Brilliant Bernard Foley inspired Australia to an emphatic 33-13 hammering of England at Twickenham to secure the Wallabies' place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals and dump the hosts out at the pool stage for the first time.

Saturday's eagerly awaited Pool A clash was make or break for England following their defeat to Wales last weekend, but classy Australia ruthlessly ended their hopes of winning the tournament on home soil.

Fly-half Foley stole the show, scoring a record 28 points - including two first-half tries - in a Wallabies masterclass that stunned the vast majority of a partisan Twickenham crowd.

Australia led 17-3 at half-time and although George Ford's introduction at the break provided England with far more creativity, they gave themselves too much to do and Anthony Watson scored their only try.

Owen Farrell booted eight points, but was yellow carded nine minutes from time and Foley also slotted over four penalties and three conversions to break the record points tally by a player in a fixture between these two big rivals to add insult to injury for England. 

England head coach Stuart Lancaster's job will now be under serious threat ahead of their final match against Uruguay next weekend, while the Wallabies march on and face a Pool A decider against Wales back at Twickenham next weekend. 

Australia started on the front foot and Michael Hooper made his presence felt with a big early hit on Farrell before Mike Brown put in a vital crunching tackle on Israel Folau when the Wallabies had a man over.

A Foley penalty after eight minutes gave Australia a deserved lead, but Farrell levelled with a three-pointer five minutes later after Kurtley Beale made an early appearance as a replacement for the injured Rob Horne.

The Wallabies' slick handling and pace was posing a major threat and they were back in front when they got quick ball and Foley sold a dummy to burst through a gap and go over, then convert to make it 10-3 after 22 minutes.

Australia's creativity and quick thinking was causing England all kinds of problems and Foley scored a brilliant second try when he played an inside pass to Beale, who returned the favour to allow the fly-half to dive over and then convert four minutes before the break.

England had a mountain to climb trailing 17-3 at half-time and Lancaster brought on Ford in place of the injured Jonny May at inside centre.

But the superb David Pocock continued to boss the breakdown and Australia won another penalty at the scrum, which Foley belted between the posts.

England then exerted a period of sustained pressure, with Ford's vision making a considerable difference, and were rewarded when Watson rounded off a fine move in the 56th minute and Farrell converted from wide on the right. 

Farrell reduced the deficit to 20-13 from the tee 15 minutes from time after Nick Phipps lost possession in the England half with a stray pass.

But Farrell was given his marching orders for an off-the-ball tackle on Giteau to allow Foley to add another three points and he booted yet another penalty before Giteau rounded off a brilliant move with another try which Foley duly converted.