Australia overcome Argentina with 16-10 win in Brisbane

Australia 16-10 Argentina, Suncorp Stadium
Scorecard

Australia bounced back from their defeat against South Africa with a 16-10 win over Argentina in the second round of the Rugby Championship in Brisbane on Saturday.

This is Australia's first win in the tournament as they move to the third position in the table while Argentina are at bottom.

The game also saw James O'Connor making Australia return after a six-year hiatus while Christian Leali'ifano looked good on his first international game after a battle with leukemia.

Argentina were penalised in the 11th minute following which Leali'ifano kicked a penalty goal to get the Wallabies off the mark. The Pumas levelled the scores by the 24th minute when Nicolas Sanchez kicked a three-pointer of his own.

With eight minutes left for the break, a combination of Marika Koroibete and Kurtley Beale fed Reece Hodge for the opening try in the game and Leali'ifano's conversion ensured the home side had a 10-3 lead.

Leali'ifano with back to back penalties at the start of the second half stretched Wallabies' tally to 16 points. Though Cheika's men had a scare with Facundo Isa crossing over in the 74th minute at the back of a maul and a conversion from Joaquin Diaz Bonilla reduced the arrears to six points.

By the 77th minute, Matt Toomua missed a penalty goal but Australia went on to open their account in the tournament with a six point victory.