Match Centre

Game over. Australia win the opening World Cup clash 18-4 after a late converted try and penalty goal put a fourteen-point margin on the English. Join us tomorrow for three massive games - PNG host Wales, Kiwis host Samoa and it wraps in Townsville when Fiji face the USA.

Australia 18-4

England trying everything but it's hard to see them cracking two tries in the small amount of time remaining. They throw it around... kick it across field and DUGAN HAS IT AND HE'S AWAY!

Australia 12-4

England push to the left but Australia's right side defence pushes Ryan Hall into touch in-goal!

Australia 10-4

England force a drop-out with a well-placed grubber trapping Billy Slater.

Australia 10-4

NO TRY is the ruling, England 20m restart. Morgan last to touch before it went dead.

Australia 10-4

Off to video referee Ben Thaler, checking no try for Michael Morgan. Likely to be a drop-out England.

Australia 10-4

England throw it around a bit on the last, but Hodgson's last-tackle grubber goes to Morgan and Australia are out of trouble for now.

Australia 10-4

Roby goes over but he's held up - Billy Slater there to stop the try. England play on.

Australia 10-4

Australia's latest foray finishes with a grubber from dummy-half and it goes dead. England 20m restart.

Australia 10-4

England holding on here. An error gives the Aussies a scrum 20m out though, could this seal the game?

Australia 10-4

Confirmation no return for Sam Burgess. Likely an MCL injury, possible risk to ACL. Scans to determine extent.

Australia 10-4

Great set from England ends with a line drop-out forced, Gagai tackled in goal.

Australia 10-4

A clever middling grubber from England almost reaps the rewards but Billy Slater plucks it out of the air and returns it a good 20 metres. Australia roll up field now.

Australia 10-4

England looking the goods early on here but there is a drop-ball. Holding just a moment as a couple of Australian backs went down in the lead-up play but we resume quickly.

Australia 10-4

An error for England puts the visitors under immediate pressure... but then Slater drops it from the scrum.

Australia 10-4

We're back underway. Australia have it first. Sam Burgess has not returned and remains in the rooms for England.

Australia 10-4

That's HALFTIME in Melbourne! Australia ahead by six but it's truly anyone's game. Kangaroos dominant with field position but that hasn't translated into a wealth of points, something England will hold hope for overturning in the second half.

Australia 10-4

Australia go left and look likely but McGillvary INTERCEPTS! England out of trouble.

Australia 10-4

Yep, Sammy is gone. Off and up the tunnel. James Graham returns to the fray.

Australia 10-4

Not good news for Sam Burgess who's looking very ginger in backplay.

Australia 10-4

England get a couple of bites at the cherry with their fifth tackle option but the second one is a big aerial kick which Josh Dugan takes easily.

Australia 10-4

The Kangaroos are now starting to find their feet and a bit more structure. England will want their defence to hold as it has so far.

Australia 6-4

England swing some big passes to the left but one doesn't meet it's mark, picked up instead by Australia's Will Chambers. Kangaroos out of trouble.

England 4-0

Big metres this set from the Kangaroos, Klemmer on a rampage. England defence is up to the task though!

England 4-0

End to end stuff at the moment, but England have fluffed their lines here and thrown it into touch on halfway. Good chance for Australia.

England 4-0

Time off with Cronk down injured.

England 4-0

A break up the middle almost yields results for the host nation but Cronk's last pass finishes in the hands of England. Turnover.

England 4-0

England now go on the attack off the back of a handy penalty.

0 all

Australia with the early running here and Dane Gagai almost latches on to a cross-field kick but it beats him dead. 20m restart, six tackle set England.

0 all

Game on! England first use! Bruising hits early.

0 all

The pomp and ceremony is out of the way, the anthems sung too. Just about ready for kickoff!

We have a great contest ahead - Australia are as per program with the 17 named on Tuesday to take the field. England have made one change to their team with Alex Walmsley succumbing to a virus, replaced by Ben Currie on the bench.

This is what it's all been building to this year - the world's best facing off around Australia, PNG and New Zealand. These two sides are up first in Pool A, with the other combatants in this pool - France and Lebanon - facing off on Sunday in Canberra.

Welcome to LeagueUnlimited.com's coverage of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup! We open proceedings tonight in Melbourne with Australia hosting England at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park for those NRL fans who like a sponsored name).