Or is it?

They're checking whether Meg Jones was offside.

Image source, Getty Images

Kat Merchant
2014 World Cup winner on BBC iPlayer

That is just heartbreaking for Australia because they managed to defend so hard.

It's just that charge down off that kick. It's great from England to be so reactive on it.

England pile on the pressure from the restart and get the ball back in Australia's half.

It's offloaded to Mia Venner, who breaks forward, but the move is halted by a big hit on Ellie Kildunne.

England earn a penalty and kick to the corner. Ominous.

Kat Merchant
2014 World Cup winner on BBC iPlayer

It's smart play there because even if they don't make that kick then England have to kick back.

Australia have been in England's half in these opening minutes - that has to be a win.

Australia are first on the board, scrum-half Samantha Wood nailing the kick.

Australia earn a penalty. It's in front of the posts but a good distance away in breezy conditions.

Samantha Wood backs herself to kick the three.

Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport journalist at CorpAcq Stadium

Still a few people finding their seats but it looks like it could be a full house.

CorpAcq Stadium holds 11,500.

A bright start from Australia ends in a knock-on in the middle of England's half.

This is reminiscent of last year's World Cup meeting, when Australia flew out of the blocks and opened the scoring in the sixth minute.

And we're up and running in Salford, the green and gold of Australia kicking to England, playing in dark blue.

Australia earn an early line-out after a hurried clearing kick from England.

Grins all round from the Australia players after their anthem - it is a bop. The England team gather in a huddle.

With play about to get underway, here's a reminder of the starting line-ups for both sides plus today's officials:

England XV: Kildunne; Venner, Jones (c), Heard, Moloney-MacDonald; Aitchison, Hunt; Carson, Campbell, Bern, Burns, Ives Campion, Burton, Kabeya, Feaunati

Australia XV: Halse; Whitaker, Friedrichs, Moleka, Miller; Ellis, Wood; Hoy, Merlo, Pohiva, Leaney, Leonard, Tapsell, Bone, Palu Sekona (c)

Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau

Assistants: Robbie Jenkinson and Alexandra Ferre

TMO: Aled Griffiths

Holly Aitchison, winning her 50th cap, leads England out to roars from the crowd - a good number have braved Salford's grey skies.

Time for the anthems, starting with Australia.

Image source, Reuters

England head coach John Mitchell speaking to BBC Sport about squad selection and injuries: “There’s still some girls finishing off pre-season, so we’re giving them another week – the likes of Alex Matthews and Jess Breach. Kelsey [Clifford] has a hamstring injury. We’re managing other small injuries like Amy Cokayne with her calf. It’s been a short preparation, so it’s important to be smart with when we introduce the girls.”

On Holly Aitchison and returning to the north-west: “It’s great for Holly [to earn a 50th cap]. She’s a world-class 10, a very good attacking footballer. She’s been really working hard on her game. She’s been challenged to get better and I like the way she’s taking it on. There’s a nice northern representation in the team mix, so it’s nice for the families and friends associated with those girls.”

On the smaller ball: “It’s too early. I’ve seen a lot of the ball being used in training and I don’t really see any difference. Players will have different feelings. It’s important to collect all that data. These matches will give us good feedback. I’m more in the adopt it [camp] and see what we get and use the evidence to decide on the future of it.”

On Australia: “It’s a year ago since we played them. They found some grass with their kicks from scrum attacks, they started well with the maul, they’ve got a couple of sevens players back in their back line. They play well – the challenge is whether they can sustain it for 80 minutes. They’ve selected three players with good kicking games, so that gives you some idea of how they’re going to try and play.”

BBC iPlayer

You can enjoy live coverage from Salford on BBC iPlayer or via the 'watch live' button at the top of this page.

Commentator Nick Heath is joined by former England internationals and 2014 World Cup winners Kat Merchant and Katy Daley-McLean.

Sara Orchard
BBC Sport rugby union reporter at CorpAcq Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Holly Aitchison has always impressed. It started from the moment she first pulled on an England shirt against the Black Ferns in a record victory back at Sandy Park in 2021.

But it's been her move to the north-west to join Sale that has really seen her blossom. Closer to friends and family (who are in attendance today), her game is a more calm and assured version of Aitchison.

Forever happy playing flat to the line with a fizzing pass and eye for a space. She offers a different style to Zoe Harrison and the two perfectly complement the riches at the Red Roses disposal.

Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport journalist at CorpAcq Stadium

Australia prop Brianna Hoy’s family are in Salford.

Her mum and dad are living near Sydney, while her sister now lives in Ireland.

Her sister, Ellena, actually met her boyfriend at this very stadium when Australia played Samoa here in the World Cup.

“An England win by 17 and we will be happy,” her dad said.

“Once Australia go full-time, which they’ve been talking about for two years, then we will stop losing talent to other sports like AFL and rugby league.

“There is no doubting the talent but we aren’t at England’s level just yet.”

Image source, Getty Images

England forward Abi Burton feels she has proved herself as a Red Rose after being a key part of this year’s Six Nations-winning campaign.

The 26-year-old, who only made one appearance in the 2025 World Cup, started four out of five matches in the Six Nations and showcased her versatility in playing at second row, blind-side flanker and number eight for an injury-ravaged England.

Burton, who will earn her 10th cap against Australia, told BBC Sport it was the “most rewarding campaign that that I’ve ever been a part of”.

“I felt so emotional because I was so proud of what we had done as a team, but also I felt like I’d finally proved how valuable I can be. I had a different role in the World Cup – my value was off the pitch. This one was me showing my value on the pitch," Burton said.

“I feel confident that I could cover anywhere. Wherever the team needs me, I’ll do it. If we had an injury and needed someone to go into the backs, it was me who would go in there.”

On the threat posed by Australia, Burton added: “We’ve seen in the World Cup, they threw everything at us in the first couple of minutes. It’s definitely going to be a challenge for us.”

Australia made a winning start to 2026, beating Fiji 33-15 in March, but arrive in Salford on a four-match losing streak.

Their most recent defeat was a 66-19 thumping at the hands of New Zealand on 22 August - their first match since April.

But this is also an Australia side in transition.

Their squad for Salford features two debutants - 20-year-old winger Amelia Whitaker and forward and Queensland captain Jemma Bemrose - and nine players aged 23 or under.

Incoming head coach Sione Fukofuka will link up with the ninth-ranked Wallaroos in 2027, with Tim Walsh and Mike Ruthven leading the team in the interim.

England head into the WXV Global Series unbeaten in a record 38 Tests - a run stretching back to the 2022 World Cup final.

The reigning world champions are also unbeaten in 51 Tests on home soil, with their last defeat coming against New Zealand in November 2016.

England lifted an eighth consecutive Women's Six Nations crown in the spring.

However, despite coming away with five wins from five, captain Meg Jones said they "had to go to the trenches" to defend their title with four players absent through pregnancy and the squad plagued by injuries.

Watch out for England's fast starts, with the Red Roses making a habit of blowing teams away early.

During the Six Nations, England scored 23 of their 42 tries in the first half, including five in the opening 10 minutes. France were the only side to prevent them from scoring in the first 20 minutes but still shipped four tries before the break.

England are unbeaten against Australia, boasting an 8-0 record, and have won the past four matches by a margin of at least 35 points.

Australia opened the scoring when the two sides met at last year's World Cup but England recovered from a slow start to complete a comfortable 47-7 win in Brighton.

Image source, BBC Sport