Rugby world champions South Africa kicked off their Rugby Championship campaign with a 32-12 win against Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Springboks outscored Los Pumas by three tries to nil in a strong defensive showing despite fielding a much-changed side to the one that beat the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town last Saturday.
Cobus Reinach, Aphelele Fassi and, Jaden Hendrikse crossed the whitewash for South Africa while Elton Jantjies added 17 points. Flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez scored four penalties in reply for Argentina.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand defeated Trans-Tasman rivals Australia 57-22 at Eden Park in Auckland to retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 19th successive year.
The All Blacks scored eight tries through Codie Taylor (2), Rieko Ioane, Ardie Savea, Brodie Retallick, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan and David Havili.
Richie Mo’unga added 10 points through five conversions, Beauden Barrett also succeeded with a couple of two-pointers off the kicking tee and Damian McKenzie kicked a long-range penalty.
Andrew Kellaway scored two tries for Australia while Tate McDermott also dotted down and Noah Lolesio added a penalty and two conversions.
New Zealand tops the table with five points followed by South Africa with five and Argentina and Australia round off the table in third and fourth respectively.
