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We look back at England's spectacular unbeaten year

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 18:  England's back row forwards, Billy Vunipola, James Haskell and Chris Robshaw celebrate after their victory during the Inte
Image: England's back row forwards, Billy Vunipola, James Haskell and Chris Robshaw celebrate after their victory during the Inte

We look back at England's spectacular unbeaten year.

1. Scotland 9-15 England: Six Nations, Feb 6 2016, Murrayfield

England captain Dylan Hartley and his team pose with the Calcutta Cup following their victory over Scotland at Murrayfield during the RBS Six Nations
Image: England captain Dylan Hartley and his team pose with the Calcutta Cup following their victory over Scotland at Murrayfield during the RBS Six Nations

Eddie Jones' England passed their first test by beating Scotland 15-9 in the opening round of the Six Nations at Murrayfield.

Tries either side of the half by second rower George Kruis and winger Jack Nowell handed England the advantage, while Owen Farrell offered five points with the boot.

Previously, England had ended 2015 with a 60-3 victory over Uruguay in their final World Cup match in Manchester in October, with Jones having replaced Stuart Lancaster the following month after the latter's resignation.

2. Italy 9-40 England: Six Nations, Feb 14 2016, Stadio Olimpico

England centre Jonathan Joseph scores his second of three tries against Italy
Image: England centre Jonathan Joseph scores his second of three tries against Italy

England had to dig deep in Rome as they fought off a gutsy Italian side who frustrated England in the first half.

England only led 11-9 at the break but Jonathan Joseph scored a second-half hat-trick with George Ford and Owen Farrell also touching down. The replacements bench made a huge impact for England with the likes of Danny Care and Jamie George. Maro Itoje also made his long-awaited debut off the bench coming on for Courtney Lawes early in the second half.

3. England 21-10 Ireland: Six Nations, Feb 27 2016, Twickenham

Anthony Watson takes on Andrew Trimble
Image: Anthony Watson takes on Andrew Trimble

Twickenham got its first taste of the new England as they claimed a hard-fought win over the Irish. It was far from pretty and England looked way off the pace in an error-ridden game.

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Ireland could not match the physicality that Billy Vunipola, Maro Itoje and George Kruis brought to the table but led early in the second half thanks to a Conor Murray try. However England hit back with two tries in five minutes as Anthony Watson and Mike Brown went over.

4. England 25-21 Wales: Six Nations, Mar 12 2016, Twickenham

Maro Itoje of England goes past Alex Cuthbert of Wales during the RBS Six Nations
Image: Maro Itoje of England goes past Alex Cuthbert of Wales during the RBS Six Nations

Maro Itoje stole all the headlines…and the lineouts as England won the Triple Crown and revenged their World Cup loss to Wales. England were 16-0 up at half-time and with 12 minutes to go were 25-7 up. Wales hit back hard through George North and Taulupe Faletau but England's defence held on to set up the Grand Slam. More good news was to come as on the Sunday Scotland beat France which meant England had won the Six Nations with a game to spare.

5. France 21-31 England: Six Nations, Mar 19 2016, Stade de France

Dylan Hartley of England lifts the RBS Six Nations trophy after England won the Grand Slam
Image: Dylan Hartley of England lifts the RBS Six Nations trophy after England won the Grand Slam

England claimed their first grand Slam since 2003 as they produced a bullish performance against the French.

Danny Care and Dan Cole crossed for first-half tries that gave England a 17-12 lead going into the break, while an Anthony Watson score and the boot of Owen Farrell saw them home.

6. England 27-13 Wales: Test match, May 29 2016, Twickenham

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Highlights of England's 27-13 win over Wales at Twickenham

England were without many first-choice players who were preparing for the Premiership Final between Saracens and Exeter but were still too good for Wales.

And despite a below par kicking display from fly-half George Ford, eased to victory as they outscored their opponents five tries to one.

Ford missed all but one of his seven kicks at goal in a forgettable performance from the tee.

Wales were well poised when they went into the break 13-10 ahead after two shots at goal from Dan Biggar and a converted Rob Evans try, but were unable to fire after the break.

England's first-half scores were provided by Luther Burrell and Anthony Watson, while Ben Youngs, Jack Clifford and Marland Yarde all crossed in the second half.

7. Australia 28-39 England: Test match, Jun 11 2016, Suncorp Stadium

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Highlights of England's 39-28 win over Australia in the first game of their three-Test series in Brisbane

England gave themselves a great chance of an historic series victory over Australia after recovering from an ominous start to defeat the Wallabies 39-28 at Suncorp Stadium.

Early tries by Michael Hooper and Israel Folau threatened to overrun the Grand Slam champions but they responded magnificently with Jonathan Joseph, Marland Yarde and Jack Nowell crossing.

The boot of Owen Farrell, who had replaced George Ford at fly-half, did the majority of the scoreboard damage as he kicked 24 points to seal England's first ever victory in Brisbane.

8. Australia 7-23 England: Test match, Jun 18 2016, AAMI Park

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Highlights from Melbourne as England defeated Australia 23-7 to claim a historic series victory

England claimed an historic series victory over Australia with their win in Melbourne to go 2-0 ahead with one game to play.

It was a massive defensive display from England who were forced to tackle for lengthy periods as the Wallabies threw everything at them. James Haskell, was superb and, like in the first Test, led the way with his explosive attacks and brutal defence.

After repelling the relentless Wallaby waves of attack, Owen Farrell then took England to victory with 13 second-half points.

9. Australia 40-44 England: Test match, Jun 25 2016, Sydney Football Stadium

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A look back at how England made history by claiming a series sweep against the Wallabies

England secured a 3-0 series victory in Australia with victory over the Wallabies in Sydney.

Dan Cole and Mike Brown crossed for the tourists in the first half but it was Australia who went into the break ahead thanks to tries from Bernard Foley and Dane Haylett-Petty and two penalties from the boot of Foley.

Billy Vunipola and Jamie George swapped tries with Michael Hooper, Israel Folau and Taqele Naiyaravoro after the break but it was the boot of England centre Owen Farrell that proved decisive as England completed an historic series whitewash.

10. England 37-21 South Africa: Test match, Nov 12 2016, Twickenham

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Highlights of England's opening Autumn International against South Africa at Twickenham

England ended their 12-game winless streak against South Africa with a crushing win at Twickenham.

First-half tries from Jonny May and Courtney Lawes put England on course for an 11th successive Test win, with George Ford and Owen Farrell crossing after the restart.

Replacement Johan Goosen scored a try on the hour mark and Willie le Roux grabbed a second with two minutes remaining but there were few positives for the visitors, who were totally outclassed by Eddie Jones' men.

11. England 58-15 Fiji: Test match, Nov 19 2016, Twickenham

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Highlights of England's Autumn International clash against Fiji at Twickenham

England marched to their 12th consecutive win with a comprehensive 58-15 victory over Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday.

Tries from Jonathan Joseph, Elliot Daly, Semesa Rokoduguni, Teimana Harrison and Joe Launchbury gave England a commanding 31-0 lead early in the first half. Fiji fought back with three tries of their own for a 34-15 scoreline shortly after the break, but England piled on a further four tries to record a comfortable victory.

Owen Farrell became only the second England player to pass the 500-point mark with a haul of four conversions and a penalty on his 45th Test appearance lifting him to 508 points, in pursuit of Jonny Wilkinson's 1,179.

12. England 27-14 Argentina: Test match, Nov 26 2016, Twickenham

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Highlights of England's Autumn International clash against Argentina at Twickenham

Elliot Daly's fifth-minute red card did not deter England as they secured their 13th win on the trot.

It was a game in which two red cards and four yellow cards were brandished by referee Pascal Gauzere, with both sides playing with 13 men at one stage.

Despite the early disadvantage, England were 16-7 up at the break thanks to a penalty try and eleven points from the boot of Owen Farrell.

England also lost Billy Vunipola who has since been ruled out of the 2017 Six nations campaign after undergoing knee surgery but they still had too much firepower for the tiring Pumas.

13. England 37-21 Australia: Test match, Dec 3 2016, Twickenham

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Highlights of England's win over Australia at Twickenham

England beat Australia at Twickenham on Saturday to complete an unbeaten 2016. Victory saw England equal their national record of 14 successive wins set in 2003. Thirteen of those wins in their current run came under Australian coach Eddie Jones, appointed after England's first-round exit at last year's World Cup.

England were 10-0 behind early on but tries from Jonathan Joseph (two), Marland Yarde and Ben Youngs saw them recover as they beat Australia for the fourth time this year. 

What next for England?

England now set their sights on the Six Nations and if they repeat the heroics of 2016, will be on course to break New Zealand's 18-match winning streak. That potential clash (although France, Wales and Scotland will have something to say about that!) would be against Ireland who have had a superb autumn themseleves and of course were the team to bring New Zealand's run to an end with their brilliant 40-29 win over New Zealand in Chicago.

England's 2017 Six Nations fixtures

15. Feb 4 2017: England v France, Twickenham

16. Feb 11 2017: Wales v England, Principality Stadium

17. Feb 26 2017: England v Italy, Twickenham

18. Mar 11 2017: England v Scotland, Twickenham

19. Mar 18 2017: Ireland v England, Aviva Stadium

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