Jonny Wilkinson said it felt as if he'd never been away as his long-awaited return to England duty ended in an 18-9 loss to Australia here at Twickenham on Saturday.

The fly-half has known great days against the Wallabies, landing the drop-goal that saw England beat Australia in the 2003 World Cup final and then scoring all of the Red Rose's points as they knocked the green and golds out at the quarter-final stage of the 2007 edition.

Wilkinson, playing his first Test since March 2008 following a dislocated left knee cap - one of 13 injuries that have plagued in the six years since now-England manager Martin Johnson lifted the World Cup - did score all of the hosts' points on Saturday and put in some typically thumping tackles.

But although he kicked England into a 9-5 half-time lead, Wilkinson was powerless to prevent an Australia surge after the break in a match where the Wallabies scored the game's only tries, through scrum-half Will Genia and full-back Adam Ashley-Cooper, as they completed the first leg of a potential grand slam.

"Coming back here with the support and atmosphere, it's amazing; it's a fantastic feeling. That's why it doesn't feel like you've been away," Wilkinson, rejuvenated by a pre-season move from Newcastle to French club Toulon, told Sky Sports.

"You prepare for it as best you can and give it absolutely everything. It's great to be back."

Wilkinson found himself fully fit at a time when England were without a dozen members of their senior squad through injury.

But he was heartened by the way a makeshift side competed against an Australia team recently battle-hardened by playing in the Tri-Nations.

"The great thing is this is a fantastic squad in attitude and energy. It's our first turn, and we're going to use it to bring us tighter."

Johnson, who saw England beaten 28-14 by Australia in last year's corresponding fixture, said: "Overall, they deserved to win. But there were chances for us to do more.

"In the second-half, they dominated territory to such an extent that they're going to score points.

"But that team is playing its first time together - Australia have come straight out of the Tri-Nations and a Test match."

Australia's 32-19 loss to the All Blacks last weekend in Tokyo left them with an unenviable record of six defeats in their last seven Tests.

But they returned to winning ways with a composed second-half performance that ensured their bid to become only the second Wallaby side after Australia's celebrated 1984 team to complete a grand slam - beating England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on the one tour - didn't fall at the first hurdle.

Experienced Australia fly-half Matt Giteau, asked how Australia had turned things round after half-time, replied: "We felt we were doing enough but giving away too many penalties. We just needed to secure the ball and we felt our opportunities would come."

Genia added: "The boys told me about playing at Twickenham and coming off a winner is an amazing feeling.

"We just wanted to work right through the game and we'd have them at the back end."

Ashley-Cooper said: "This is such a special tour for us, a grand slam tour, and we're taking one game at a time.

"It's pleasing to come away with the win."

AFP

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