CANBERRA -- The Wallabies delivered a rousing second half against Argentina to secure their first win of the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
The Australians trailed at halftime in the Canberra match but posted a 45-20 win on the back of four second-half tries, with fullback Israel Folau finishing the match with a double.
Coach Michael Cheika said he wanted to give them a "rev-up" at the break but the players were already aware of their lack of intensity and urgency that allowed the Pumas to lead 13-10.
"I didn't need to because they said it themselves," Cheika said.
"They didn't try to hide from the lack of intensity and urgency and they needed to pick it up and own it and they did that in the second half."
The Australians headed into the Canberra match after two losses to the All Blacks and a draw last weekend with South Africa, but the win didn't come easy against the gritty Pumas.
Also winless before the clash, Argentina got the better of the scrappy home side early as they as they dominated territory and possession.
The Wallabies hit the front in the 49th minute with prop Sekope Kepu rumbling across the line.
They never looked back from there with Folau, halfback Will Genia, his replacement Nick Phipps and rookie hooker Jordan Uelese sharing the five-pointers.
Folau had been part of a Twitter backlash after voicing his opposition to same sex marriage but showed his maturity, with the double his fourth this year.
His first came after the Wallabies moved the ball quickly from one side of the field to another before Bernard Foley found his man on the fly.
Foley had a big game, kicking at 100 per cent to contribute 15 points and also pulled off a try-saving tackle in the second half.
Genia's try came after some sustained pressure on the Pumas scrum which saw Enrique Pieretto yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum after multiple penalties.
Skipper Michael Hooper said he felt the victory was more a reward than a relief.
"There's a sense of finally getting a reward for the hard work we've been putting in," Hooper said.
"It's a good feeling for everyone and to get a result as the game builds on is really rewarding."
Australia travel to South Africa to take on the Springboks in Bloemfontein in their next encounter in a fortnight.
