OUTSIDE the Wallabies' dressing room at Twickenham, forwards coach Michael Foley was in overdrive. This was the moment he had been waiting so long for. The one-time Australian rake had spent the past three years working to get the Wallabies pack back on track, for seemingly little reward. At last, though, his moment had come.

Foley was animated, and with good reason. Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore is pretty good at hiding his emotions. Like so many Test hookers, he enjoys looking grim, and avoids moving the lips too much in case he swallows too many flies. But even he was buzzing.

The look on Moore's face when the Twickenham announcer bellowed, several minutes after the final whistle, that he had won the official man of the match award was priceless. At first, he seemed surprised - after all, a hooker winning the man of the match award is about as rare as a journalist winning a Mr Popularity contest.

And Australian hookers winning man of the match awards at Twickenham? Well, that is akin to journos getting Christmas cards from players. Unheard of.

Moore almost had to ask someone whether he had heard correctly. But that wasn't necessary because he was immediately swamped by his teammates. He was positively glowing and sported a beaming smile. Finally, reward for so much toil.

Al Baxter, who had been verbally beaten up by the English media before the game, was walking three metres tall. Such is the measure of the man that, rather than dishing it back out to his detractors, he was charm personified in the post-match press conference. He beguiled the media with his fine manners, good humour and excitement that in this part of the world they actually liked talking about the scrum. It appeared he had genuinely enjoyed the English having a go at him. Maybe he was also pleased that now they would leave him alone. He may even be praised for the first time in this part of the world. He wasn't holding his breath, though.

Benn Robinson was, as usual, looking flushed and keeping his emotions to himself. He is one of those guys who doesn't get too carried away.

There was emotion, though, when the three front-rowers and their coach embraced in the dressing rooms, excited that at last they had made a difference. What must have irked them was the opinion, held by many, that this would never happen. They privately knew it would, having been reassured by their recent good scrummaging efforts against New Zealand and Italy, and they always believed this would be the moment.

What made it special was that it all came right at a venue where they have been embarrassed before, and against opponents who have taken delight in laughing at the Australian pack. Not any more.

The Wallabies scrum came of age at Twickenham. And with it is emerging the platform that should eventually unleash the Australian attack. Admittedly, they scored only one try, but what was more important was that at last this team is starting to believe in itself.

Twice this year they have squandered good leads. Not on Saturday. They were ahead 12-3 and then behind 14-12, but this time they didn't lose their bearings. Instead, the players went into a huddle and convinced each other to stay calm and believe in themselves, saying the points would come. They did.

Baxter, Moore and Robinson deserve every accolade going, because they have taken pelters for so long. Several others often overlooked are also worthy of mention - in particular, Nathan Sharpe, who had one of his best performances in the green and gold. The Wallabies now really have something to work with. The sparkle of Paris and those big, mangy French forwards with their knuckles dragging along the ground beckon.