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Brisbane - Australia's World Cup aura has faded, while revitalised England has soared to a new level with their masterful first Test victory in Brisbane, Australian media said on Sunday.
England, unbeaten under Australian coach Eddie Jones, posted only their fourth win in 18 Tests in Australia with a well-executed 39-28 triumph over the Wallabies in the series opener on Saturday.
Australian media saluted England's superiority in their first ever win at Suncorp Stadium and pointed to the challenge ahead for Michael Cheika's second-ranked team in the remaining Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
"The victory for the visitors was sweet revenge for being dumped from their own World Cup in London eight months earlier by the same team in gold," Brisbane's Sunday Mail said.
"The English produced a superb display to break a wretched four-loss record since they started playing Tests in Brisbane in 1975."
The Sun Herald said Jones, the feisty England coach, should take a bow.
"The illusion that an unexpected spot in the World Cup final would usher in a new era of Wallaby dominance across the hemispheres can now be safely removed," it said.
"England have regrouped, gone to a new level and on this night, the Wallabies were unable to go with them. Jones must take a another bow."
England failed to make the knockout stage in the World Cup on home soil last year and were beaten in the group phase by the Wallabies, who went to make the final where they lost to New Zealand.
"If the Wallabies wanted fresh challenges this (southern) winter, they knew a revitalised England were going to provide just that, although the magnitude of the mountain they now confront has now been revealed in all its brutal, blood-stained splendour," the Sun Herald added.
The Australian newspaper said England's superb victory set up the series for a thrilling second Test in Melbourne next Saturday.
"From the greatest Australian victory on English soil to the greatest English victory on Australian soil, Eddie Jones' England set the Cook Cup series alight with their win over the Wallabies," it said.
"But there was no question that Jones had his side ready to play not only 'Bodyline' physical rugby but smart rugby too."
