Handre Pollard scored 31 points as South Africa thrashed Argentina 46-13 in Salta Saturday to win the Rugby Championship for the first time.
Photo: AFP Handre Pollard runs with the ball during the Rugby Championship match between Argentina and South Africa at Padre Martearena Stadium on August 10, 2019 in Salta, Argentina.
The Springboks last won a competition in 2009 when they finished first in the Tri Nations, the forerunner of the Rugby Championship.
Fly-half Pollard notched two tries and kicked three conversions and five penalties in a bonus-point victory for South Africa, who led 24-13 at half-time.
South Africa finished with 12 points in a competition reduced to one round from the traditional two because of the World Cup in Japan from September 20.
Australia, who stunned world champions New Zealand 47-26 earlier Saturday, came second with eight points followed by the All Blacks with six and the Pumas with two.
Argentina collapsed in the second half after holding their own during the opening 40 minutes until a Pollard try gave South Africa an 11-point lead at the break.
The nations meet again next Saturday, this time in Pretoria, in a warm-up international for the World Cup.
"It is a fantastic feeling winning a major trophy for the first time in 10 years," said Springboks skipper and number eight Duane Vermeulen.
"This is a nice thing for the team for all the hard work put in and it is also a big thing for us going on to the World Cup.
"We played the best teams in the southern hemisphere so it is good to have this one step up, although a lot of work still needs to be done before the World Cup.
"We are very happy where we are at the moment and winning the Rugby Championship is a fantastic achievement."
