“It wasn’t a great start, but I’m really proud of the way the boys fought back,” Australia coach Joe Schmidt told Stan Sport.

The New Zealander added: “I am really proud of the tries that we put together too… I was blown away at how we got out of jail at the end.” Defeat meant England had lost four Tests in a row after last week’s agonising 24-22 loss to New Zealand — their third straight reverse against the All Blacks this year.

Turning narrow leads into wins has been a recurring problem for England and their task won’t get any easier when they face world champions South Africa next weekend.

England coach Steve Borthwick, reflecting on Saturday’s reverse, told TNT Sport: “When you make that number of errors, seven handling errors and 20 turnovers in total, you give the opportunity to the opposition to run in space and score tries and they did.” England took an early 15-3 lead following two tries by flanker Chandler Cunningham-South.

But the Wallabies scored three of their own through Tom Wright, captain Harry Wilson and lock Jeremy Williams to be 28-18 up heading into the last quarter.

England, however, hit back through replacement wing Ollie Sleightholme’s try double to lead 30-28.

But Australia responded when Andrew Kellaway came off his wing to gather a loose pass from replacement George Ford and run clear for a try.

Lolesio’s conversion left the Wallabies five points in front at 35-30 with five minutes left — and there was plenty more drama to come.

England had opened the scoring with a fifth-minute fine try involving both their backs and forwards that stemmed from Smith’s grubber kick, with Cunningham-South going in at the corner.

Cunningham-South had his second try when he powered over from a close-range tap penalty in the 12th minute.

Smith extended England’s lead to 15-3 with a 39-metre penalty before home flanker Tom Curry appeared to be knocked out cold while making a 23rd minute-tackle.

The delay while Curry was treated before going off disrupted England’s rhythm and Australia were soon back in the game.

Much of the pre-match build-up had focused on Schmidt giving a Test debut to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, a $5 million capture from rugby league, even though this was the 21-year-old’s first senior game of rugby union.

Suaalii, however, showed his class when, after Australia declined a kickable penalty, his sublime one-handed pass sent in full-back Wright for a 26th-minute try.

Lolesio converted only for another Smith penalty to put England 18-10 ahead. But No 8 Wilson went over for a try following a fine break by replacement scrum-half Tate McDermott, with Lolesio’s conversion leading the Wallabies 20-18 ahead at half-time.

Wallaby lock Williams dived in at the corner under pressure from England’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ben Spencer early in the second half of a frantic game.

A lengthy video review ensued but, with no conclusive evidence to overturn referee Ben O’Keeffe’s on-field decision, the try stood.

Another Smith grubber kick paved the way for Sleightholme’s maiden Test try and he was soon in again only for the Northampton flyer to end up on the losing side.jdg/lp