The win came just seven days after they toppled the All Blacks in New Zealand.

And the effect of both results is likely to remove any lingering doubt – especially in the southern hemisphere – about England’s World Cup credentials.

On current form, Johnson and company must be favourites to lift rugby union’s ultimate prize. They now have less than four months to wait before returning Down Under and launching their World Cup campaign against Georgia in Perth.

Under the closed roof of Melbourne’s Telstra Dome, England made it 11th time lucky, outscoring Australia 3-1 on tries as Will Greenwood, Mike Tindall and Ben Cohen all claimed superb touchdowns on an historic occasion.

Jonny Wilkinson chipped in with two penalties and two conversions, while Australia produced a late try from the outstanding Wendell Sailor and three Joe Roff penalties.

England first played the Wallabies in Australia in 1963, underlining what a red-letter day June 21, 2003 will become in the annals of English rugby history.

A stunning passage of play saw England put together 13 phases as backs and forwards combined magnificently to buckle Australia’s much-vaunted defence.

In the end, the Wallabies ran out of strength and numbers, enabling Greenwood to touch down and claim his 25th Test match touchdown – an England mark bettered only by Rory Underwood and Jeremy Guscott.

Wilkinson converted, but England were then forced on to the back foot as Roff slotted a penalty and the dangerous Sailor caused problems through his strength and pace.

Roff, scourge of Johnson’s Lions on the same Melbourne ground two years ago, set up a thrilling counter-attack that only narrowly failed to result in a try, which was the cue for England’s forwards to take charge.

And Australia had no answer, as their defence was unlocked for a second time 10 minutes before the break.

Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Trevor Woodman all made the hard yards, before brilliant flick-passes by Wilkinson and Greenwood sent Tindall scampering clear.

Wilkinson’s conversion attempt hit the post, yet England immediately charged back upfield and were agonisingly close to claiming an astonishing try after their pack finished the opening period by producing a 40-metre rolling maul.

Australia, having been on the back foot for so long, had to score first in the second half, and Roff obliged with his second penalty.

It served as a warning signal to England, and a high tackle by Wallabies flanker Phil Waugh on Tindall, allowed Wilkinson a pressure-relieving penalty as his touchfinder landed just outside Australia’s 22.

Back came the Wallabies though, stretching England’s defence, and Roff completed his penalty hat-trick on 49 minutes before Clive Woodward made a double switch off the bench.

Flanker Richard Hill appeared to be limping just before he was replaced by Wasps forward Joe Worsley, while Matt Dawson took over from scrum-half Kyran Bracken.

And England effectively finished the Wallabies off 16 minutes from time, when Wilkinson’s wonderfully-timed pass enabled Cohen to burst through on a searing angle and blaze past full-back Chris Latham.

Wallabies wing replacement Mat Rogers came close to a late try – the combined defensive work of Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey thwarted him – before a spectacular Sailor solo effort at least enabled Australia to finish on a high.

It was England’s day, though – and a truly memorable one at that – which Wilkinson sealed with an injury-time penalty.