Pumas suffer Bok battering

Replacement flanker Joe van Niekerk scored two tries in two minutes as South Africa romped to a 63-9 win over Argentina in the Mandela Tribute Test in Johannesburg.

Peter de Villiers' men overcame an early deficit to power to a victory which sets them up perfectly for Saturday's crunch Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand.

Felipe Contepomi fired Argentina into an early 9-0 lead, however South Africa bounced back ruthlessly before the break through Adrian Jacobs and debutant Jongi Nokwe before scoring 49 unanswered points in the second half.

The pace and imagination of the world champions proved too much for the Pumas' defence in the second period as Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez, Bismarck du Plessis and two tries apiece from JP Pietersen and van Niekerk sealed the rout.

Early blow

Argentina suffered an early setback when their tighthead prop Patricio Ledesma had to leave the field in the 10th minute and from then on the Pumas found themselves on the back foot.

Man of the match centre Jacobs scored the first of his team's tries in the 33rd minute after a brilliant line break by his midfield partner Jean de Villiers and two minutes later it was the turn of debutant winger Nokwe to sprint across the line.

Both tries were converted by Butch James who, by the end of the match, would have slotted all nine attempts he had at goal.

The Boks kicked off the second 40 minutes in the same fashion as they ended the first half with two quick-fire scores from Spies and Pietersen taking the score to 28-9.

Bok coach de Villiers then made a string of changes, giving a chance to returning World Cup stars du Preez and Jaque Fourie - both immediately made an impact.

Serious injury

Du Preez had hardly settled into the match before he was able to pick up a loose ball and dash over for the Boks' fifth try.

Sadly for the Boks, centre Fourie was forced to leave the field at the midway point of the second period after sustaining a serious cheekbone injury.

The setback never affected the Boks who ran in a further four tries, two by van Niekerk, who celebrated his 50th outing for the Boks, du Plessis and a second for Pietersen.

South Africa now turn their attention to the Tri-Nations home matches; New Zealand being first up in Cape Town on Saturday.