Australia's defeat of England, so often their nemesis in recent years, was one of the Wallabies' most important victories of the past few years, media commentators said on Monday.

The Wallabies' forward pack had been ridiculed in the British media in the run-up to last Saturday's Test at Twickenham — but was a prime reason why England fell well short in a 28-14 loss.

Not only did Australia retain the Cook Cup, they finally proved they had a scrum of substance, could defend a lead, were convinced of each other's abilities, and most importantly knew how to beat England at their own game, The Sydney Morning Herald said.

"They beat them in the scrum. They beat them in field position. And they beat them in relentlessly kicking over the penalties," The Herald's Greg Growden wrote.

"It was like a traditional England Twickenham triumph, except this time it was the team in green and gold who followed the script word perfect."

Australian rugby has been haunted by England's scrum and set-piece superiority in last year's World Cup quarterfinal loss in Marseille and a humiliating scrum disintegration at Twickenham in 2005.

Wallabies forwards coach Michael Foley described the Twickenham triumph as the moment when his Test pack "effectively buried a demon."

And the latest victory will do immeasurable benefit to the Australians' confidence under new coach Robbie Deans, the Herald added.

"After the despair of the World Cup quarterfinal defeat a year ago, some of the pain inflicted on the Wallabies by England remains, which is why there was enormous relief in Australia's dressing room that when the pressure was applied on Saturday, they responded and were able to celebrate a convincing 14-point win," it said.

The Australian newspaper said the Wallabies drove a stake through the heart of a team that has terrorised it for the past five years.

"By day's end, all those English reactionaries who have demonised the experimental laws must have wished the southern hemisphere 'soft' sanctions had been in force on the day," The Australian's Wayne Smith said.

"Had they applied, most of the penalties Matt Giteau coolly converted into points would have led to nothing more sinister than a quick tap kick.

"There was, too, the satisfaction of defeating a full-strength England side with an outfit lacking Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Lote Tuqiri, Berrick Barnes and James Horwill."