{
  "id": 19082258,
  "title": "Itoje 'over the moon' after England dominate Australia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/itoje-over-the-moon-after-england-dominate-australia",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-09T03:29:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2026/11/1573796/itoje-over-moon-after-england-dominate-australia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "England captain Maro Itoje expressed his delight after his team's commanding 45-22 victory over Australia in their opening match of the November Nations Championship at Twickenham on Sunday. The game marked a significant improvement for England, as they surpassed their previous highest score of 44 points against Australia in a 44-40 win in Sydney in 2016.\n\nItoje's team achieved the feat through seven tries, with Henry Pollock scoring two after replacing the injured wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso at half-time. The final tally was the most points England had managed in a Test against Australia, highlighting a significant upgrade from their previous struggles in the sport.\n\nThis victory provided much-needed relief to England coach Steve Borthwick, who had been under pressure following his side's five losses in their last eight tests in 2026. Itoje also addressed concerns about the team's environment, dismissing reports of a 'toxic' atmosphere fueled by Borthwick's management style. He emphasized the need to set a benchmark against the Wallabies ahead of the projected quarter-final at the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Australia.\n\nEngland's dominance was evident throughout the match, with Jamie George, Ollie Chessum, Joe Heyes, and Jack van Poortvliet also scoring tries. Itoje praised his team's progress and talent, stating that they were starting to utilize their abilities effectively. However, he acknowledged that the team still had work to do to reach their full potential.\n\nIn contrast, Australia struggled to gain momentum in the game, managing only one try in the opening period. The Wallabies' captain, Harry Wilson, attributed their poor performance to their inability to establish themselves early in the match. Australia's defense was also criticized for being too passive, allowing England to control the game and limit their scoring opportunities.",
  "summary": "LONDON: England captain Maro Itoje said he was “over the moon” after his side opened their November Nations Championship campaign with a record 45-22 win over Australia at Twickenham on Sunday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Pollock double as England outclass Australia with record win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/pollock-double-as-england-outclass-australia-with-record-win",
        "published": "2026-11-08T17:11:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Pollock strikes as England hammer Australia to ease pressure on Borthwick",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/pollock-strikes-as-england-hammer-australia-to-ease-pressure-on",
        "published": "2026-11-08T18:05:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Pollock pulse check taunts Australia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/pollock-pulse-check-taunts-australia",
        "published": "2026-11-08T20:06:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Pollock pulse check taunts Australia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/pollock-pulse-check-taunts-australia-19012296",
        "published": "2026-11-08T20:06:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}