The Wallabies broke their try-scoring drought and helped ease the pressure on coach Robbie Deans with a 20-14 rugby win over England at Twickenham.
Australia bounced back from last weekend’s humiliating 33-6 loss to France with a gallant victory in front of 81,361 fans on Saturday, getting their tour back on track with coming Tests against Italy and Wales.
The Wallabies repelled raid after raid from the English with some heroic last ditch tackling in a tryless second half when the home side were camped on Australia’s line.
Their much-maligned scrum withstood England, with returning tighthead prop Ben Alexander one of the best players on the field.
From the outset the Wallabies were brutal at the breakdown with hitmen Sitaleki Timani and Wycliff Palu throwing their weight around and No.7 and man of the match Michael Hooper a constant menace.
England led 14-11 at halftime thanks to a controversial try just before the break to Samoan-born outside centre Manusamoa Tuilagi.
Tuilagi’s try came after halfback Danny Care caught Australia napping with a quick tap deep into Wallabies’ territory and the ball was shifted quickly to the left and the 110kg No.13 bumped off Kurtley Beale to score in the corner with halfback Nick Phipps hanging on.
Tuilagi was given the nod by the video referee despite appearing to place the ball short of the line and then losing it.
Around five minutes earlier, Australia winger Nick Cummins capped a near 55 metre effort to score the Wallabies’ first five-pointer in three Tests.
Cummins’ try followed great lead-up work by Phipps who went through a big gap on England’s left edge.
Australia’s scrum held up magnificently in the first half with tighthead prop Ben Alexander making a huge different in his return from injury.
England five-eighth Toby Flood made Australia pay for any indiscretions with three penalty goals while the Wallabies fullback Berrick Barnes snapped a field goal on 12 minutes when Australia had their hosts on the back foot.
Ben Tapuai had a superb game in his first Test as a No.12 and his fifth cap for Australia overall.
Barnes slotted four penalty goals for a personal tally of 15 points with three of those kicks coming in the second half.