Barbarians captain Alastair Kellock (right) contests a lineout with James Horwill of Australia
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News: Cheika to follow Lancaster's example

Matches: Barbarians 36 - 40 Australia

Teams: Australia | Barbarians

New Australia coach Michael Cheika began his reign with a victory as Australia recorded their first win on foreign soil in almost a year against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

In an entertaining game, the Barbarians had a narrow lead heading into the final 20 minutes of the match but three tries from the tourists saw them pull comfortably away to win 40-36.

Frank Halai scored the first try of the game on 15 minutes as the Baabaas made their extravagant start - which included a 40-yard lineout throw and an overhead kick at a tap penalty - finally count on the scoreboard.

Sam Carter touched down for Australia 10 minutes later although it took a video review to confirm there had not been a knock-on in the build up. The 7-5 lead lasted only two minutes as Adam Thomson got in at the corner for the Barbarians.

Benn Robinson plunged over from close range on 31 minutes to put Australia into a 14-12 lead that they took into the half-time interval. A superb break by Tevita Kuridrani early in the second half extended that to 21-12 but almost immediately Francis Saili beat substitute Sean McMahon to a kick through and the TMO confirmed a try.

Colin Slade's penalty from near halfway put the Barbarians 22-21 ahead with a quarter of the match to play, but Australia pulled away from there. First Rob Horne crossed for a try and then substitute Bernard Foley followed suit before McMahon added his second of the game.

There was still time for Nick Cummins to register a crowd-pleasing try late on with Cummins then setting up Marnitz Boshoff for arguably the try of the match, a 60-metre dash that had the crowd on its feet.

Despite a helter-skelter finish, the Wallabies secured their first victory outside of Australia since beating Wales in Cardiff last November.

The Barbarians threw out all their trademark trick plays in the first 10 minutes - but were unable to make any count. Luatua's American Football lineout throw rocketed to Cummins in the outside centre channel, catching the Wallabies unawares. The Japan-based flyer knocked on though, killing cheeky move number one.

When Slade punted a penalty to the corner rather than for goal, in the ultimate touring-side spirit, the Baabaas then pumped 11 men into the five-metre lineout. Australia conceded a penalty rather than a try from the drive, teeing up the Barbarians for another sneaky ploy.

Tomas Cubelli tapped the five-metre penalty then chipped the ball back over his head, again catching the Australians napping. Slade rose highest in the in-goal area, only to knock the ball on off his shoulder.

Just when Australia looked to wrestle the initiative though, Slade kick-started a fine scoring move with an inch-perfect jink and offload out of the tackle to Cummins. The industrious Matt Stevens clawed a pass off his toes in midfield to keep the move alive, before the ball was whipped wide to Halai. The Auckland Blues wing scythed in at the perfect moment to open the scoring.

Francis Saili's defence-turning grubber sent Halai racing through again, only for the wing to fly-hack on when he should have scooped up.

Cooper sustained Australia's curiously indifferent start by botching a four-man overlap with a needless miss-pass, only for lock Carter to punch over for a try on the next phase. Not even a TMO spotted Saia Fainga'a's clear midfield knock-on, leaving the Baa-Baas flummoxed.

The stubborn Barbarians refused to give in, Saili twice involved in sending Thomson home for the hosts' second score. Slade's conversion handed the Baabaas the 12-7 advantage, only for Robinson to plough home on a tight drive.

Cooper's conversion scrambled Australia a 14-12 lead that Cheika's side retained until the break.

The Barbarians gifted Australia the second half's opening score, non-existent midfield defence allowing Kuridrani a cakewalk across the whitewash. The hosts hit back immediately though, Saili chipping the Wallabies defence before beating Sean McMahon to the loose ball to dot down. Slade then slotted a 45-metre penalty to edge the BaaBaas into a 22-21 lead.

Wallabies boss Cheika made a raft of changes on 55 minutes, both Cooper and Genia hauled off. And the immediate dividend was Horne's try, the wing profiting as the Barbarians ran out of blindside defenders.

Israel Folau blasted clear following a Barbarians break, only for Halai to haul him down and steal the ball. The Blues wing was hustled into touch though, and the Wallabies' replacement fly-half Foley nipped in from the quick lineout.

Foley converted his own try to hand Australia an 11-point lead, before McMahon ghosted home cheaply too.

Australia wing Cummins then picked a smart line to race onto Tim Nanai-Williams' blind pass to bag a Barbarians try against his international team-mates.

Replacement Boshoff powered away for a score to cut the Wallabies' lead to just four points with a minute to play, but Kirwan's men were unable to turn the tide at the death.

Sam Carter piles over for the first of Australia's six tries against the Barbarians © Getty Images

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