Australia thrash All Blacks 47-26 in Rugby Championship in Perth

Scott Barrett became only the fourth All Black ever to be sent off

Australia recorded their highest-ever score against the All Blacks as they beat the world champions 47-26 in the Rugby Championship in Perth.

It was the Wallabies' first win over New Zealand since 2017.

The All Blacks were reduced to 14 men when Scott Barrett was dismissed for a dangerous tackle just before half-time.

Later, South Africa secured their first Rugby Championship since 2009 as fly-half Handre Pollard scored 31 points in a 46-13 win over Argentina.

The Springboks fell behind inside two minutes when Exeter's Bordeaux-bound wing Santiago Cordero latched on to fly-half Nicolas Sanchez chip.

Pollard's haul matched a Rugby Championship record

But the visitors silenced the boisterous Salta crowd with 22 unanswered second-half points.

Pollard's individual haul - comprising two short-range tries along with five penalties and three conversions - matched the tournament record set by the Springboks' Morne Steyn against New Zealand in 2009.

South Africa's victory, continuing their renaissance under coach Rassie Erasmus since his appointment in March 2018, underlined their credentials as serious contenders for the Rugby World Cup.

All Blacks left with questions

New Zealand's defeat left them third in the table after winning the last three editions and means they have provisionally lost the top spot in the world rankings for the first time in 10 years, with Wales set to occupy first place.

Winger Reece Hodge scored two of Australia's six tries to help them record their highest points tally in 165 Tests against the All Blacks.

Lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, scrum-half Nic White, winger Marika Koroibete and full-back Kurtley Beale also crossed in front of a packed house of 61,241.

The win also gave Australia their first back-to-back victories in the Rugby Championship since 2016.

"We're disappointed, Australia played particularly well," said New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen.

"The red card didn't help us, but we didn't help ourselves either. Our discipline was poor early in the first half... there were numerous occasions we got offside when we didn't need to.

"They're the sort of things we need to go away and fix up."

Australia produced a superb first 10 minutes to establish a 10-0 lead before two All Blacks tries gave the visitors the lead.

Two Christian Lealiifano penalties gave the Wallabies a 16-12 half-time advantage, by which point they also had an extra man, following Barrett's departure for a a no-arms tackle on Michael Hooper.

Another blistering start to a half saw the Australians extend that lead by a further 10 points in nine second-half minutes before a converted Beauden Barrett try got the All Blacks back within seven.

But three more home tries, despite one further reply from New Zealand's Ngani Laumape, saw Australia give themselves a chance of regaining the Bledisloe Cup they last won in 2002. The second Bledisloe Test takes place in Auckland next week.

"It was some game, plenty of action," added Australia head coach Michael Cheika. "When you get that atmosphere brewing, it makes you want to play better.

"A few things went our way, but I'm very pleased. We're all pumped."