Image source, Getty Images

Off the pitch, England captain Meg Jones wants Red Roses players to have access to fertility support and egg freezing.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Jones said: "Why should my opportunity to have a family be taken away from me because I want to pursue my career?"

Jones revealed she has already started her fertility journey with her fiancee after visiting a clinic to have their egg count checked.

The 29-year-old says that she's an "open book" on some subjects and wants to "share her journey" as she discusses both her upcoming wedding and family planning with equal comfort.

"We were looking to freeze, but actually the advice was we don't need to freeze yet so we can probably wait till after the wedding," said Jones. "That's where we were going to look to conceive."

The Red Roses are considered to have one of the best maternity policies in international women's sport, with two World Cup winners having recently given birth and two more expecting.

You can read more from Jones' interview with BBC Sport's Sara Orchard here.

Well, that was a curious first half.

Australia opened the scoring from the boot of Samantha Wood, converting a penalty.

England thought they'd hit back in the ninth minute through Meg Jones, but her try was chalked off for offside.

However, a sharp passing move down the left wing was finished off by Abi Burton in the 18th minute, giving the Red Roses a 5-3 lead.

Australia also had a try disallowed, penalised for obstruction at the line-out, but Faliki Pohiva's 31st minute score restored their lead.

At the break, Australia lead 10-5.

Kat Merchant
2014 World Cup winner on BBC iPlayer

I think Australia's defence has been the talk of the half. Their physicality is ruining the ball for England.

I don't think this is a bad position to be in for England because it asks them what they have to put this right and I think they will take control and win.

The world champions being down at half-time is good for rugby. This is why we love these tournaments.

Samantha Wood boots the ball into touch. Australia go into the break with a five-point lead over world champions England.

Image source, Reuters

Tatyana Heard pops the ball to Meg Jones but she's unable to release it on the floor. Excellent work again from Australia's defenders, who exchange high fives all round.

England win a line-out in Australia's 22. The Salford crowd rises to roar them on.

It's taken cleanly. Can they make this opportunity count?

Katy Daley-McLean
England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC iPlayer

It's soft from England. Australia have been doing this for 35 minutes now. You know they're going to counter everything.

If you're Australia you know you're making life really difficult.

England come on the march again, rumbling towards Australia's five-metre line, but the ball goes down in a pile of bodies.

Natasha Hunt, who sparked that move, looks unimpressed.

England centre Tatyana Heard lunges for the line. She lands a few metres short and there's no one to pick up the loose ball as she tries to recycle it.

Australia kick the ball clear of their 22.

England have been so far from their clinical best today, but credit to Australia. They're defending hard.

Huge hit from Pia Tapsell but it hands England a penalty.

They kick for the corner. A golden opportunity to restore their lead before the break.

Who had this scoreline on the bingo card with less than 10 minutes to go before half-time?

Certainly not Ellie Kildunne, who is trying to create a bit of magic for England with her dancing feet up the middle of the park.

Katy Daley-McLean
England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC iPlayer

For England it's about doing the basics well. There's been loads of opportunities for them and they could have been up but because they're not it's allowing Australia to push them back and put pressure on them.

Australia have stolen the line-out!

Katy Daley-McLean
England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC iPlayer

There's been some really good game play from Australia. Ellis is doing so well in that 10 shirt, she's so evasive.

It is a game here and Australia are doing well.

Australia are winning a lot of the ground battles at the moment, recovering possession at a counter-ruck.

Debutant Amelia Whitaker and Waiaria Ellis carry the ball forward before Samantha Wood kicks to the corner over the head of Ellie Kildunne.

England have a line-out on their own try line.

An Australia kick is charged down on the halfway line.

Space opens up for England on the left after Faitala Moleka leaps out of the line but the attack ends in the inevitable knock-on.

Samantha Wood puts boot to ball to clear for Australia.

The damp conditions will also be a contributing factor, Di. It might be bright in Salford now but it thumped down for a spell this morning.

Not a great day for judging the impact of the smaller ball, in my opinion.

Katy Daley-McLean
England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC iPlayer

What's interesting about the TMO at the moment is, do they have to review that? Can they not work together and let the referee know when it's black and white like that? It saves her sprinting across to view it.