ENGLAND’s Four Nations is over after they lost 36-18 against Australia in front of 35,569 at London’s Olympic Stadium.

New Zealand being held to a surprise draw against Scotland on Friday had prised an opening for England to reach next Sunday’s final at Anfield.

But Mal Meninga’s clinical Kangaroos ensured that the door was slammed shut in their faces.

England were guilty of one or two lapses in defensive concentration, which combined with a couple of errors with the ball close to the line and an unforgivable failure to find touch with a pair of penalties came back to hurt them on the scoreboard.

Although England started off with plenty of commitment and the first half was nip-and-tuck with the Australians leading by just 10-6 at the break, the class of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Jonathan Thurston soon had the visitors moving like a well-oiled machine.

England had started the game with their third half back pairing of the series with Kevin Brown partnering Gareth Widdop – and would finish with a fourth with George Williams replacing the Widnes skipper.

Saints duo Jonny Lomax and Mark Percival again played and both will have learned from the experience.

Lomax again had another excellent game on both sides of the ball and looked dangerous in attack and helped set up England’s first try.

Percival was given a tough afternoon by the smart and powerful Australian edge. He did well to pluck an early attacking kick from the air when challenging opposite number Josh Dugan.

However with the ball he was left kicking himself when he overran a Lomax pass with a chance of scoring and later spilled another ball.

Defensively he was unlucky not to nail Darius Boyd when he raced off the defensive line, with the gap allowing Blake Ferguson to get the Aussies back in front.

Widdop and Thurston had kicked early penalties in the opening quarter then England crossed the whitewash on 25 minutes when Jermaine McGillvary collected Lomax’s long pass for the game's first try.

England put themselves under pressure and it eventually told on 36 minutes when Ferguson crossed in the corner.

Thurston goaled and then added a 40-metre penalty in stoppage time to make it 10-6 at the break.

England had a chance to get back in front early in the second half when hooker Josh Hodgson made a half-break but the supporting Sam Burgess could not hold the pass.

Three minutes later another England fumble allowed the Australians the opportunity for centre Greg Inglis powered over straight from the scrum.

The game went beyond England when big prop Matt Scott took plenty of white shirts over the line with him to score his side's fourth try.

Then that was swiftly followed by Cooper Cronk evading Percival’s attempted tackle send centre Dugan surging over.

That was it.

But there was still time for some good football in the final quarter.

Williams created a try for Widdop and, but Matt Gillett cancelled it out.

However Williams and Percival combined to send Ryan Hall in at the corner.

However, the Green and Golds had the last word when winger Valentine Holmes crossed for another try in the corner with a fine finish.