Amid confusion over the future, South Africa beat Argentina 29-10 in the Rugby Championship on Sunday while the remainder of the southern hemisphere tournament was in limbo after New Zealand's decision to cancel games in its country because of a new Covid-19 outbreak.
The Springboks' two tries came early in the second half at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium through wing Makazole Mapimpi and hooker Malcolm Marx, although the home team were already in control at 15-3 by the time Mapimpi crossed in the left corner for the first of the tries.
First five-eighth Handre Pollard kicked five penalties in the first half to give the Boks their ascendancy. South Africa added the two converted tries in the second half but didn't manage a try-scoring bonus point despite having dominance and another 30 minutes to get a third try. And it was Argentina who had the final say when flanker Pablo Matera swivelled out of a tackle and crashed over five minutes after the full-time hooter had sounded.
That gave the Pumas their only try in two games in South Africa in the space of a week. South Africa won 32-12 at the same stadium seven days earlier in the first round of the Rugby Championship.
Today's match in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, was the only scheduled second-round game of the weekend.