Matt Toomua starred for Australia in their drought-breaking victory over South Africa on Saturday in Brisbane, with the Leicester Tigers centre finishing with 15 points in his first start for the Wallabies since 2016.
Named at inside centre for the Suncorp Stadium showdown with the Springboks alongside former Wasp Kurtley Beale in a re-shuffled Wallabies side, Toomua scored a try and kicked four goals to help steer the Australians to their first test win in five internationals and just their second of the calendar year.
A first minute try to the home side from captain Michael Hooper was converted by Toomua to see the Australian's lead by seven within sixty seconds, however two tries and a penalty goal from the Sprinboks saw them in front 15-7 at the half hour mark when, in a tactical substitution by Australia coach Michael Cheika, Tigers hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was replaced in the front-row.
Just minutes later and the Wallabies were over for their second try of the night thanks to a opportunist effort from Toomua, who added the conversion to take the home side to within one point of their opponents.
Both sides added penalty goals in the closing minutes of the first half and at the break, it was the Springboks who had the lead 18-17.
Neither team managed to cross for another try in the second half, despite an exciting and physical international encounter that had plenty on offer for fans.
Australia, who hadn't had the lead since the 13th minute took it back on the 54th when Toomua landed another successful penalty attempt before the Tigers centre sent another through the goal posts on the 68th minute to stretch the Wallabies lead to six, where it would stay until full-time.
Polota-Nau re-joined the action in the 70th minute in an injury replacement, seeing the Tigers front-rower finish with 40 minutes to his name in the win.
Meanwhile, across the ditch, Argentina pushed the All Blacks for the first half in their Rugby Championship fixture in Nelson but couldn't hold off the force of a youthful and energised Kiwi side in the second half who eventually closed out the match 46-24 thanks to starring roles from Shannon Frizzell and TJ Perenara.
Gaston Cortes, who joined Leicester Tigers over the summer from Bristol, came off the bench for the final quarter of the match and scrummaged well against an All Blacks side flexing their muscles and depth less than 12 months out from the Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand's only concern out of the game were injuries to Brodie Retallick and Ngani Laumape who were unable to finish the game.
Australia host Argentina next weekend in Queensland, while the All Blacks welcome the Springboks to New Zealand.
