England 26-17 Australia: Ben Morgan's brace, a dominant scrum and George Ford's precise boot ensure Stuart Lancaster's men finish international year on a high with win over Wallabies

• England finish international year with a win over Australia - their second of the November series
• Ben Morgan scores opening try for England after 29 minutes with powerful charge through centre of 22
• Bernard Foley breaks from midway through England's half to go over whitewash for Australia after 45 minutes
• Morgan gets his second and England's second try after 57 minutes with an extremely strong scrum 
• Will Skelton scores Australia's second try as they try to force their way back into the match at Twickenham 
• George Ford contributed 16 points with the boot as England's scrum dominated on Saturday 

By Chris Foy For Mailonline

Published: 11:24 EST, 29 November 2014 | Updated: 17:36 EST, 29 November 2014

Salvation. England restored some pride at the end of a difficult autumn campaign by pounding their way to a victory founded on forward power at Twickenham.

How Stuart Lancaster and his squad needed this. The relief was clear at the end as the head coach and his assistants punched the air and shook hands up in the stand, while the shattered home players savoured a hard-grafting result which was a testament to sheer guts, spirit and belligerence.

England simply would not let their QBE series end with a third loss against the SANZAR nations. Their will and character won the day, despite a lack of conviction in certain areas of their game. They were by no means a fluent attacking force but such was their command up front, it didn’t matter.

VIDEO Scroll down for Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: England 26-17 Australia 

Ben Morgan gives out a scream of joy after barrelling over the line to score England's first try of the match at Twickenham

England players celebrate Morgan's second try at Twickenham during the November international on Saturday

The number eight breaks an attempted Australian tackle to surge towards the line before the first of his tries

Morgan screams his joy after scoring England's opening try at Twickenham on Saturday against Australia

In keeping with some memorable moments from recent history, this English success against the Wallabies was built on scrum supremacy. Props David Wilson and Joe Marler led a demolition of the visitors at the set piece and when they went off, their replacements maintained the onslaught.

Yet, the hosts had more than one trump card. Their ball-carrying was more convincing than in recent weeks and Ben Morgan - who scored both home tries - was at the forefront, aided and abetted by the likes of Courtney Lawes and Marler. Another key factor was the breakdown work of captain Chris Robshaw. He has been criticised for being out-played by openside rivals at the ruck, but he was imperious on Saturday.

The home defence was opened up repeatedly by Australian runners, but there were heroes in the rear-guard action too. Brad Barritt tackled himself to a standstill before hobbling off.

Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: England 26-17 Australia

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Bernard Foley of Australia crosses the try line to score the Wallabies' first try at Twickenham on Saturday

England players jump for joy as their scrum crashes over the line to allow Morgan to score his second try

Will Skelton of Australia stretches for the line as he scores the Wallabies' second try at Twickenham on Saturday

George Ford kicks a penalty against Australia at Twickenham during the November international on Saturday

Brad Barritt (right) was brilliant and was bloodied and led off the Twickenham pitch by physio Phil Pask (left)

England's scrum was dominant and Australia simply did not know how to deal with it on Saturday

A cricket bat and cap are placed beside the Twickenham pitch in memory of Phillip Hughes, who died on Thursday

England were leading 13-3 when Australia roared back as Bernard Foley (above) scored a brilliantly-worked try, combining with Rob Horne to run right through the heart of the home defence (below). But Ben Morgan’s second try of the match (right) kept England out of reach

This result does not fully heal English wounds. They would have wanted more than a 2-2 return from this campaign, but winning the last match at least means they can head into the Six Nations countdown in the New Year with renewed belief. As for World Cup pointers, this match may not have major relevance when the same teams meet in 10 months’ time, but at least Lancaster’s men know that they will have re-awakened some ghosts in the minds of Australian forwards.

England had gone into the game emphasising their willingness to lean heavily on the traditional national virtue of forward power and they made an immediate statement of intent in that regard. Having received the kick-off, the home pack rumbled forward convincingly with a rolling maul and the Wallabies were unable to withstand the driving force.

Michael Cheika’s side took the lead with a Bernard Foley penalty in the fourth minute, but after Billy Twelvetrees and Brad Barritt combined well on the right, England replied with a penalty of their own by George Ford. The Bath fly-half had another shot at goal soon afterwards and he was on target again to give his side the narrow advantage.

Australia began to demonstrate flashes of their renowned running game from deep, with fluent inter-play between the backs causing mayhem in the home defence. Henry Speight nearly cut loose on the right and the ball was then shipped to the other flank, only for Adam Ashley-Cooper to hold on when he had support outside and Courtney Lawes tracked across to make a telling cover tackle.

The gold standard remained high as the Wallabies continued to threaten at pace. Nick Phipps and Foley linked up to again release Speight but Mike Brown repelled the danger from that raid. Cheika’s men kept swarming forward, only for England captain Robshaw to deliver a crucial breakdown intervention - winning turn-over ball under his own posts to end the siege.

Having been firmly under the cosh, the home side suddenly turned the tables on their rivals. English power was in full effect in the scrum and from another set-piece onslaught, Lancaster’s team struck. Barritt carried strongly to create momentum before Ben Youngs and Tom Wood sent Ben Morgan rampaging over the line for a try. Ford converted to extend the lead to 10 points.

Five minutes before the interval, England could have had another try when Youngs’ clever kick into space on the right was chased by Anthony Watson and Brown, but Watson knocked on under pressure from Israel Folau. There was still time for the hosts to create another scoring chance, but a long-range penalty by Ford flew inches wide of the posts.

Ben Morgan goes towards the line as he scores the opening try of the match for England on Saturday

Australia's Bernard Foley rushes away towards the try line as he scores the Wallabies' opening try

Bernard Foley sticks his tongue out as he grounds the ball for Australia's opening try

England players celebrate as the Australians surround the referee following Morgan's second try on Saturday

Skelton of Australia just manages for place the ball down as he is tackled by England players in front of the line

Worryingly for England, their fly-half also missed with his next shot, from wide on the left, soon after half-time and it wasn’t long before Australia roared back into close contention. Folau ignited a counter-attack when he carved clear in midfield and England were forced to scramble back.

Michael Hooper maintained the charge into enemy territory and from a ruck, Foley exchanged passes with the impressive Rob Horne and raced clear to score unopposed at the posts. The Wallabies No 10 duly converted his own try to reduce the deficit to just three points, only to be immediately replaced by Quade Cooper.

The visitors’ replacement playmaker was soon heavily involved in a try, but not in the manner he would have wished. In the 56th minute, England made good progress with a rolling maul and Brown’s low kick to the corner was fielded by Cooper who was forced into touch behind his own line.

From the resulting scrum, the home pack again routed their rivals and having earned a penalty advantage, they didn’t need it as Morgan picked up and drove over for his second try. Ford converted from a tight angle and the Sweet Chariot was back on track. 

Not for long. Just when they needed a period of steady consolidation, England were carved open again. Australia came straight back at them and Matt Toomua passed to Ashley-Cooper in space. The Wallaby No 13 held on when he had Horne on the overlap outside, but it didn’t matter. From the ruck, Nic White sent Will Skelton crashing over to score. Cooper added the conversion and once again, there was just three points in it.

Another Ford penalty soon doubled England’s lead but they were making hard work of closing the game out. Sure enough, in the 73rd minute Australia should have had another try. A sustained attack saw them create an overlap on the left, but Folau threw a wild pass in front of Horne and into touch.

The let-off was gratefully received by England and they made it count. First, the Red Rose pack won yet another scrum penalty to clear pressure in their own half, then a monumental rolling maul took them deep into Wallaby territory and led to a penalty which Ford kicked to extend the gap to nine points.

That was how it stayed. It wasn't pretty, but it was enough - this time.

Sam Burgess and girlfriend Phoebe Hooke attend the international just a day after the former rugby league star made his Bath debut

The pair share a kiss before the international between England and Australia begins at Twickenham

Sam Carter of Australia wins the lineout under pressure from England's Courtney Lawes at Twickenham on Saturday

A bloodied Brad Barritt (right) of England tries to bring down Quade Cooper of Australia during the match

Australian captain Michael Hooper tries to steady himself after being trip-tackled by an England player

Israel Folau (left) of Australia attempts to evade the tackle of England's George Ford at Twickenham on Saturday

A tribute is paid to Phillip Hughes on the big screen at Twickenham after the cricketer died on Thursday

Bats are laid with '63 not out' written on - the score which Phillip Hughes was on when he was struck in the neck by a cricket ball

Quade Cooper (right) tries to offload the ball to Israel Folau (left) as he is tackled by England players

Former England fly half Jonny Wilkinson smiles as he performs punditry at Twickenham on Saturday

England head coach Stuart Lancaster looks on during the international at Twickenham on Saturday

Twickenham readies itself for the match before England against Australia kicks off on Saturday

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