In a battle between teams who had both beaten New Zealand in the previous fortnight, Australia had two first-half tries disallowed and was left to rely on the precision from the tee of its star five-eighth.

In front of a socially distanced crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium, Hodge was 100 per cent from his first five penalties and looked like getting the better of opposite number Nicolas Sanchez.

Sanchez had missed one early in the second half but booted the Pumas back from 15-6 down to level terms, only for Argentina to give up a 78th-minute penalty chance to Australia after a ruck infringement.

Hodge, from around 40 metres, sent his kick high into the Newcastle night sky but wide of the uprights.