A Handre Pollard-inspired South Africa warmed up for the World Cup in superb style by beating Argentina 46-13 in the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship in Salta on Saturday to claim their first major international trophy for 10 years.
Flyhalf Pollard scored two of his side’s five tries and kicked five penalties and three conversions for a personal haul of 31 points, his best tally in an international.
Earlier on Saturday, world champions New Zealand lost 47-26 to championship runners-up Australia in Perth.
The competition has been shortened to one round of matches due to the Rugby World Cup in Japan which starts on Sept. 20. South Africa last won the Rugby Championship, then known as the Tri Nations, in 2009.
Argentina became the fourth team to join the championship in 2012.