Australia's scrummaging deficiencies were terribly exposed as the Wallabies conceded two penalty tries but still survived for a tense 27-17 Cook Cup victory on Saturday night.

Sporting their most inexperienced front-row in 27 years, the depleted Wallabies scrum was completely outmuscled by the grizzled England pack at Subiaco Oval.

It was a demolition job of the same magnitude of harrowing losses to England at Twickenham in 2005 and Marseille at the 2007 World Cup.

But the brilliance of Australia's backline and their superiority in loose play ensured they took the opening Test in the two-match series.

Under-siege Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess gained redemption with a brilliant all-round display to be narrowly tipped out by two-try five-eighth Quade Cooper for the man-of-the-match award.

Burgess superbly set up Cooper's first try in the 31st minute for a 14-0 lead while Cooper sealed the deal by starting and finishing his second five-pointer, as well as kicking a late penalty goal.

The Wallabies' brick-wall defence on their line was also crucial to the result as it repelled wave after wave of close-quarters attack.

"You find out what you're made of down there when there's so many phases on your line," said skipper Rocky Elsom.

"There was some pleasing aspects - the fact they didn't cross the line is a plus.

"They got over it but they didn't put it down."

Missing their four best front-rowers plus regular forwards Wycliff Palu and James Horwill, the Australian pack - boasting just two caps in the front-row - was obliterated in the scrums.

England knew they would never have a better opportunity to add to their mere two victories - both recorded by their world beating 2003 outfit - over the Wallabies on Australian soil.

Coach Robbie Deans' worst fears were realised in the 54th minute when the English pack smashed their rookie front-row repeatedly on their line and Welsh referee Nigel Owens whistled a penalty try.

The score closed to 14-10 but Cooper immediately hit back by putting Digby Ioane down the left touchline with a superb cut out pass.

Tighthead prop Salesi Ma'afu was sin-binned before Owens awarded the second penalty try in the 70th minute which drew England back to 21-17 down.

Ma'afu, Saia Faingaa and Ben Daley were given the searching examination they were expecting early on but by the end of the first half they were starting to gain some parity.

In every other facet of play, the Wallabies were superior and made a series of busts and half-breaks but last passes often went astray.

England coach Martin Johnson was so frustrated by his side's inability to convert their massive scrum advantage into a rare, cherished victory Down Under that he gave them a post-match dressing down.

He was most upset by a dreadful missed tackle count which read 30, compared to the Wallabies' four, at the hour mark and also lamented his side's sloppy attack.

"I thought the effort was generally pretty good but I said to the players they should be pretty angry with themselves," Johnson said.

"We have to be better than that. You can't expect to get two pushover penalty tries every week.

"It (the scrum) is not stand alone - it doesn't suffice by itself."

Australia's composure under heavy fire was far superior throughout, and Deans and Elsom were full of praise for their side's defensive steel.

Berrick Barnes and David Pocock stood out most with gutsy, desperate tackling while Mitchell held up Tom Croft in the 51st minute.

"There was a number of great individual efforts," Elsom said.

"You would say when they were destined to score someone would pull off a ripper tackle and then someone would do it again three phases later."

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