test win

  • Tournament favourites England trailed Australia until 32nd minute after error-strewn start

  • Australia go through as runners-up at expense of United States and will play Canada

Live Reporting

Joe Rindl

  1. England 26-7 Australia

    Brighton has gone a little bit quiet for the first time today, Australia have the ball in midfield.

  2. England 26-7 Australia

    Ellie Kildunne limps off to a very warm reception. One to keep a note of.

  3. England 26-7 Australia

    England's Ellie Kildunne is the latest to get some treatment after a wallop to the back of her head. Time stops.

    receiving treatmentGetty Images

  4. England 26-7 Australia

    Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC Two

    That is really smart play by Hunt, she is hassling and she is hustling.

  5. try

    Try - England 26-7 Australia

    Sadia Kabeya con Zoe Harrison

    Huge Australia error! An absolutely dreadful pass by the girls in Green and Gold and Natasha Hunt wins the ball back before feeding Sadia Kabeya who goes over in the corner.

    England have breathing room.

    Kabeya capitalises on 'dreadful' Australia mistake for fourth England try

  6. England 19-7 Australia

    England win a 50:22, listen to the noise!

    But then England rush the line-out and Australia nab it back.

  7. Mark, what took you so long?

  8. Just in time for the second half

    #bbcrugby, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Turning over to watch the England Rugby Union it’s more exciting than watching the England men’s football team.

    Mark, Manchester

  9. England 19-7 Australia

    Ooooh England get away with one. Zoe Harrison's clearing kick is charged down but the ball ricochets over the end of the try area before an Australia player can palm it down.

  10. Kick-off

    England 19-7 Australia

    And we're off again. Australia win themselves an early penalty.

    England team runningGetty Images

  11. HT: England 19-7 Australia

    The teams have come back out. Second half is moments away.

    England closing in on a record-equalling 30th successive win and a quarter-final against Scotland as Pool A winners.

    England fans wear shirts with individual letters to spell out 'England'Getty Images

  12. HT: England 19-7 Australia

    Katy Daley-Mclean
    England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC Two

    England will be really disappointed with that opening 20-minutes and then they did what England do well.

    I can't see England putting 80-points in this Australia side, so if you are and Aussie fan you are probably looking at a quarter final.

  13. WATCH: England take the lead with try from Ward

    England take the lead with try from Ward

  14. HT: England 19-7 Australia

    Ruby Tui
    New Zealand World Cup winner on BBC Two

    What I liked with England is that they were always composed. John Mitchell was constantly talking and Meg Jones was constantly relaying that to the girls.

  15. Plenty to chew on

    HT: England 19-7 Australia

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium

    There is an animated discussion between captain Alex Matthews and half-back pair Natasha Hunt and Zoe Harrison as England head for the sheds. Plenty to chew on for the trio because the Red Roses were pretty shabby in that first half.

    Australia twice threaded 50:22 through England's backfield defence and three times the Red Roses line-out went wonky.

    There were plenty of clumsy hands and crossed wires as well.

  16. FT: England 19-7 Australia

    A whopping 109 tackles made by England to 40 by Australia!

    England have scored three tries from five visits to the 22, Australia have managed one from five

    England vs Australia stats

  17. Half-time

    England 19-7 Australia

    Australia get the ball back and they've had enough, choosing to hoof it out of play.

  18. England 19-7 Australia

    Brian Moore
    Former England hooker on BBC Two

    I think Australia are wilting slightly in the latter moments of this half. England are not playing as they should but they are just managing to get that ball over.

  19. England 19-7 Australia

    England have all the momentum now. Ellie Kildunne reminds us why she's one of the world's best by sweeping up an Australian ball over the top and then making a marauding dangerous run of her own.

  20. try

    Try - England 19-7 Australia

    Sadia Kabeya con Zoe Harrison

    England have arrived! The penalty becomes a line-out which becomes a maul which becomes a try.

    It's Sadia Kabeya who calmly goes over and Zoe Harrison makes no mistake with her right boot.