Australia A has repelled a spirited effort from Portugal to take a 30-17 win in Paris.
The game served as a preview of the World Cup, with the Wallabies set to face 'Os Lobos' in the final pool game of the group stages.
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However, Portugal showed they won't be a walkover, taking a 14-12 lead into the break.
Wallabies stars Tom Wright and Lachie Swinton were crucial towards closing out the game whilst wingers Lachie Anderson and Dylan Pietsch built nicely off their breakout Super season.
Australia A started on fire as fullback Wright found Rebel Anderson down the short side, with the Brumby backing up to score inside the first two minutes.
In a vastly different start to their defeat to Tonga in July, Jason Gilmore’s side tested the Portuguese defence early.
A great run from Swinton burst through their defence, with Ryan Lonergan finding Pietsch a phase later for their second try of the match.
Pietsch nearly had his second minutes down, only to be brought down as Nono Sousa Guedes got Os Lobos on the attack as he intercepted a Ryan Lonergan pass on his own line.
This put Portugal on the attack, with Nicolas Martins there to finish off a great counter-attacking try.
Australia A continued to pepper their line, only to find themselves trailing 14-12 following another long-range Portugal try, this time finished off by Raffaele Storti.
Anderson’s spectacular diving effort just before the break was brought back for a foot in touch, allowing Portugal to take a shock lead into the break.
Eventually, the relentless pressure of the Australians paid off after yet another Anderson break.
A great cutout pass from prop Tom Lambert put Pietsch into space for a well-deserved double to re-take the lead.
As the line out struggled, Australia A was forced to work for their victory when Samuel Marques' penalty in the 62nd minute levelled it up. Marques missed an attempt to take the lead with 15 to go as Ryan Lonergan kicked Australia in front with a pair of his own.
Gilmore’s side controlled the final minutes of the game and closed the game out when a great grubber from Tom Wright won a five metre line out, allowing Ned Hanigan to cross from close.
Pete Samu nearly extended the lead after the siren before he was dragged down ten metres out as the Aussies sealed the win.
Australia A 30 (Pietsch 2, Wright, Hanigan; Lonergan 2 pen, 2 con) defeated Portugal 17 (Martins, Storti; Marques 2 pen, con)
