Whenever the Wallabies and England face off, it’s generally safe to assume you’ll witness a clash of epic proportions.
The bitter rivalry between the two nations has delivered on countless occasions, often on the biggest stages of them all.
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With this in mind, Rugby.com.au looks back at 12 key moments from Wallabies-England ahead of Sunday’s Test
The first match between the two nations will live in history, setting the scene for one of the fiercest rivalries in world sport as Australia went on tour for the first time.
It’s here where the ‘Wallabies’ moniker was born, unhappy with certain English media labelling them as the ‘Rabbits.’
In front of 18,000 spectators, England got off to a strong start via Edgar Mobbs, who the trophy they play for is named after.
However, the Australians would fight back as a double to Charles Russell secured the 9-3 victory.
1975: The battle of Ballymore
The second Test of the 1975 series is renowned as one of the most physical and violent fixtures between any nations, dubbed the ‘Battle of Ballymore.’
After the Australians clawed out victory at the SCG, the site of this year’s third Test, they came out swinging – literally – as they bullied the English around the park.
Mike Burton ended up finding himself sent off, the first English player to do so, as the Wallabies ran away with the 30-21 victory.
It was reported the RFU was so incensed that they considered cancelling Australia’s return fixture at Twickenham, which England ended up winning 23-6.
1991: The breakthrough World Cup
Following the intense scenes at Ballymore, the rivalry went to another level at the 1991 World Cup Final, setting the scene for what would come.
Hosts England recovered from an early defeat to New Zealand to book their place in the final, joined by Bob Dwyer’s Wallabies after two tight wins.
The Wallabies scored the lone try of the match as Tom Daly powered over the line after a brutal run from Willie Ofahengaue.
From here, the boot of Michael Lynagh and an inspirational defensive performance kept the English at bay, delivering a historic World Cup victory for the Australians.
1995: Revenge in South Africa
Four years later, the English got the perfect chance at revenge when the two teams faces off in the quarter-finals in Cape Town.
Once again, the boot of Lynagh proved lethal as he traded penalties with Rob Andrew throughout the tense 80-minute period, neither team able to be split when the siren sounded.
As the match went into extra-time, a fortuitous lineout win for England gave them possession in the Wallabies’ half, with Andrew delivering a brilliant 45-metre drop goal to seal their semi-final spot.
With the wounds from the World Cup still fresh, the Wallabies saw a depleted England side as the perfect target to make a statement in Brisbane.
The Australians were dominant from the start, running in four first half tries before blowing them away after the break.
Ben Tune and Stephen Larkham caused havoc for the visitors as they each crossed for hat-tricks as the Australians put on seven tries in the second half, five in the last ten minutes.
It remains England’s largest defeat in their history, setting the scene for what would be referred to as the ‘Tour from Hell.’ Meanwhile, the Wallabies went on to win their second World Cup the following year, with the English knocked out in the quarters after scrapping in.
2003: The drop goal heard around the world
It remains one of the finest World Cup Finals in Rugby history, a game that lives in the memories of any Wallabies and England fan.
In front of a packed Telstra Stadium – now Accor – Lote Tuqiri opened the scoring after a perfect cross-field kick before England hit the front through two Wilkinson penalties and a Jason Robinson try in the corner.
Wilkinson and Elton Flatley would trade penalties well into extra time before the English flyhalf stepped up and sealed the game.
In one of the most iconic Rugby moments of the 21st century, Wilkinson slotted back into the pocket and received the perfect pass from Matt Dawson, nailing the winning drop goal to break the hearts of Australians around the country.
2015: A historic elimination
Having been knocked out of the 2007 World Cup in the quarter-finals, the Wallabies were handed a perfect opportunity for revenge eight years later.
England’s shock loss to Wales in the group stages left them in serious danger of being eliminated from the knockout stages for the first time in history, heightened by the fact they were hosting the event.
With all to play for, Bernard Foley stepped up and produced one of the finest individual performances in recent memories.
Foley scored a double as part of his 28-point haul to guide Australia to a 33-13 win over England, sealing their fate as the only host nation to fail to make the knockout stages.
2016: The turning of the tide
After the 2015 World Cup, the Wallabies were full of confidence as they welcomed England for a three-Test series.
However, what arrived was a vastly different English outfit, full of confidence under new coach Eddie Jones.
The whitewash completely flipped both sides’ fortunes, highlighted by a 44-40 thriller at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Owen Farrell scored 24 points to kick the English to victory as part of a dominant series victory, their first over the Wallabies.
It’s a moment that defines the rivalry as Owen Farrell’s try-saving shoulder charge on Izack Rodda turned the tide in England’s 37-18 lead.
After the Wallabies had all the momentum trailing England 13-10 on the stroke of halftime, Rodda burst onto the ball and looked certain to score, stopped by an illegal tackle from Farrell missed by the referee.
What looked to be a certain penalty try was denied despite conjecture from Wallabies captain Michael Hooper
It left coach Michael Cheika fuming as the English raced away in the second half for the victory.
It was seemingly fate that both sides would once again face off in the World Cup, the seventh time in just nine tournaments.
Unfortunately for the Australians, the result went the way of past fixtures as they were blitzed by the eventual runner’s up.
An early double to Jonny May set the tempo for a dominant display as the Australians had little answer for their attack.
Four penalties to Owen Farrell and a late Anthony Watson try sealed their fate and the end of the Michael Chieka era.
The opening Test of the 2022 England series is one of the craziest in recent memories from start to finish.
The drama began before the game with a late withdrawal of Quade Cooper, pushing Noah Lolesio into the starting side and James O’Connor out of his corporate duties onto the bench.
Between Tom Banks’ broken arm, Allan Alaalatoa’s concussion and Darcy Swain’s headbutt on Johnny Hill, it was a half that had it all.
Somehow, the Wallabies still found a way to win as Lolesio had a starring performance in the 30-28 victory
The Wallabies were left wondering what could’ve been after a tough English performance delivered Jones’ men the series win.
The hosts hit the front early through a great Tom Wright try before some magic from Marcus Smith silenced the crowd and delivered England the lead.
Folau Fainga’a’s try gave them hope before they failed to convert several late chances to go down 21-17.
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