Buenos Aires: Playmaker Patrick Lambie and winger Lwazi Mvovo impressed as South Africa ended a four-Test losing streak by outplaying Argentina 26-12 in a World Cup warm-up in Buenos Aires.
Victory in front of a capacity 50,000 Estadio Jose Amalfitani crowd on Saturday was particularly sweet for the Springboks after a humiliating 12-point Rugby Championship home loss to the Pumas last weekend.
It was the final warm-up game for both countries before the September 18 World Cup kick-off in England and Lambie and Mvovo raised their hands for starting places.
Lambie is competing with Handre Pollard for the key fly-half role and Mvovo is challenging JP Pietersen and Cornal Hendricks for the right-wing slot.
Flawless goal-kicking enabled Lambie to convert tries by wingers Bryan Habana and Mvovo, kick three penalties and drop a goal for a 16-point contribution.
Coach Heyneke Meyer must also have been pleased with the general play of Lambie, who mixed tactical kicking, running and passing to the continuous discomfort of the South Americans.
