The Wallabies have launched Australian rugby’s Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii era with one of their most glorious wins over England at Twickenham, adorned by a player-of-the-match display from their new $5 million man.
In a triumph for the ages at England’s citadel, replacement Max Jorgensen went over for a spectacular score in the 83rd minute with the final attack of Saturday’s pulsating, end-to-end, faintly barmy match.
It gave Joe Schmidt’s side a thoroughly deserved 42-37 win, Australia’s first victory over England at Twickenham since their World Cup triumph here nine years ago.
It concluded a sensational Test in which the hosts felt they had snatched victory when Maro Itoje went over for a converted try in the 79th minute, just four minutes after Andrew Kellaway appeared to have won it for the Aussies with a breakaway score from his own half.
“Three tries in the last five minutes to win it, lose it, win it – that’s the fluctuations of emotions. You’re up, you’re down, you’re up. But one thing I thought stayed up was the effort from the team,” said a proud Schmidt, after Australia broke their three-match winless sequence.
In another late, late sickener for England following their loss to New Zealand, this was the most points they’ve ever scored in 114 years of internationals at Twickenham while still losing. Yes, that’s how monumental it was.
Suaalii’s first rugby union match since he was a schoolboy five years ago featured a few fleeting moments of passing brilliance and some high-ball mastery that had Schmidt hailing him an “aerial freak”.
“I know there was some doubts expressed about Joseph being selected and the risk, but I think people would now see why we involve a young man like that. He’s been professional all week, and was really strong today,” said Schmidt.
The 21-year-old played every minute and was even instrumental in the winning score, helping force Itoje into a knock-on from the final restart with his aerial challenge, from which Australia earned the scrum put-in that launched 20-year-old Jorgensen’s winner.
Aussie rugby’s golden boy before Suaalii came along, Jorgensen was sent roaring up the left touchline and swallow-diving over the line, set free by the excellent Len Ikitau’s remarkable one-handed reverse offload after a flowing last-ditch, four-man attack.
Captain Harry Wilson and lock Jeremy Williams were their other scorers in a win that felt like a throwback to free-flowing Wallabies’ triumphs that used to habitually silence ‘HQ’.
Allan Alaalatoa reckoned it was “right up there” as one of Australia’s great wins, with only replacement prop James Slipper, amid the squad, having ever experienced beating England at Twickenham.
The hosts had been rampant from the outset, with flanker Chandler Cunningham-South roaring over for two early scores, Marcus Smith running the show from flyhalf and the Wallabies finding themselves on the rack 15-3 down after just the first-quarter.
Enter Suaalii. When Australia attacked down the left in the 26th minute, a beautifully timed one-handed pop pass over the top from the 21-year-old, as two tacklers came bearing down on him, put Tom Wright in.
Then the buzzsaw Tate McDermott, on as a blood bin replacement for Jake Gordon, dazzled, flitting through a gap, setting inspirational skipper Wilson free for a score he’ll never forget.
Leading 20-18 at the break after their wretched start, Western Force lock Williams then ploughed down in the corner after a short-side attack, the TMO confirming – eventually – the on-field ruling that he’d grounded the ball fractionally before his left foot slid into touch.
Noah Lolesio, who ended with 13 points, booted the Wallabies 10 points clear with a penalty but England’s replacement winger Ollie Sleightholme sped over for two scores in nine minutes – with Suaalii hopelessly exposed in defence for the second – and it looked as if Australia were finished.
But Kellaway snaffled up a misplaced pass to scoot over from his own half with five minutes left, only for England to forge back one last time amid huge cheers from the 82,000 home crowd as Itoje burrowed over, with Smith adding the extras to give England a 37-35 point lead with time for just one more play.
Twickenham was crowing, and the English pundits who’d written off the Wallabies looked to have got it right.
“Then Lenny had a bit of magic there and put Max away,” beamed Fraser McReight, another of the golden heroes.
“It’s always great to shut up critics, right?”
