Wounded Wallabies edge England

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The Wallabies overcame multiple injuries and a first-half red card for a famous win over England in Perth on Saturday.

Australia suffered a major blow before kick-off as veteran playmaker Quade Cooper was pulled after picking up a calf injury in the warm-up. Noah Lolesio was promoted to the starting XV and James O’Connor came on to the bench.

But it all failed to stop the rampaging hosts, who powered home to a thrilling 30-28 victory thanks to a brilliant second-half display at Optus Stadium.

England took a quick 3-0 lead after flank Tom Curry forced a penalty at the breakdown and centre Owen Farrell slotted a 30-metre penalty for the first points of the game.

The visitors went in search of extra points but solid defence and pilfering from the hosts kept them at bay, before Farrell added three more at the end of the first quarter.

The Wallabies then lost fullback Tom Banks to a suspected broken arm, but Lolesio reduced the margin on the scoreboard after they earned a scrum penalty.

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Australia loosehead prop Allan Alaalatoa also departed for an HIA before the Aussies were pinged for not rolling away, but England missed the opportunity to extend their advantage when Farrell dragged the resultant penalty just wide of the uprights.

England lock Jonny Hill was yellow-carded for pulling Australia rival Darcy Swain’s hair, and the Aussie saw red for a headbutt in response, in a wild sequence of plays as the first half drew to a close.

The visitors were then penalised for hands in the ruck and Lolesio slotted a simple kick from in front of the posts after the hooter to level the scores at the break.

Lolesio put the Wallabies in front after the restart with his third penalty of the game, but England hit back via the rolling maul as prop Ellis Genge powered over.

Farrell nudged the conversion wide, but made no mistake with his fourth penalty attempt as the visitors extended their advantage by five with 20 minutes left to play.

The Wallabies hit back through Jordan Petaia and Folau Fainga’a to take a 23-14 lead over an England side down to 14 men after Billy Vunipola was controversially sin-binned what was deemed a high tackle.

Pete Samu then finished off a great team try, before late strikes from England teenager Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet, as the Wallabies clinched their first win over their old rivals since the 2015 World Cup, handing Eddie Jones his first loss in Australia since taking over as England coach.

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Devin Hermanus