Wallabies stun England with 84th minute winner as Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shines on debut at Twickenham
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has sparked a stunning Wallabies win over England in one of the greatest ever games between the old foes, with the match decided by a try four minutes after the hooter.
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Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has sparked a stunning Wallabies win over England in one of the greatest ever games between the old foes.
Max Jorgensen scored an 84th minute try to silence the 82,000 gathered at Twickenham to seal a 42-37 victory that keeps alive Australia’s hopes of a Grand Slam for the first time in 40 years.
In his professional rugby debut, Suaalii was exceptional at outside centre – setting up Australia’s first try – showing that he is capable to rejuvenating the Wallabies attack.
This was Australia’s first win over England at Twickenham since 2015, and was finished in the most spectacular way when Jorgensen was unleashed on the sideline by a freakish Len Ikitau flick pass and dived over the line four minutes after the hooter.
It was a pulsating, thrilling contest in which the lead changed five times and ball was in play for long periods.
Trailing 18-10 midway through the first half, the Wallabies were 28-18 in front by the 53rd.
It seemed they’d blown their hopes when England – led by magician playmaker Marcus Smith – scored two tries in 11 minutes to reclaim the lead 30-28.
It was mayhem thereafter as first Andrew Kellaway scored a long-range try, Maro Itoje reclaimed the lead for England with his own try, before Jorgensen’s heroics at the death.
Australia has not won a Grand Slam since 1984 – defeating home unions England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland – and while it is an enormous task they’ve given themselves a chance.
This victory was set up by brilliant individual performances from Ikitau, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Angus Bell and Tom Wright.
Smith did all he could to conjure victory for his side, but Australia’s never-say-die attitude has revived hopes they can compete with the British & Irish Lions next year.
All eyes were on Suaalii, playing his first game of rugby since Australian Schoolboys five years ago, and the 21-year-old former NRL star did not disappoint.
Suaalii set up Australia’s first try from a backline play. He took the ball on the run and stepped on the outside, drew defenders Ollie Sleightholme and George Furbank and popped a lovely pass to the unmarked Wright who raced away in the corner.
Suaalii showed many aspects of his talent, able to offload in contact several times, as well as winning kick-off ball that gave the Wallabies valuable possession, while producing a try-saving tackle on England winger Tommy Freeman.
“It’s a funny story, back in 2003, Samoa versus England, my old man took me, I was only a couple of months old and my dad loves rugby that much, and to play against England today at Twickenham is just amazing,” Suaalii told Stan Sport after the match.
“The game just comes naturally to myself, there’s a lot of things I need to work on from this game but I enjoyed this game.
“I’m just being myself, I’ve come in and I’m 21 years old now, I feel like I’m just being myself and I feel that people do gravitate towards it.”
Suaalii’s centre pairing with Ikitau was immediately successful, and it would be a surprise of Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt moves away from this midfield pairing as he begins establishing key combinations for the Lions.
The Wallabies began in jittery fashion, and it seemed England’s dominance – winning 10 of the past 11 against Australia – was set to continue.
English backrower Chandler Cunningham-South scored two tries in the opening 12 minutes, and the home side held a 15-3 lead by the 18th before the Wallabies stormed back into the contest.
The Wallabies were caught short after Smith’s grubber through the defensive line was pounced upon by Ollie Lawrence, before a spread through hands found Cunningham-South crashing over out wide.
Then the big flanker powered over from a quick tap close to the line, before Smith’s penalty extended the lead to 15 points.
Far from overawed, the Wallabies dominated the rest of the half, started by Wright’s try.
They had a second to captain Harry Wilson in the 34th minute, with replacement halfback Tate McDermott providing the spark.
McDermott came on when Jake Gordon was sent to the blood-bin and was lively around the ruck. He made a sharp break in this instance, slicing through and finding Wilson outside.
A Lolesio penalty after the halftime siren put the Wallabies in front.
Suaalii’s brilliance was on show again seven minutes into the second half, as he leapt for a Lolesio chip kick and in the same movement spun and offloaded in the air to Wright. But Australia’s raid was spoiled by an error from the ensuing ruck.
But they were celebrating in the 51st when Williams scored a brilliant try out wide, which started from a lineout move that the lock took in.
Bell made a strong charge to beat two defenders before the ball went wide again and Williams managed to ground the ball before his ankle went into touch – determined after several replays by the television match official.
Lolesio extended Australia’s lead to 28-18 with a 53rd minute penalty.
But Smith could not be contained, and set up another try for England with a deft grubber that allowed Sleightholme to regather and ground.
The replacement winger had his second try in the 68th minute after England took a quick throw from a lineout, Smith cut through chasing defenders and found Lawrence who pin-balled tacklers. The quick spread caught the Wallabies short and Sleightholme was untouched as he scampered into the corner.
Smith’s sideline conversion put England 30-28 ahead.
But Kellaway scored a runaway try in the 76th minute after Ollie Lawrence spilt a pass in midfield, and Ben Donaldson’s conversion put the Wallabies 35-30 ahead.
But two minutes later Itoje powered over from a ruck dive, and Smith converted to establish a two-point lead with moments to go.
Australia had a scrum in England’s half after the full-time siren. After several charges into the defence, as “Swing low sweet chariot” rang out across the hallowed ground, Ikitau got the ball out wide, drew his man and set Jorgensen free.
For long-suffering Wallabies fans, this was a sweet, sweet start to Sunday.
Originally published as Wallabies stun England with 84th minute winner as Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shines on debut at Twickenham
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