Often dismissed in the northern hemisphere as exponents of fluffy running rugby, the Wallabies have been hailed by the British press for their breakthrough victory over the All Blacks in Hong Kong.

Rather than blast their attacking flair, critics in the home of the kick and scrummage game believe Europe's sides won't get close to Robbie Deans' red-hot youngsters.

"The trouble with southern hemisphere teams is that they never stand still," Robert Kitson wrote in The Guardian.

"Let's just say that Australia's breathless 26-24 victory over New Zealand in Hong Kong has not so much raised the bar as pole-vaulted the autumn visitors into a different league."

"What was evident in Hong Kong is that the Wallabies and the All Blacks are committed to making a bold statement, 10 months out from the World Cup. Get it right now, Graham Henry and Robbie Deans are urging, and the benefits will be felt throughout 2011."

The Telegraph's Eric Janssen was equally impressed.

"What this match really showed is how far these teams are ahead of the best the northern hemisphere can dish up," he wrote.

"Relentless pace, incredible skill, and 30-plus players who really wanted to play open, winning rugby - rather than percentage dross.

"Unwittingly, both New Zealand and Australia sent out a wonderful warning to the Home Unions ahead of the autumn internationals: match and catch us if you can."

In The Times, Mark Souster said Australia had proved they were hot on the heels of the All Blacks.

"That they came back and stole the game ... says much for where they stand in the international pecking order; that is only just behind New Zealand, but rapidly closing the gap," he wrote.

Welsh daily the Western Mail was holding out hope the home side could punish the Wallabies' set piece at Millennium Stadium on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT), but Delme Parfitt remained wary.

"When executed well and done at such pace, the Wallabies' cocktail of running wizardry can be virtually impossible to stop," he wrote.

Australia play England, Italy and France in their other spring tour Tests, while NZ are preparing for a tilt at a grand slam.

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