Video - Hair-pulling and headbutts as England Wallabies turns red

Wallabies second row Darcy Swain was shown a red card and England lock Jonny Hill a yellow as tempers boiled over in the first Test in Perth.

A scrappy, penalty-ridden start launched the series but England settled to produce some promising moments with their first meaningful attack.

Owen Farrell drew first blood with a penalty and all the rugby was being played by the tourists as Joe Cokanasiga began to make an impression through his power before Danny Care exploited space around the ruck.

Tom Curry was sent charging into space and his long pass found Joe Marchant but the centre was brilliantly tackled by Marika Koroibete, whose defence had saved a certain try.

England’s lead built with a second penalty by Farrell and the Wallabies’ luck on the injury front deteriorated further as Tom Banks left the field on the medical cart after breaking his arm.

Prop Allan Alaalatoa was the next to exit as he rose unsteadily from the bottom of a ruck and the penalties continued to rise, enabling Lolesio to land three points before Farrell missed another shot at goal.

Things however went up a notch when Swain and Hill - who had been at each other all half - got stuck into each other after Hill pulled the Australian's hair at a maul.

Swain took exception to the dirty play and after the two had separated, aimed a half-hearted headbutt at Hill.

It's been a rough night for the Wallabies in the first half. Fullback Tom Banks has suffered a serious arm injury when landing heavily after contesting a high ball.

Quade Cooper was a last-minute withdrawal after straining his left calf in the warm-up, but it was the injury to Banks that left viewers squeamish.

After leaping high into the air in a bid to catch Nic White's 22nd-minute restart, Banks' left arm bent the wrong way as he crashed to the ground and attempted to avoid a head-first landing.

The 28-year-old immediately realised the extent of the damage, and a medicab was called to take him off the field.

Adding to the Wallabies' woes, prop Allan Ala'alatoa went off in the 26th minute for a concussion test after copping a knock while tackling England fullback Freddie Steward.

The night of injury carnage for the Wallabies started even before kick-off.

The Wallabies were completing their warm-up at Optus Stadium when Cooper injured his left calf.

Cooper was consoled by teammate s as he slowly trudged off the field.

addtional reporting PA and AAP