Borthwick had made a fast start, while also bringing order to the discipline, a key objective of his team.
They seemed to have achieved the first one in 120 seconds. After a typically hectic carry from Ben Earl, the soft hands of the excellent Seb Atkinson and Fin Smith released Feyi-Waboso on a carving line which took him under the posts.
It was a moment full of the intensity, intention and invention that England are desperate to show.
Unfortunately for the hosts, the celebrations were cut short, with the score being scored for Ben Curry’s pass straying towards Ollie Chessum during an earlier phase.
But they didn’t have to wait long.
After eight minutes, Australian indiscipline paved the way for England’s first try.
After an obstruction as England chased a kick, Smith got his attackers into the corner and their maul survived the Australian counter and found its way over the line, with Jamie George latching on for the score.
A loose and limp Australia provided the perfect backdrop for a first-half statement.
Feyi-Waboso was the focal point of England’s early efforts.
After missing the entire Six Nations due to injury, the 23-year-old brings electric pace and evasiveness to the backline.
His break established a prime position, deep in Australia’s 22m, for England’s second try, with missed passes from Henry Slade and George Furbank giving Chessum room to gallop.
As Australia prop Angus Bell was shown a yellow card for a hip tackle on Feyi-Waboso, Joe Heyes broke down the side of a driven maul to put England 19-3 ahead after just over half an hour.
It was the least their domination deserved.
But Max Jorgensen’s interception just before halftime, taking Jack van Poortvliet’s pass to run under the posts, brought back memories of 2024.
When the teams met that year, Australia held on to the footsteps of a fast-starting England before Jorgensen scored a decisive last try to seal victory for the Wallabies.
With Feyi-Waboso failing to return after the break, back row Pollock came off the bench to take up a place on the wing in the absence of three full-back substitutes and their lead was just nine, England were not out of danger.
However, a delightful try, created by Furbank’s precise incision and deft offload, Freeman’s inside pass and goal-scorer Van Poortvliet’s supporting line, restored England’s cushion after the restart, in the final play before Bell returned from the sin bin.
A quick Pollock double increased the hosts’ advantage. For his first try, he collected a loose ball and made his way to the line, before showing his pace from further and further forward to complete a lovely move featuring Smith, Freeman and Furbank.
Australia trailed 38-10 and looked set to record a margin of defeat against England, eclipsing the 24 points they were beaten by in 2017 and 2019.
Tries from Filipo Daugunu and Jeremy Williams in the final 20 minutes avoided that fate, but there was no hiding the gulf between the teams.
With a home Rugby World Cup less than a year away, Wallabies coach Les Kiss, visibly angry in the coaching box, has a lot of work to do.
So did Borthwick, who saw Ben Spencer intercept and dive for his first Test attempt to claim victory.
He will have concerns over center Atkinson, who left with a painful leg injury in the second half, and Feyi-Waboso, who appeared full-time in a protective boot.
But the England head coach can head into the autumn in a much more comfortable position.
Gn sports
