The Wallabies have overcome injury and ill-discipline to pull off a famous 30-28 victory over England in Perth and snap an eight-game losing streak.
The Australians were forced to play a man down for more than half the match on Saturday night after lock Darcy Swain was marched for head-butting English rival Jonny Hill.
But the home side showed courage to stay in the fight and score three second-half tries to end England’s seven-year domination.
The Wallabies led 30-14 but England scored in the 80th and 83rd minute to close the margin to two points.
As well as losing Swain to a red card on 34 minutes, which will likely see him sit out the series, Australia also suffered carnage on the injury front. They lost playmaker Quade Cooper (calf) in the warm-up, fullback Tom Banks (arm) and prop Allan Alaalatoa (concussion) all by the 25th minute.
Noah Lolesio came into the starting side to replace Cooper while James O’Connor was called down to the bench from the hospitality suites at Optus Stadium.
Lolesio’s radar boot proved decisive with the youngster kicking three conversions and three penalties amongst the haul.
Banks suffered a sickening broken arm, landing on it as he contested a high ball and was taken in a medi-cab from the ground.
Despite the disruption the Wallabies went into halftime at 6-6, with Lolesio kicking a penalty after the hooter to level.
England were pinged again at the breakdown three minutes after the break and the Australians took the lead for the first time in the match.
But it was short-lived with the visitors scoring the opening try of the night, driving the ball over from a line-out through prop Ellis Genge.
It looked like Eddie Jones’s men were starting to get on top but the Wallabies refused to lay down.
Their forwards hit the ball up through 10 phases before sending it wide with winger Jordan Petaia rolling across the line in the tackle.
Lolesio’s conversion from the sideline gave the home side a 16-14 lead.
England then lost Billy Vunipola to a yellow card for a dangerous tackle and the Australians took advantage with reserve hooker Folau Fainga’a peeling off a maul to touch down.
They extended their advantage to 28-14 in the 77th minute through Pete Samu and while England debutants Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet crossed late it was Australia’s night.