Despite a penchant over the past few years for claiming scalps away from home - notably two in three years against the All Blacks - Argentina have struggled to topple the Springboks on African soil since their sole success in Durban in 2015.
Saturday's meeting at Ellis Park provides them with another opportunity, but history paints a bleak picture.Chris Badenhorst.In what was generally an innocuous outing under new coach Kitch Christie, the Springboks' performance was lit up by a debutant winger from the Free State named Chris Badenhorst.
South Africa had started their new journey under head coach Rudolf Straeuli with a gritty series win over Wales, but this outing - memorably or infamously hosted at the now derelict PAM Brink Stadium on the East Rand - gave fans a first real glimpse into the attractive rugby the team would play in the initial part of their mentor's reign.
Craig Davidson was on the scoresheet in the first half and was thoroughly accomplished before Bolla Conradie appeared after the break and revelled, scoring a try of his own and eventually setting the platform for becoming Straeuli's first choice later in the season. Gallo ImagesThe Springboks' slow burn under Heyneke Meyer was seldom as brutal as in this match.
Yet the unsullied highlight was the peerless Fourie du Preez's return to the international fold, an outstanding 26-minute shift as replacement that saw him patently wreak havoc. Steve Haag/Gallo Images Instead, it was Argentina who held sway for most of the match, but they were thwarted by being too ambitious in the conditions and some resolute Bok defence.
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