Pumas nearly double down

SOUTH Africa scored four tries in the second half to beat Argentina 34-21 in their Rugby Championship opener, avoiding a second straight defeat to the Pumas in Durban.

The Springboks trailed 14-5 and 14-10 at halftime after Argentina scored through flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez and flanker Pablo Matera at Kings Park, where the visitors claimed their first Test win over South Africa in 2015.

This time, South Africa avoided the upset with 17 unanswered points.