The Wallabies have produced a huge second-half comeback to beat Argentina 45-34 and potentially save coach Michael Cheika's skin.

But it may not be enough to avoid change to his coaching panel after a listless first half in Salta left them staring down the barrel of a Rugby Championship catastrophe — and Cheika, potentially, at the end of his reign.

After promising all week to do their talking on the field, Australia turned in an atrocious opening stanza to trail 31-7 at the break.

By that stage, it was already the biggest score they had ever conceded against Los Pumas.

A half-time bake from an angry Cheika seemed to do the trick, however, and the Wallabies emerged from the sheds at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena a different side.

Their problematic defence suddenly stiffened and their misfiring attack somehow clicked with Izack Rodda, Israel Folau and Dane Haylett-Petty all scoring tries inside the first 11 minutes of the second half to reduce the margin to three points.

Then David Pocock twisted through a mess of Los Pumas bodies in the 64th minute to put Australia in front for the first time at 35-34.

A cross-field bomb from Bernard Foley in the 66th minute set up Haylett-Petty for his second try, before a Foley penalty ensured the tourists would escape with just their third win of the year.

Australia finished the match with 14 men after Tolu Latu was yellow-carded for striking Pumas replacement prop Santiago Garcia Botta in the face, seemingly unprovoked.

But while they also managed to avoid their maiden Rugby Championship wooden spoon, it was the worst start imaginable — five minutes into the contest and they were already 14-0 down.

First, Pablo Matera blasted through a Foley tackle before rounding Will Genia and going under the posts untouched to put Los Pumas in front.

Seconds later, a shell-shocked Australia tried to respond through a left-edge surge but it crumbled.

Reece Hodge's attempted offload for Michael Hooper was intercepted on their 22m line — and by the time they had realised what had happened, fullback Emiliano Boffelli was celebrating after finishing off a rapid counter-attack.

Hooper eventually managed to get over the stripe himself in the 14th minute, but Los Pumas crossed twice more and added a penalty before the break to lead by a whopping 24 points.

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