‘Unbelievable’: Wild scenes as Wallabies win thriller against England

The Wallabies have pulled off an 84th minute miracle as commentators were all left saying the same thing about code-hopper Joseph Suaalii.

The Wallabies have pulled off one of their greatest wins in recent memory as code-hopper Joseph Suaalii exploded on the international stage.

It took an 84th minute miracle try from Max Jorgensen to get the job done against England and there were wild scenes as the final whistle was blown on the epic ten-try shoot out.

Watch every ball of Australia v Pakistan ODI Series LIVE & exclusive to FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

Jorgensen’s try in added-on time saw Australia to a stunning 42-37 win at Twickenham on Sunday morning (AEDT) as the Wallabies launched their tour of Britain with a desperately-needed victory.

The lead changed hands four times in the closing 15 minutes, with England 37-35 ahead and 80 minutes already played after lock Maro Itoje’s try was converted by fly-half Marcus Smith.

But replacement back Jorgensen struck in the 84th minute when, from a Len Ikitau offload that sucked in Smith, he went in at the corner to score the last of the game’s 10 tries.

Max Jorgensen scores the winner. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images.

Noah Lolesio converted as the Wallabies beat England at Twickenham for the first time since they knocked the Red Rose brigade out of the 2015 World Cup.

This was also just Australia’s second win in their last 12 Tests against England, with the Wallabies the underdogs after losing five of their six games in this year’s southern hemisphere Rugby Championship.

Aussie Allan Alaalatoa said after the match: “It was awesome. It was a really good feeling to be out there. In the second half there was a lot of relief on the back of not the start we wanted, it was a bit slow, but we started dominating in the contact areas and it gave us a lot of frontward ball.

“I am really proud of the boys. Again, that belief that came off a good week. We know how hard it is to beat England in a sold-out Twickenham Stadium and we knew that it was going to go down to the wire.”

Victory for Australia kept alive their hopes of emulating the celebrated 1984 Wallabies’ Grand Slam tour of Britain.

“It wasn’t a great start, but I’m really proud of the way the boys fought back,” Australia coach Joe Schmidt told Stan Sport.

The New Zealander added: “I am really proud of the tries that we put together too... I was blown away at how we got out of jail at the end.”

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was on fire. Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images.

Rugby commentators have described it as one of the best wins the Wallabies have had in recent memory.

Stan Sport’s Sean Maloney on Twitter said the Wallabies were “unbelievable” and called it “one of the greatest Wallabies wins in their 125yr history”.

Wallabies legend Miachael Hooper said on the TV broadcast: “I’m a little bit speechless”.

Leading rugby reporter Iain Payten also wrote on Twitter: “Not sure I have seen a better win than that”.

Michael Atkinson said on Stan: “No. He didn’t. Oh my goodness me. It’s unbelievable. It’s one of the greatest moments in Wallabies history.

“One of the most stunning finishes we have seen in the history of the green and gold.”

Rugby reporter Chris Foy posted: “Astonishing game. Classic. Absolute horror defeat for England at the death but epic contest. Australia are back, which means the Lions tour is saved from the spectre of being a dull procession.”

Defeat meant England had lost four Tests in a row after last week’s agonising 24-22 loss to New Zealand — their third straight reverse against the All Blacks this year.

Turning narrow leads into wins has been a recurring problem for England and their task won’t get any easier when they face world champions South Africa next weekend.

Australia's Max Jorgensen celebrates with teammates after scoring their late winning try. Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP.

England coach Steve Borthwick, reflecting on Saturday’s reverse, told TNT Sport: “When you make that number of errors, seven handling errors and 20 turnovers in total, you give the opportunity to the opposition to run in space and score tries and they did.” England took an early 15-3 lead following two tries by flanker Chandler Cunningham-South.

But the Wallabies scored three of their own through Tom Wright, captain Harry Wilson and lock Jeremy Williams to be 28-18 up heading into the last quarter.

England, however, hit back through replacement wing Ollie Sleightholme’s try double to lead 30-28.

But Australia responded when Andrew Kellaway came off his wing to gather a loose pass from replacement George Ford and run clear for a try.

Lolesio’s conversion left the Wallabies five points in front at 35-30 with five minutes left -- and there was plenty more drama to come.

England had opened the scoring with a fifth-minute fine try involving both their backs and forwards that stemmed from Smith’s grubber kick, with Cunningham-South going in at the corner.

Cunningham-South had his second try when he powered over from a close-range tap penalty in the 12th minute.

Smith extended England’s lead to 15-3 with a 39-metre penalty before home flanker Tom Curry appeared to be knocked out cold while making a 23rd minute-tackle.

Australia's captain Harry Wilson holds the Ella-Mobbs Trophy. Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP.

The delay while Curry was treated before going off disrupted England’s rhythm and Australia were soon back in the game.

Much of the pre-match build-up had focused on Schmidt giving a Test debut to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, a multi-million dollar capture from rugby league, even though this was the 21-year-old’s first senior game of rugby union.

Suaalii, however, showed his class when, after Australia declined a kickable penalty, his sublime one-handed pass sent in full-back Wright for a 26th-minute try.

Suaalii was awarded the man of the match award and every commentator was left saying the same thing.

Kiwi Ben Smith wrote on Twitter: “Suaalii worth every dollar. Has there ever been a debut like that?”

Foy posted: “Suaalii is going to light up this code”.

Lolesio converted only for another Smith penalty to put England 18-10 ahead. But No 8 Wilson went over for a try following a fine break by replacement scrum-half Tate McDermott, with Lolesio’s conversion leading the Wallabies 20-18 ahead at half-time.

Wallaby lock Williams dived in at the corner under pressure from England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ben Spencer early in the second half of a frantic game.

A lengthy video review ensued but, with no conclusive evidence to overturn referee Ben O’Keeffe’s on-field decision, the try stood.

Another Smith grubber kick paved the way for Sleightholme’s maiden Test try and he was soon in again only for the Northampton flyer to end up on the losing side.

— with AFP

Originally published as ‘Unbelievable’: Wild scenes as Wallabies win thriller against England