Australia try in added time beats England 42-37 as Sua'ali'i makes eye-catching debut

LONDON (AP) — Australia scored a try in the fourth minute of added time to beat England 42-37 win in a classic test match featuring an eye-catching rugby debut by code-hopper Joseph Sua’ali’i at Twickenham on Saturday.

Maro Itoje looked to have secured England an 11th victory in its last 12 meetings with Australia with a converted 79th-minute try, only to knock the ball on at the restart to give the Wallabies a final chance with the clock in the red.

After seven phases, Max Jorgensen collected Len Ikitau’s stunning flicked offload and ran through from 40 meters to dive over in the left corner and seal a memorable win at the start of its first Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland in eight years.

England has never scored so many points and lost at Twickenham, with this latest setback coming after a 24-22 reverse against New Zealand last weekend.

“Leaking 42 points at home is unacceptable,” England captain Jamie George said.

Each team scored five tries in a breathless encounter that might be most memorable for a seamless transition to the 15-man code by the 21-year-old Sua’ali’i, who was playing at outside center in his first professional game of rugby union after switching from rugby league last month.

He set up one try with a deft offload over a defender and showcased his supreme athleticism to vindicate Australia coach Joe Schmidt’s decision to throw him into the team straight away, five years after Sua'ali'i's last outing in the 15-man code — for Australian Schoolboys.

“Just getting the win like that was amazing,” said Sua'ali'i, who lived up to his billing as a potential savior of Australian rugby ahead of the British and Irish Lions touring Down Under next year and the 2027 Rugby World Cup hosted by Australia.

“It was very tough. I was just trying to get the ball as much as I can and I enjoyed my first game back.”

Australia’s first win at Twickenham since the 2015 World Cup hardly looked on when England pushed into a 15-3 lead after 20 minutes on the back of two close-range tries by flanker Chandler Cunningham-South.

The tourists' fightback was sparked by Sua’ali’i, who showed his dexterity by popping a pass over England back George Furbank and into the path of Tom Wright to allow the fullback to cruise over in the left corner.

Sua’ali’i's skills even extended to winning a restart with an extraordinary leap above Itoje and giving possession to the Wallabies, who — minutes later — went over for a second try through captain Harry Wilson after Tate McDermott's break.

When Noah Lolesio booted a penalty for a 20-18 halftime lead, England had conceded more points at home to Australia than ever before.

Jeremy Williams barged through Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's tackle to extend Australia's lead to 25-18 and it was soon a 10-point cushion after Lolesio's penalty.

Replacment back Ollie Sleightholme then scored two tries — in the 57th and 68th minutes — to regain the lead for England, setting up a scarcely believable finish.

George Ford’s misplaced pass behind Ollie Lawrence was picked up by Andrew Kellaway, who ran from halfway and weaved his way over the line and put Australia back in front.

Then came Itoje's score that looked to have won it for England.

Ikitau and Jorgensen had other ideas as the English blew another lead, as they did in three straight losses to the All Blacks before this match.

While England will look to end its run of four straight defeats when South Africa visits Twickenham next weekend, Australia continues its tour at Wales before trips to Scotland and Ireland.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

England's Marcus Smith kicks a penalty during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Australia's Len Ikitau, right, and Joseph Suaalii celebrate after team-mate Max Jorgensen, not in photo, scored a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, left, attends the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Australia's Tom Wright scores their side's first try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Australia's Jeremy Williams scores their side's second try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Australia's Len Ikitau, left, celebrates after team-mate Max Jorgensen, not in photo, scored a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Australia's Harry Wilson, centre, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

England's Ollie Sleightholme, centre, tumbles after scoring a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

England's Ollie Sleightholme, left, battle for the ball with Australia's Noah Lolesio during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

England's Ollie Sleightholme, right, scores a try as Australia's Andrew Kellaway tries to defend during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Australia's Joseph-Aukuso Suallii scores a try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Australia's players celebrate after their teammate Max Jorgensen scored the winning try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Australia's Joseph-Aukuso Suallii, right, is challenged by England's Ollie Sleightholme during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between England and Australia, at Twickenham stadium, London Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Klay Thompson exited the team bus then beamed as he strolled back into Chase Center on Tuesday night, greeted by some 400 cheering Warriors employees who lined up along his path to the Dallas locker room to show their love and appreciation for the former Golden State star.

They sported “Captain Klay” hats, the giveaway for all fans on a celebratory night remembering Thompson's 13 years with the franchise, two of those spent injured, and four championships he helped win here.

Those white hats filled Chase Center, where video highlights of Thompson showed in a place where he's still beloved — and always will be. Stephen Curry jogged up to Thompson, now wearing No. 31 with teammate Kyrie Irving in No. 11, and offered a quick embrace before Andrew Wiggins also hugged his old teammate.

Earlier, after a brief jump-rope routine outside the Mavericks' locker room, Thompson ran out the tunnel and onto the floor to thunderous applause from Warriors fans with phones up to capture the moment of Thompson's return.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Curry had considered addressing the crowd before tipoff but spoke with Thompson and they decided to each focus on the game, though Kerr knew it would be something when they had to defend each other.

Who would the Warriors put on Thompson?

“I'm not telling you,” Kerr cracked.

Curry fouled his former Splash Brother 15 seconds into the game and Thompson scored the initial two points of the contest on free throws. Thompson missed his initial two field-goal attempts before knocking down a 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining in the opening quarter.

“I imagine that he'll be the exact same guy that I watched for 10 years, so he's always aggressive,” Kerr said. “I'm sure he's coming out firing and none of us would have it any way different than that.”

The Warriors invited all their employees to be part of the welcoming committee for Thompson, who joined Dallas in July on a three-year, $50 million contract. Thompson, 34, missed more than 2 1/2 years — the entire 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons — recovering from surgeries on his left knee and right Achilles tendon before making his comeback in January 2022.

“I think what he overcame is almost unprecedented,” Kerr said. “... The last couple of years after he came back he struggled reconciling all of that, losing those prime seasons. We all saw that, saw him struggle with it emotionally. We saw him fight to get his game back. He helped us win a championship, led the league in 3s two years ago, he did a lot of amazing things.

"We wished that this had gone forever, that Klay would have finished his career with us but circumstances always dictate these things. In the end I think he made the right choice. I think he needed a fresh start, I think he needed kind of a new set of surroundings and that was apparent last year. He was not happy and that was hard to see, because he deserves to be happy. At his core he's a very happy person.”

Thompson has tried to downplay the magnitude of being back in the Bay Area, though it certainly was emotional for everybody involved.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and basketball is basketball,” he said.

But when the home crowd went crazy and tipped those captain hats when he was introduced, Thompson became visibly emotional and clearly touched by the tribute. He waved and saluted in several directions.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd called the Mavericks “lucky to get him," and imagined how hard this might be for Thompson with so many emotions.

“He’s a true pro. Comes to work, understands what it means to win,” Kidd said. "We can talk about his ability to shoot the ball, space and his gravity. We can run him around, he’s going to create space for others. So when you talk about the big picture that’s hard to find, and we didn’t have that, and it was much-needed.”

Golden State held a “Salute Captain Klay” ceremony before tipoff to pay tribute to Thompson’s contributions to the franchise and his tradition of boating across the bay to games. He will be back again in February in the Mavs' second trip to Chase Center.

“This is all staff. It's unbelievable,” Warriors President and COO Brandon Schneider said. “What Klay has meant to our organization and to all of us the last 13 years, the team accomplishments, individual accomplishments, who he is as a person, what he's done in the community, it is a special night.”

For Kerr, this moment felt far different from Thompson's triumphant return nearly three years ago from the injuries and daunting grind of rehab that the veteran guard considered some of the most difficult days of his life.

“That was a welcome back, we knew there were a lot of good times ahead. In fact there was a championship six months later,” Kerr said. “This one is obviously more of a goodbye, the first time we will have seen him. ... It'll feel very strange but it will be a different vibe, more of a thank you and a goodbye and everything that you've meant to us."

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, right, is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, left, loses the ball while driving to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson waves toward fans before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Mavericks in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans cheer as Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson jogs onto the court to warm up before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson warms up before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, hugs Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, middle, as guard Kyrie Irving, right, walks on the court before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson reacts toward fans before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Mavericks in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., right, shoots over Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

FILE - Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots against Utah Jazz forward's Darius Bazley (21) and Brice Sensabaugh (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn, File)

FILE - Golden State Warriors guards Klay Thompson, left, and Stephen Curry and forward Draymond Green, right, laugh while being interviewed, Nov. 30, 2023, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, foreground left, is greeted by Golden State Warriors employees and media as he arrives before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game between the Warriors and the Mavericks in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson is greeted by Golden State Warriors employees and media as he arrives before an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game between the Warriors and the Mavericks in San Francisco, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)