England v Australia: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – live

We are often told to keep things in perspective, in particular that things are never quite as bad as they feel. There’s been a lot of that recently for people with their attention focused on US politics, the relaunch of the Ford Capri, or the men’s Australia rugby union team.

Wins this year have been scarce and against the likes of Georgia, Portugal and the much troubled Wales, while the defeats have been plentiful and often humiliating; including shipping 67 points vs Argentina in the Rugby Championship and coupled with dwindling crowds. No surprise the vibe around the squad and the sport is poor as they commence this tour and look forward to welcoming the British & Irish Lions next summer. Is it all as bad as it feels?

Perhaps not. They have Joe Schmidt, and while the results have been rubbish for a while they do at least look like they have a plan of how he wants them to play. A plan that may function eventually rather than some diabolical, ego driven dystopian nightmare that stains us all like the one Eddie Jones clearly had. The selection of league convert Joseph Sua’ali’i to start a test match at outside centre in his first union match since schooldays speaks to the current Australian state, but Schmidt is not usually a starry eyed bloke, so you have to be believe this forms part of the the longer term improvement. It would be some statement if Schmidt could start to really make his mark in this match.

History does not favour the Kiwi-born coach, with a solitary Wallaby win in the previous eleven meetings and while England have had nothing more than a fair to middling 2024 at best, they are showing enough form to put this particular Aussie offering away.

One of these sides will be heavily trying to keep things in perspective come the final whistle, we’ll know which in a few hours.