Argentina have handed the Wallabies a historic belting in Santa Fe, Australia “falling off a cliff” from 20-3 up to lose 67-27.

The hosts conceded the first two tries before clicking into top gear with 10 minutes to play in the first half on Sunday morning (AEST) and score four of their nine tries in the last nine minutes.

It’s the most points the Wallabies have conceded in a Test, passing the 61-22 hammering they copped in South Africa in 1997.

The flogging followed a gritty 20-19 win over Argentina in driving rain seven days ago and leaves Australia rooted to the bottom of The Rugby Championship ladder with one win from four games.

“We probably put three reasonably halves together then fell off a bit of a cliff,” coach Joe Schmidt said of their two-Test tour.

“The last 10 minutes, we were over-chasing the game with a young group and there’s always the risk the score will blow out.

“But at 41-27 we were only one score away from picking up a couple of bonus points at worst and chasing another chance at the game.

“We over-reached at the back end and it didn’t look good.”

Los Pumas began the TRC with a 38-30 defeat of New Zealand in Auckland, the most points the All Blacks have conceded in a home Test.

“Records are going to happen,” Schmidt said.

“That’s what they’re capable of. They can score quickly and as soon as you’re not making the first tackle and scrambling … it’s very hard to plug the holes.”

Australia’s next assignment is New Zealand in Sydney on September 21.