South Africa overpowered Argentina to ease to a nine-try victory in Johannesburg. Jongi Nokwe scored on his debut and Joe Van Niekerk marked his 50th cap with a brace.

What was the most remarkable aspect of the victory was that the nine tries came in the last 50 minutes of the match.

For while South Africa had dominated the first half-hour in terms of possession and territory they had failed to threaten the Pumas' line, aside from a short spell of pressure. Instead Argentina took advantage of sloppy handling and ill discipline to ease their way to a nine-nil lead thanks to three Felipe Contepomi penalties inside the opening quarter.

Argentina came out of the blocks quickly and their physicality in defence visibly rocked the world champions. Furthermore second row Bakkies Botha was warned for a shoulder charge on the visitors' try line and the home fans made their increasing frustration known.

However Pedro Ledesma's early injury left Argentina with two loose head props in the shape of Rodrigo Roncero and Marcos Ayerza and this was one of the foundation stones of the Springboks' resurgence.

The home pack took an increasingly steely grip on the scrum and repeatedly disrupted Argentine attempts to launch attacks. Botha's enforced replacement by Andries Bekker made no difference to the set piece power which led to the first try just past the half-hour.

Enrico Januarie's pass may have been a shocker, but it wrong-footed the Pumas' defence completely and allowed centre Jean de Villiers to slice straight through. Adrian Jacobs crossed for the try and Butch James's conversion took the hosts up to seven points.

Inside four further minutes the Boks were in front. Debutant Jongi Nokwe made the most of his first run in space to show his good footwork to score a good solo try. James added his second conversion for a 14-9 lead that lasted until half-time.

The third try effectively killed the game, especially as it came a mere two minutes into the second half. Pierre Spies crashed over, but both Jacobs and Nokwe were also lurking with intent when JP Pietersen hacked ahead.

Pietersen was next on the score sheet in the 48th minute and he was followed by Fourie du Preez five minutes later. Pietersen would later score his second but tomorrow's headlines will belong to Joe van Niekerk. The veteran forward came on for his 50th cap in the 55th minute and was on the score board inside five minutes.

It was two in two minutes for the Toulon-bound number eight when he was put in by captain Victor Matfield. And with James's metronomic boot still finding the target the Springboks were well clear at 49-9.

The eighth and ninth tries came in the last 10 minutes for Bismarck du Plessis and Pietersen, but the Pumas were unlucky to be denied a consolation when Juan Manuel Leguizamon was stripped of the ball by du Preez while diving for the line.

South Africa (14) 63 Tries: Jacobs, Nokwe, Spies, Pietersen (2), du Preez, van Niekerk (2), du Plessis; Cons: James (9).

Argentina (9) 9 Pens: Contepomi (3).

South Africa: Jantjes, Pietersen, Jacobs, de Villiers, Nokwe, James, Januarie, Mtawarira, du Plessis, van der Linde, Botha, Matfield, Watson, Smith, Spies, Fourie.

Replacements: Fourie for de Villiers (52), Van Niekerk for Januarie (56), Strauss for Fourie (58).

Not Used: Mujati, Bekker, du Preez, Montgomery.

Argentina: Stortoni, Nunez Piossek, Aramburu, Avramovic, Agulla, Contepomi, Vergallo, Roncero, M. Ledesma, P. Ledesma, Alvarez, Albacete, Durand, Fernandez Lobbe, Leguizamon.

Replacements: Urdapilleta for Nunez Piossek (69), Lozada for Vergallo (57), Basualdo for Roncero (65), Ayerza for P. Ledesma (9), Galindo for Fernandez Lobbe (45).

Not Used: Lalanne, Carballo.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng) Touch judges: Matt Goddard (Aus), James Leckie (Aus) TMO: Geoff Warren (Eng)