The Springboks hit back following their upset loss at home to Argentina a week ago by beating the Pumas 26-12 in a World Cup warm-up at Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires.
Springbok Bryan Habana. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Wings Bryan Habana and Lwazi Mvovo scored two unanswered first-half tries for the Springboks, who led 20-9 at the break, with first five Pat Lambie contributing 16 points with a perfect kicking performance.
The Pumas, who notched four tries in Durban last weekend as they condemned South Africa to bottom spot in the Rugby Championship, failed to breach the visiting defence as their points came from four penalties by flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez.
South Africa open their bid for a third World Cup crown with a Pool B match against Japan in Brighton, England on September 19th while Argentina face holders New Zealand in their Pool C opener at Wembley the next day.
Meanwhile Anthony Watson scored two excellent first-half tries and fellow wing Jonny May also crossed as England beat France 19-14 in a World Cup warm-up between two largely experimental sides at Twickenham.
The two wingers are already certainties for Stuart Lancaster's final squad and of those hoping to join them, Henry Slade took the honours ahead of fellow debutant Sam Burgess in what is likely to be a head-to-head battle for one remaining centre berth.
Rugby league convert Burgess showed plenty of trademark big tackles and some deft handling but blotted his copybook when he was yellow-carded for interfering at a tap-penalty, exposing the lack of union experience that might make him just too much of a World Cup risk only months after his switch.
England went into the game with three uncapped starters and another on the bench while France coach Philippe Saint Andre, already a renowned shuffler, was in similarly experimental mode with a team containing only five men who started at Twickenham in the Six Nations in March.
It was the 100th meeting between the cross-channel rivals, and the 101st will take place in Paris next Saturday when wholesale changes are expected on both sides.
And Ireland edged Scotland 28-22 in a warm-up match at Lansdowne Road.
World No.2 Ireland were level 7-7 with their visitors at the break after flanker Chris Henry and loose forward Blair Cowan had exchanged tries.
Scotland twice led in the second period but further tries from Sean Cronin, Simon Zebo and Luke Fitzgerald just proved decisive for Ireland.
However, the Scots could take heart from seeing skipper Henry Pyrgos and Peter Horne also cross after the interval.
Ireland are in Pool D at the World Cup alongside France, Italy, Romania and Canada while Scotland will play in Pool B with South Africa, Samoa, Japan and the United States.
The World Cup gets underway on September 18th.
