Wallabies convert at the death to edge Argentina in Rugby Championship thriller

In a fast paced and exciting encounter, Los Pumas thought they had done enough to win the match when Juan Cruz Mallia slotted a penalty in the 79th minute but Australia would not surrender before Bell's late heroics secured the result for the home side.

In the end, the Wallabies outscored their opponents four tries to two with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (2) and Nic White also crossing the whitewash while Tom Lynagh and James O'Connor each slotted two conversions apiece.

Bautista Delguy and Mateo Carreras scored Argentina‘s tries while Santiago Carreras finished with an 11-point haul, courtesy of three penalties and a conversion with their other points coming via Mallia's three-pointer off the kicking tee.

The opening exchanges were cagey but the visitors drew first blood in the sixth minute via a Carreras penalty and they doubled their lead five minutes later when the fly-half succeeded with another three-pointer off the kicking tee.

Despite trailing on the scoreboard, the Wallabies did most of the attacking as they had the bulk of the possession and territory.

They spent long periods camped inside Argentina's half of the field but unforced errors at critical times meant they had no reward for their efforts during the opening quarter.

However, they took the lead in the 24th minute when White crossed for the opening try from close quarters after a barnstorming run from Harry Wilson in the build-up.

The visitors did not panic and five minutes later Santiago Chocobares ran a great line to breach the Wallabies before offloading to Juan Cruz Mallía inside the home side's 22 and he offloaded to Delguy, who rounded off in style.

Three minutes later, it was Argentina's other wing Mateo Carreras who got his name on the scoresheet and he crossed the whitewash after brilliant interplay between himself, his namesake Santiago Carreras and Lucio Cinti.

The flyer eventually dotted down out wide before fly-half Carreras showed his class to add the extras from close to the touchline which meant the visitors had their tails up at the break as they held a 21-7 lead.

The Wallabies needed a response and that came soon after the restart when Len Ikitau did brilliantly to draw in a couple of defenders deep inside Los Pumas territory before offloading to Suaalii, who barged over for his first five-pointer from close quarters.

In the 63rd minute, the visitors were reduced to 14 men when speedster Carreras was yellow carded for a professional foul on defence close to his try-line.

It did not take long for Australia to capitalise on their numerical advantage as just a minute later Suaalii went over for his second try after stepping past fly-half Carreras and selling Cinti a dummy.

O'Connor slotted the conversion which meant the sides were level at 21-21 and with 15 minutes left to play, the match was well and truly up for grabs.

Both sides gave their all in a bid to secure the victory and Argentina had thought they had done just that when Mallia slotted his penalty from 40 metres out in the game's dying moments after Carlo Tizzano had infringed at a ruck.

Despite time running out on the clock, the Wallabies kept their composure and were soon on the attack inside Los Pumas' half. Australia were awarded penalties on three occasions – after Argentina strayed offside on defence – and to their credit they either kicked for touch or took a tap penalty as they tried to seal the victory instead of settling for a draw by kicking for posts.

And their attacking intent finally reaped reward when Bell crossed for the match-winning score in the game's dying moments.