Wallabies win thrilling Test match against England with phenomenal last-gasp try
The Wallabies have won one of the all-time great thrillers against England at Twickenham, with Max Jorgensen racing away to score a 84th-minute try to secure a famous 42-37 victory.
After a torrid Rugby Championship campaign in which the Wallabies finished dead last, Joe Schmidt’s side looked completely reborn, delivering a phenomenal, thrill-a-minute display of attacking rugby throughout an engrossing contest.
The lead changed four times in a frantic second half, including three times in the final five minutes as both sides threw everything at each other to secure the win.
Having trailed 15-3 after 20 minutes, and then 30-28 with 12 minutes to go, Andrew Kellaway scored a phenomenal 55-metre breakaway try with five minutes remaining to edge the Wallabies back in front.
But England, playing inspired rugby off the back of a masterclass from fly half Marcus Smith, looked to have won the contest after Maro Itoje scored with just two minutes remaining.
However, the Wallabies were not done, showing incredible patience and then some daring attacking verve, Len Ikitau’s freakish flick pass to Jorgensen deep in stoppage time sending the winger away to secure a famous victory.
Len Ikitau’s pass for the winning try was special. (Getty Images: Julian Finney)
It is the first time the Wallabies have beaten England in its last nine matches, the first win at Twickenham since 2015. and the most points they have scored against England away from home.
England, meanwhile, lost for the fourth-straight time having led late in the match, falling to a fifth defeat in six games.
“We know how hard it is to verse England, they were outstanding tonight,” Wallabies prop Alan Alaalatoa said.
“Throughout the Rugby Championship we showed glimpses of that for probably 40 minutes,” .
“Tonight we were great throughout the whole game.”
Things had started brightly for the hosts, Chandler Cunningham-South scoring two quick tries to set England on its way.
Smith had the ball on a string, guiding England around the park and punishing every positional error from the Wallabies defence.
But soon after Tom Curry was forced from the field after collecting a Rob Valetini knee to the head, the tide turned, with the superb Tom Wright and Harry Wilson both crossing to give the Wallabies a 20-18 lead at the break.
Wright’s try came thanks to a wonderful offload from debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who looked very comfortable in Wallaby gold in what was his professional rugby union debut.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii provided the try assist for the Wallabies opener. (Getty Images: David Rogers)
The 21-year-old, making the most anticipated Wallabies debut since Israel Folau in 2013, was awarded player of the match, but in truth any number of men in gold — and at least one in white — could have been similarly heralded.
The Wallabies further extended their lead after half time, when lock Jeremy Williams was perhaps fortunate to be awarded a try, the TMO unable to determine whether he had been knocked into touch when grounding with an acrobatic leap in the corner following some brilliant play from the Wallabies tight five.
England hit back though twice in quick succession, Ollie Sleightholm benefiting from some magical moments from Harlequins star Smith, who dazzled at flyhalf for the hosts.
However, England still conspired to be their own worst enemy, poor execution of a backline set play handing the ball to Kellaway, who raced away and scored.
Itoje’s score came, again, from Smith’s inventiveness with the boot as England perhaps felt as though they had secured victory.
“Sometimes in a Test match like that you think the job is done. We took our foot off the gas,” England hooker Jamie George said.
“Credit to Australia, they were very good tonight, but we cannot keep doing that.
“The system and the principal all works. We know it works, but we didn’t quite get what we wanted out if it.
“Leaking 42 points at home is unforgiveable.”
The Wallabies head to Cardiff next week and will fancy themselves to make it two wins from two as they take on a woefully out of form Wales team.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
Live updates: England vs Wallabies
Happy happy Wallabies
This happy image is where we will leave it.
Thanks for joining us this morning – let’s be honest, it was worth it!
We’ll be back next week for the Wales clash, and I hope you’ll join us then.
What an assist for the winner
This, quite frankly, is naughty.
‘Leaking 42 points at home is unforgiveable.’
Here’s England’s Jamie George.
“I think the blueprint of how we wanted to play was in the first 20 minutes. We put Australia under a lot of pressure,” he says.
“Sometimes in a Test match like that you think the job is done. We took our foot off the gas.
“Credit to Australia they were very good tonight but we cannot keep doing that.
“It will be a tough one to watch back.
“It is a fine balance between closing up shop and trying to see out the win rather than attacking.
“We talk about being brave and courageous and that [Maro Itoje] try was exactly that. We will look at being better.
“The system and the principal all works. We know it works but we didn’t quite get what we wanted out if it.
“Leaking 42 points at home is unforgiveable.
“They got front foot ball and then have some pretty good runners outside.”
Joe Schmidt ‘blown away’ with Wallabies fighting spirit
Here is Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.
“It wasn’t a great start, but I’m really proud of the way the boys fought back,” he says on Stan Sport.
“It just went back and forth, back and forth.
“Gee their kicking game was strong for them today.
“When they did carry, they did really well.
“I am really proud of the tries that we put together too.
“I don’t want to see that, I want to see big leads at the start,” he adds with a laugh.
“I was blown away at how we got out of jail at the end.”
At no point did the Wallabies look for a drop goal there
This is what happens when you run the ball. Stop kicking and spread it wide!
– EW
Running rugby – and both teams seemed committed to running it as much as they could.
One of the most entertaining games of rugby I can remember.
The Wallabies on a roll?
Wonderful inspiration for the next week – real Spirit ! Way to go
– Lucas Z’W
‘Best feeling in the world’: Max Jorgensen
Max Jorgensen is speaking to Stan Sport.
“That’s a dream come true,” he says.
“At a packed out Twickenham.
“It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Hard to argue with that.
England lose another tight one
This is England’s fifth defea in their last six matches.
In the last four of those defeats, England has led late on, only to be overhauled.
Full time! England 37-42 Wallabies
The Wallabies have won it!
Unbelievable!
Extraordinary!
Twickenham is in shock.
The Wallabies are delirious!
Incredible.
80+4′ Wallabies win it at the death!
Max Jorgensen has won it for the Wallabies in the corner!
Extraordinary!
80+3′ Wallabies knock on advantage
England try to disrupt at the breakdown but knock the ball on.
80+2′ Wallabies want a scrum penalty!
But they’re not going to get one!
It’s another Wallabies scrum as the packs crash down to the ground, Allan Alaalatoa looking pleadingly at the referee’s assistant on the near side.
80′ England knock on!
Maro Itoje knocks the ball on from the restart!
The Wallabies have a scrum.
This will be the last play.
79′ England scores!
Maro Itoje crashes over and wave upon wave of England players crashes against the golden defence.
It’s a brilliant pickup and crash over the top from Itoje.
Smith has a conversion to take the lead – and he sneaks it through the far upright!
The Wallabies will have less than a minute.
77′ Marcus Smith. AGAIN!
Oh my goodness, Marcus Smith once again gets England back within touching distance.
He kicks a perfect grubber through to Tom Wright, who is hauled back over the line and the Wallabies will have a five-metre scrum to defend on their own line.
75′ The Wallabies score on the counter!
Andrew Kellaway out of nothing!
England attempt a backline move but fluff their lines and the ball falls into the hands of Andrew Kellaway, who races away 55 metres to score!
The kick is good and the Wallabies lead by five with five minutes to go!
71′ Double knock on
Marcus Smith almost breaks the game open again there – he is, in fact, playing at 10 with Ford at 15 – but he is smothered and then Cunningham-South has the ball knocked out of his arms in a carry.
Angus Bell loses it too though, so the Wallabies will have to restart on half way with a scrum.
No, the referee has been corrected, because Cunningham-South did not knock the ball on and it’s an England scrum now.
And, with centurions James Slipper and Dan Cole goes head to head after both coming on, England win the free kick.
68′ England score another!
What a sucker punch from England.
And again it’s Marcus Smith at the heart of it.
The Wallabies did so well to clear their lines via a McDermott box, but England were in no mood to wait, Smith getting the ball in his paws and breaking open the staggered Wallabies line.
The ball found its way to Dombrandt who finds Ollie Sleightholme with a lovely pass to cover in the corner.
THe touchline conversion is a beauty from Smith and England has the lead 30-28.
65′ Harry Wilson is off for an HIA
He attempted to tackle Maro Itoje with his head, which is never advisable.
England had possession, and will have the scrum.
But Ben O’Keeffe might have got himself a bit confused there, because he called maul and Marcus Smith got bailed up by Valentini.
Anyway.
It’s a scrum and the Twickenham crowd is into this match in a big way, roaring to a crescendo.
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