Wallabies come powering back

This is how it used to be, so often and for so long. Sealing a 42-37 victory over old rivals England, with a try in the 84th minute in front of 82,000 rugby fans at Twickenham, the home of the sport and the scene of past Wallaby triumphs, the team sent a strong message to rival nations. Coach Joe Schmidt and his men are well and truly on the way back. From here, after several years of intense disappointments, consistency will be all-important.

Central to the revival will be Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 21, a multimillion-dollar convert from league, who deservedly was named player of the match in his professional rugby debut. As a 15-year-old playing for The King’s School, Parramatta, Suaalii was regarded by talent scouts as the “best schoolboy talent ever seen”. At Twickenham, Schmidt hailed him as an “aerial freak”.

We hope the British and Irish Lions, if they expected an easy tour to Australia next year, are in for the battle of their lives.