Clive Woodward's England side made history today in Melbourne's Telstra Dome by becoming the first English team to win on Australian soil when they defeated the Wallabies, 25-14. And they silenced their southern hemisphere critics by out-scoring the home side three tries to one. Amazingly the Australians had to wait till the final minute before they managed to cross the English line, Wendell Sailor scoring a fine individual try. But by then there was no way back for the home team who trailed 12-13 at half time after Will Greenwood and Mike Tindall had each scored a try.

In the second half, the Wallabies managed to reduce the deficit to just three points with two Joe Roff penalties but Johnny Wilkinson then kicked his first penalty of the game and added the points to Ben Cohen's to push his side two scores clear (22-9).

In those frantic closing stages Sailor finally got the try but Roff was not able to convert and the game ended seconds after Wilkinson had driven a penalty firmly between the uprights.