Rugby: Desperate Wallabies keep grand slam dream alive

Adam Ashley-Cooper sealed the win for the Wallabies with his 72nd minute try. Photo / Getty Images

TWICKENHAM - Australia beat England 18-9 at Twickenham today after sorting out some early indiscipline that threatened to hand the home side victory.

Will Genia and Adam Ashley-Cooper touched down as Australia outscored the injury-hit home side by two tries to none, with all England's points coming from the boot of the returning Jonny Wilkinson.

The Wallabies were initially dogged by the sort of problems that England exhibited 12 months ago and repeatedly gave away penalties to let the home side go 9-5 ahead by halftime.

But England invited more pressure on its own line as its attacking play became hesitant and obvious, with only the absence of centre Stirling Mortlock and the penalty count stopping Australia from taking further advantage.

"The blokes came out today and showed their composure," Australia coach Robbie Deans said. "With trust and patience, they got their reward and that's a habit we've got to keep.

"There's no easy shortcut to scoring tries."

England dominated the lineout and opened up the hard-tackling Aussies when its backs got quick ball, but it didn't happen enough and the visitors were never seriously threatened after the first 26 minutes.

"In the second half, we struggled to get out of our half, and when we did we kicked the ball away a little bit too much and invited pressure back on ourselves," England team manager Martin Johnson said. "I've said to the guys, we were playing a pretty battle-hardened team coming straight out of the All Blacks game and a Tri-Nations series and that probably showed."

Australia, which lost 32-19 to New Zealand in Tokyo last week, showed plenty of muscle and attacking enterprise but was regularly called for holding onto the ball. It failed to give space at the lineout, entering mauls from the side and the occasional dangerous tackle.

Things could have been worse for England, which hosts Argentina next week before playing the All Blacks.

When the Wallabies found space to mount their first real attack in the 18th, their inability to exploit the gaps resulted in No 8 Wycliff Palu taking the ball into contact and being penalized for holding on.

At least England captain Steve Borthwick was quick to bark referee Bryce Lawrence's warnings to his teammates to prevent the sort of infringements that contributed to last year's 28-14 loss.

Wilkinson started an international for the first time in 18 months and roused the crowd with a third-minute drop goal and then a penalty awarded when wing Peter Hynes lifted Ugo Monye off the ground in the tackle.