Australia 27-19 New Zealand

The rugby world slipped off its axis on Saturday, when Australia were thoroughly deserved victors against New Zealand to win the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2011, when they also last previously won a Bledisloe Cup Test. They now head to Auckland with genuine hopes of regaining the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002 despite having not defeated the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1986.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika was rewarded handsomely for his decision to select twin opensides Michael Hooper and David Pocock, the former captains dominant at the breakdown from the opening whistle and Hooper's role in smashing Nehe Milner-Skudder and effecting a turnover key in the match-deciding try from Nic White. That said, Scott Fardy in the No.6 jumper was also immense in the back-row.

Australia also got fine reward from their bench, with Matt Toomua straightening the attack and adding a little starch after replacing the anonymous Bernard Foley, while White was a revelation when he ran on to replace Nick Phipps when the latter's sin-binning had expired.

The biggest surprise, however, was the strength of the Australian scrum, as the oft-maligned set-piece clearly bested their counterparts to deliver a stern warning that they will not be overpowered in the Rugby World Cup by Pool A rivals England and Wales.

For all that was good about Australia's performance, they now have substantial room for improvement. As do New Zealand. Was this the defeat they needed to have ahead of their Rugby World Cup defence? Or was it another indication that a team that has not hit the highlights in defeating Samoa, Argentina and South Africa this season might not be as invincible as we had taken for granted? We'll get a gauge in Auckland next week, but Steve Hansen must surely be concerned that his forwards were bettered and that his side for the second match in succession suffered at the breakdown.

Milner-Skudder was the brightest light for New Zealand, scoring a fine brace of tries in a tremendous display on debut. He has surely played his way on to the plane to England, but he and his fellow All Blacks, meanwhile, really do have to deliver a massive statement in Auckland.

Australia celebrate winning the Rugby Championship © Getty Images

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South Africa 25-37 Argentina

The underdog continued to shock on Saturday night, with Argentina surprising the Springboks in Durban and earning their first ever win over the South Africans. After 20 clashes, and several close losses, the Pumas finally tasted success with a strong 12-point win.

Both sides came into the match determined to earn their first win of The Rugby Championship, but despite two close losses to the All Blacks and Wallabies, the Springboks looked out of touch while the Pumas dominated the set-piece and breakdown in a worrying result for the South Africans ahead of the World Cup.

Yet to win a Test in 2015, the Springboks started poorly with fly-half Handre Pollard making some crucial mistakes, including two poor restarts that really hampered the side, while handling errors dogged the hosts throughout.

Playing his first Test of the tournament after sitting out the opening defeats to New Zealand and Australia, Juan Martin Hernandez took control of the Pumas backline superbly and linked up with winger Juan Imhoff in several strong backline moves. Imhoff scored a marvellous hat-trick in front of the first Pumas side to tour South Africa, the former players receiving a wonderful memory to mark their 50-year celebration.

The visitors led 27-13 at the break and were fortunate to extend that lead immediately after the resumption as Imhoff collected his third try following a quick tap from Hernandez. The Boks were livid though, believing referee Romain Poite had not blown time back on after skipper Jean De Villiers had been given the chance to speak to his players.

That virtually killed off any hope of comeback from the home side, the Springboks managing two second-half five-pointers to add some respectability to a scoreline that otherwise reflected a dark night for South African rugby. A fractured jaw to skipper de Villiers, playing his first Test in nine months, only added to the post-match despair.

Argentina celebrate defeating South Africa for the very first time © Getty Images

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