After a narrow loss to New Zealand last week, England must have thought things could not get more painful than that.

Australia were supposed to be the perfect pick-me-up following a dramatic loss to the All Blacks, but instead they piled on more misery.

The manner of it will sting for England, too. Once again, they looked like they were going to get over the line in a tight game - but their hopes were dashed at the death.

When Maro Itoje went over with two minutes to go and Marcus Smith nailed the conversion, England were 37-35 up and within touching distance of a first win this autumn.

Australia, though, roared back with a try that summed up how they played all day. They looked like they were setting up for a drop-goal, but Len Ikitau carried and then threw an offload out of the back of his hand to Max Jorgensen. The wing raced through and went over in the corner, as England players fell to their floor.

The conversion was slotted, but by that point those at Twickenham were already beginning to filter out - presumably to drown their sorrows in the nearby bars.

And who can blame them? England came into this Test as huge favourites against an Australia side who are in a hole.

The Wallabies had lost five of their last six matches and finished bottom of the Rugby Championship. At last year’s World Cup, they crashed out in the pool-stage for the first time. They are ranked ninth in the world, below Italy and Fiji. England had also won 10 of their previous 11 meetings against them before day.

There is a belief that head coach Joe Schmidt can turn Australia around and so can cross-code star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who was man of the match on his debut, here.

The 21-year-old was electric on what was, incredibly, his first game of professional rugby union. The hype around him is, on this evidence, entirely justified, and his no-look pass to create Tom Wright’s try was a thing of beauty.

That came during a pulsating first-half, which Australia went in leading 20-18 - despite England’s fast start. Chandler Cunningham-South went over twice in the opening 15 minutes, with Smith setting a fast tempo.

Smith, as he was against the All Black last week, was excellent. His fingerprints were all over England’s five tries, especially the first of the two substitute Ollie Sleightholme scored. Smith played a delightful kick through and the wing raced onto to score.

Against the All Blacks, Steve Borthwick was criticised for hooking Smith - but he stayed on here, shifting to full-back. It seemed a wise decision - especially when Smith nailed his late conversion.

Australia, though, had other ideas and England, once again, have to lick their wounds ahead of a showdown with the world champions South Africa next week.