Michael Cheika’s first official Test as Australia’s head coach ended in a tight 33-28 win in Cardiff. 

The result was the ninth in a row between the teams with their last five meetings coming with a total margin of 14 points. 

It took on a whole other dimension given Wales join Australia and England in an absurdly packed pool at next year’s World Cup. 

After a frenetic first half saw three tries run in a piece, including two for rampaging Wallabies fullback Israel Folau, all of them converted for a 21-point deadlock. 

Things settled down in the second half though with Foley potting the first penalty attempts of the game and after a penalty try for the Welsh sent over a field goal to clinch the lead again. 

Cheika was impressed largely overall and especially with Foley’s initiative. 

“It wasn’t perfect, no way, but we created a lot of chances for ourselves in attack,” Cheika said.

“The way we prepare, I’d like to think with the tight game we’ll always get them going our way.

“In saying that, a drop goal is definitely not in our playbook. I don’t think we practised one, so that was totally Bernard.

“He thought something was on and he delivered.”

Wales boss Warren Gatland said: “I’m not happy with the result but pretty happy with the performance.

“I thought we showed a huge amount of positives today.”

The Wallabies face France this coming weekend, followed by Tests against  Ireland and England.

England 21-24 New Zealand

England got off to a flyer with a Jonny May try at Twickenham against the World Cup champions but the All Blacks’ class shone through in the second half. 

Owen Farrell’s boot gave them a three-point lead at halftime, but they faced a different side in the second stanza. 

The All Blacks dominated possession and tries from Richie McCaw and Charlie Faumuina gave them control on the scoreboard. 

A late penalty try gave a flattering scoreline. 

Ireland 29-15 South Africa

The Springboks were the only southern hemisphere side to lose their Autumn International opener falling to the men in green in Dublin. 

Rhys Ruddock and Tommy Bowe scored tries for Ireland as Jonathan Sexton pulled the strings. He predictably call the result a team effort. 

“We left it behind us against New Zealand last year and didn’t want that to happen again,” said Sexton after the narrow failure against the All Blacks in 2013. 

“We came in here with a game plan and executed it pretty well.”

Sexton didn’t miss a kick to record four penalties and two conversions. 

Scotland 41-31 Argentina

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