Last week the All Black Test at Twickenham flirted with greatness, this week the Wallaby Test fully tore its clothes off. The common factor: England. They went through the full repertoire of entertainment on the grand scale - from control and comfort into full reverse and then back to attack on a wave of passion that has rarely been seen anywhere. This was a monster of a game.

This had real, almost spiteful edge. It's fair to say that these teams do not like each other, at least not out there on the field of play. The animosity was converted into explosive play of the highest calibre and most positive nature. There was the odd bit of nonsense, the occasional glare and stamp and dig, but the game took over. Vendettas gave way to free-flow, and any theory I proffered about England playing a tighter game was shredded from the outset. So good to be wildly wrong.

There were massive performances everywhere, by Steve Thompson at hooker, by Ben Cohen on the wing. Jason Leonard, winning at the age of 34 his ninety-eighth cap scampered around like a 20-year old. The 20-year old James Simpson-Daniel performed with the wisdom of an old hand. Damn it, everyone played brilliantly.

It is a story worth telling from the beginning. The start of the game was the least enthralling, compared with the middle and the end, but it had its place in the structure of the spectacle. Matt Burke missed with an early penalty but would not miss again until the very end when a penalty to win the game curled agonisingly to the outside of the upright.

England's response was immediate. Richard Hill won a line-out and England began to storm forward. Will Greenwood made ground in midfield and Simpson-Daniel skipped in from the right wing to left. Just when it seemed he was running out of space on the touchline he twisted a pass infield to Cohen who cut through the remaining defenders.

The try was nothing more than they deserved for early enterprise. They had control of the ball, they had drive and they had a spirit of adventure. But before they could improve their score they were pegged back by two penalties by Burke. If Australia could stay in touch without any possession, what might happen when they really pulled themselves together?

Or would England ever let them? Jonny Wilkinson hurt them with a penalty from his own half, then another. The second might have been something better, for after a scything run by Matt Dawson it seemed Daniel Vickerman deliberately prevented the ball from coming out of a try-bound ruck. No yellow card was shown and England had to be content with just three more points.

No matter. Yet another penalty was soon added. England were cruising. And then began their nightmare period. Just before half-time Australia struck back. From a five-metre scrummage Wilkinson stood tight to the forwards and then slipped as he tried to accelerate up in defence. A gap yawned and Elton Flatley ran through.

Moments into the second half another gap appeared in the England defence, as Stephen Larkham spotted two front-row forwards in front of him. Gracefully through he went before feeding the mighty ex-league bruiser Wendell Sailor, who crashed over for his first try for the Wallabies.

Australia were suddenly in the lead. The deficit of 10 points had been demolished in seconds. And then their lead grew. Australia turned over a ruck ball, possibly with a sneaky hand, and Elton Flatley was clear. Jason Robinson set off in pursuit, but just like last week against Doug Howlett, he lost the race. Flatley's second try meant the Wallabies were now in a commanding 9-point lead.

Then 12, as Burke punished a late challenge by Mike Tindall on Larkham. No side protects a lead as well as the world champions. They began to turn England with a kicking game. England looked flustered as they scrabbled for possession.

But slowly, slowly, they restored their shape. Penalties were swapped. England were out of their own half, though, and at least in a position to apply pressure. Two all-important penalties from the nerveless Wilkinson swung the momentum further back their way. With a converted try they would be back in the lead.

It had to come. On a day such as this it simply had to happen. From the restart after that last penalty they powered forward. Robinson went down one wing, before Simpson-Daniel provided the sweetest of short passes for Cohen to rip through the middle. The simple conversion went over.

As if that was the end of the drama. Burke missed his penalty. Greenwood kept dinking the ball to Sailor who charged back on the counter. Now it was a time for all-out defence. Ben Kay and Hill stole line-out ball, the forwards pinched a couple of rucks, but above all the tackles went crunching in.

On came Austin Healey. A cameo chat with Harrison would have done nicely but there was only time for the little imp to release Robinson on a run for the corner. A try to seal things would almost have been an anti-climax. As it was, Robinson kicked and the moment was lost.

But not the game. Australia were pinned in their own 22. Injury time extended to seven minutes but, finally, finally, the whistle went. There was a feeling that these autumn tests, these non-stop annual appearances by the southern-hemisphere teams might dilute the magic of their appeal. My, my, bring them on as often as they care to come.

In terms of World Cup preparation this probably counts for nothing. The Wallabies were almost at full strength but will be different animals 12 months down the line in their own back yard. But comparison between the here and now and events still so distant in the future is irrelevant. This was a beast of a one-off game. And when rugby blossoms like this there is only one thing to do - sit back and cherish it for what it provided on this rare day in autumnal England.

Of course, it won't have done England's long term plans any harm at all. And their record at Twickenham stretches now to 17 games won. A comforting statistic to wrap around the raw excitement of this performance. We thrash out 'great' too often, but this was it. Greatness was embraced and caressed and we were all seduced by this very special game.
England: Robinson; Simpson-Daniel, Greenwood, Tindall (Healey 83), Cohen; Wilkinson, Dawson; Leonard, Thompson, Vickery, Johnson (capt), Kay, Moody, Back, Hill.
Australia: Burke; Sailor, Herbert (Giteau 67), Flatley, Mortlock; Larkham, Gregan (capt); Young, Paul (Freier 68), Noriega (Darwin 71), Vickerman, Harrison, Cockbain, Smith, Kefu.
Referee: P Honiss (New Zealand).

England Tries: Cohen (2). Cons: Wilkinson (2). Pens: Wilkinson (6). Australia Tries: Flatley (2), Sailor. Cons: Burke (2). Pens: Burke (4). att: 75,000

· You've read the piece, now have your say. Email your comments, be as frank as you like, we can take it, to sport.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk or mail the Observer direct at sport@observer.co.uk