The Wallabies had been pilloried all week. Humiliated, almost. The reaction to their loss to the Lions in Brisbane was unsparing and questioning of not just their mettle but the veritable future of the game in Australia.

We thought there would be a reaction but nobody could have foreseen this absolute thunderclap. At the MCG they knocked the Lions for six early on. That first half was mesmeric; six tries, the impetus swinging this way and that, the Wallabies buoyant and then bruised, the Lions beleaguered and then battling hard to get back into it. It was magnificent.

It all started with a Lynagh penalty that put Australia ahead early on. Only mere minutes had gone when it was obvious that these Wallabies were a different beast to the timid animals we saw in Brisbane.

Valetini and Skelton set the tone, carrying hard and hitting like demons. The physicality and intent was fantastic. Lynagh made it 6-0 as the Lions shipped penalties amid the onslaught. There was aggravation out there. Some badness. The Wallabies had found themselves.

So did the Lions, briefly. Sheehan dived over to make it 6-5 but what happened next was extraordinary. Valetini in the vanguard, the Wallabies blasted downfield, won a succession of penalties which they kicked to touch.

They turned the screw and eventually it worked, Slipper barging over for a score that was rapturously greeted by the massive MCG ground wearing gold.

What was worse for the Lions, Freeman was yellow-carded for trying to kill Wallaby ball in the build-up. What was worse again, Australia reacted to his yellow card like men possessed.

The Lions conceded penalty number seven after 27 minutes. Their living nightmare, Valetini, was everywhere, like there were two or three of him out there. How glad the Lions would have been to see him fail to come out for the second half.

With the Lions retreating and on the ropes, Gordon screamed into space at the side of a ruck and scored.

Lynagh’s conversion made it 18-5. A sensation. And it only got more sensational. From the restart, the Wallabies went again. Max Jorgensen ate up space down the right, then Joseph Suaalii motored past Bundee Aki to put the Wallabies into dream territory.

Suaalii found Wright and away the full-back went to the posts; 23-5. Gobsmacking.