Magic Max as Wallabies win after the siren against England

Sat, Nov 9, 2024, 6:46 PM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
The Wallabies face England in London. Photo: Getty Images

An 84th-minute try to Max Jorgensen has delivered the Wallabies a famous 42-37 win over England in London, their finest under coach Joe Schmidt.

Schmidt's side looked destined for defeat when Maro Itoje scored with two minutes to go.

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However, the Wallabies were never going to give up and had one last chance to attack after a mistake from the kickoff from the English.

Centre Len Ikitau produced the magic ball, finding space to unleash his winger Jorgensen with a great flick.

Jorgensen had enough pace to beat the covering defence and dive over the line for the winner.

It's Australia's first win at Twickenham since 2015 as Schmidt's side were left to lap up a stunned Allianz Stadium.

England flyhalf Marcus Smith did everything he could to get England over the line, setting up the first two tries to Chandler Cunningham-South for a 15-3 lead.

The Australians refused to panic and worked their way back thanks to excellent stints from Rob Valetini and Angus Bell amongst others.

It allowed the Wallabies to build pressure and new recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was there to set up their opening try with the bat on to Tom Wright, one of several great touches on debut.

Australia had all the momentum despite a Marcus Smith penalty goal as they continued to roll.

A nasty cut to Jake Gordon opened the door for Tate McDermott to inject himself into the game, breaking the line and putting captain Harry Wilson over for the try.

With all the momentum, the Wallabies went into the break with a 20-18 lead thanks to a late Noah Lolesio penalty.

This extended after the break with a brilliant work of athleticism from Jeremy Williams. The lock somehow kept his foot in from touch by a blade of grass after a nursing run for Bell to extend Australia’s lead.

Some smarts from Tom Wright saw the lead extend to ten when he spotted some forwards in defence and kicked clear to draw the penalty. 

However, England wasn’t done yet as Smith almost singled-handled got the hosts back into the contest.

It started with a classy grubber to find Ollie Sleightholme unmarked in the corner to reduce the margin.

He then put England in front when they capitalised on a quick lineout, with Sleightholme again the man to capitalise in the corner.

With England intent on closing out the game, a chargedown from Lukhan Salakaia-Loto put the hosts back under pressure.

It allowed Andrew Kellaway to capitalise on a dropped ball, raising 60 metres to restore Australia's lead with five minutes to go.

The Wallabies looked out when Itoje powered his way over, set up by Smith's kicking again.

In the end, Joe Schmidt's side dug deep and great hands from backs and forwards alike put Ikitau into space, unleashing Jorgensen for a famous try and win.

"It wasn't a great start, but I was really proud of the way the boys built their way back into that game and then to get the lead by half-time was great," Schmidt said post game.

"Then it just shifted back and forth and back and forth and I thought when Andrew Kellaway went over to score with about four and a half to go it was done and then they got that scrum from the kick in behind.

" I felt we defeated them really well. We were really strong in the tackle and really combated for them. I'm really proud of the tries we put together."

ENGLAND 37

Tries: Cunningham-South 2, Sleightholme 2, Itoje

Cons: Smith 3/5

Pens: Smith 2/2

WALLABIES 42

Tries: Wright, Wilson, Williams, Kellaway, Jorgensen

Cons: Lolesio 2/3, Donaldson 2/2

Pens: Lolesio 3/3

WALLABIES v ENGLAND TEAMS

ENGLAND (15-1): George Furbank; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman; Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer; Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Chandler Cunningham-South; George Martin, Maro Itoje; Will Stuart, Jamie George (capt), Ellis Genge

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Ollie Sleightholme.

Wallabies (15-1): Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini; Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell

Replacements: Brandon Panega-Amosa, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)

Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Paul Williams (New Zealand)

TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

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