South Africa beats Argentina 32-12 in Rugby Championship

South Africa came straight off a series win over the British and Irish Lions to beat Argentina 32-12 in the opening round of the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship on Saturday.

The Springboks scored three tries, through starting scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, wing Aphelele Fassi and replacement scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, to neutralize an Argentina team that relied on the boot of Nicolas Sanchez for all its points.

Flyhalf Elton Jantjies kicked 17 points for the Springboks, who made 10 changes to the starting lineup that clinched the series against the Lions a week ago. Captain Siya Kolisi, lock pairing Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, No. 8 Jasper Wiese and Reinach were the only ones retained.

Reinach set the Springboks on their way with a try off turnover ball in the 13th minute. He scooped up a loose Argentina pass deep inside South African territory and raced away to score in the left corner.

South Africa's need to rotate players for its fourth test in as many weeks gave an opportunity to Fassi, who scored off a cross-kick from Jantjies to give the home team its second try at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Hendrikse celebrated his debut with a try with two minutes to go, which gave the Springboks a bonus point.

That meant a successful outing for South Africa, which dug deep into its reserve players ahead of a second test against the Argentinians and a fifth test in five weeks next weekend.

New Zealand leads the early Rugby Championship standings after beating Australia 57-22 earlier Saturday .