England Rugby League World Cup Final Ends Australasia Dominance

England and Australia have a storied rugby rivalry, highlighted by the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final where Australia narrowly defeated England 6-0 in a fiercely contested match. The 2025 Wallabies vs. England Test match is marred by controversy surrounding World Rugby's Test windows, with Australia's team missing several key England Premiership-based players due to release rules, while England benefits from having their top players available. This situation has weakened Australia's lineup, forcing coach Joe Schmidt to rely on less experienced players like Darcy Swain and young fly-halves Tane Edmed and Carter Gordon. Adding to the Wallabies' challenges, captaincy has recently shifted to Nick Champion de Crespigny, who will lead the team despite having only two prior Tests. Meanwhile, England's women's cricket team has strengthened its position by bowling out New Zealand for 168 in the Women's ODI World Cup, securing their place in the semifinals. These developments illustrate contrasting fortunes and challenges for English and Australian rugby and cricket teams in 2025.