Australia won a breathtaking duel against England (42-37) on Saturday at Twickenham, at the start of a European tour which should enable the Wallabies to bounce back from a lean period.

After exiting last year’s World Cup group stage and finishing bottom of the Rugby Championship behind Argentina this summer, the Australians returned to the English rugby hall of fame, where they had not won for nine years. Joe Schmidt’s team snatched victory with a fifth and final Australian try, scored in stoppage time by Max Jorgensen (80th+4) at the end of a breathless chase.

English defense in trouble

In the second half in particular, the lead swung from one team to the other four times. “To concede 42 points at home is unforgivable,” complained England captain Jamie George, speaking on TNT Sports. From the outset, “we put Australia under pressure” but then “we took our foot off the gas”. Australia had not beaten the Rose XV at Twickenham since their 33-13 victory in the World Cup group stage in October 2015. They followed that up with ten defeats in eleven matches against the English.

At the final whistle, the visitors’ joy was in stark contrast to the distress of their hosts, who had already been narrowly beaten by the All Blacks (24-22) on Saturday. Steve Borthwick’s team once again showed an attractive face, particularly in attack, but their defense left too much space for the Australians, who were ready to rush into the slightest gap.

A stunning debut for Suaalii

Yet it was the English who struck first and hardest, with two tries from Chandler Cunningham-South in the opening quarter (5th, 14th). They built up a twelve-point lead (20th, 15-3), then the tide turned in the wake of the knockout suffered by third row Tom Curry, who was too stunned to remain on the field (23rd).

The speed and intensity of the Wallabies then cracked the English defense, which was overwhelmed before the break by two tries and a final penalty from Noah Lolesio (40th+2, 18-20). Phenomenal Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, a treizist who had never played a single match for a club in the XV category, made a real impact. The 21-year-old center produced some spectacular moves, such as the one-handed pass for Australia’s first try (27th) and this beautiful aerial deflection (47th).

The man who began his XIII career with the Sydney Roosters could be the face of a renaissance for Australia, which has been struggling for several years against the world’s top rugby teams.

The Wallabies will continue their European Test series against Wales, Scotland and Ireland, before hosting a tour of the British and Irish Lions next summer. England, for their part, will have to swallow their disappointment quickly, or risk a thrashing at Twickenham next Saturday against reigning world champions South Africa.

They will probably be without winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who went off injured in the second half. His replacement, Ollie Sleightholme, shone with two tries, despite the defeat.