LONDON –

Ben Morgan scored two tries as England produced a classic forwards performance to beat Australia 26-17 on Saturday but the Wallabies showed enough to suggest there will be nothing between the teams when they meet again in the World Cup next year.

Both sides had lost two of their three November internationals and were desperate to gain some sort of advantage ahead of what could be a pivotal pool meeting back at Twickenham in 10 months.

England, deservedly, got the win with its forwards sending a message that they will be a tough proposition for anyone in next year's tournament.

"It has been a tough four weeks but I'm so proud of the way the guys have stuck together," England captain Chris Robshaw told Sky Sports. "The way we played today was a bit more fluid.

"We still feel there are areas of our game we need to improve on but hats off to the front-five boys."

Australia has now lost to France, Ireland and England and with just a solitary win over Wales in its worst autumn tour since 2005.

Still feeling their way under new coach Michael Cheika, however, the Wallabies' ever-dangerous backs showed that they too are capable of mounting a serious challenge.

England had lost to New Zealand and South Africa but, playing in dry conditions for the first time in the series, the home team immediately looked on song.

England's scrum and lineout — the best of any test nation through 2014 — were hugely impressive, there was more thought to its kicking game and flyhalf George Ford found his runners coming through with pace.

Wales sinks Springboks

Cardiff Wales REUTERS

Wales ended its long and frustrating wait for victory over a Southern Hemisphere heavyweight when Leigh Halfpenny kicked it to a 12-6 victory over South Africa on Saturday.

Welsh celebrations were at odds with Springbok gloom. Among the World Cup favorites when they return to these shores next year, their Northern Hemisphere tour was marred by an apparent serious leg injury suffered by captain and center Jean de Villiers.

"I thought Wales played well and were the better team. We normally build momentum in the last 20 minutes, but there were two big turning points. We lost our captain and got a yellow card," South Africa head coach Heyneke Meyer, told the BBC.

It was only a second win for Wales in 28 games against the big three of New Zealand, Australia and the Springboks, and the first over South Africa since 1999 having lost its last 16 before Saturday's triumph.

Wales had come agonizingly close to beating the Springboks in June, a late converted penalty try condemning it to a 31-30 defeat in Nelspruit.

In a dress rehearsal for a possible World Cup quarterfinal meeting next year if both progress from the pool stage, Pat Lambie landed two penalties for the tired-looking Springboks.