Winger Juan Imhoff scored a hat-trick of tries as Argentina recorded a historic first win over South Africa by 37-25 on Saturday in the final match of the 2015 Rugby Championship in Durban.
After 18 losses and a draw since the countries first met 22 years ago in Buenos Aires, the Pumas not only defeated the Springboks for the first time but also won away for the first time in the southern hemisphere competition.
Imhoff crossed the line twice in the opening half to help underdogs Argentina build a 27-13 half-time lead and South Africa never recovered from his third try early in the second half.
The result — only Argentina’s second win in 21 tournament matches — spoilt the Test comeback of Springboks skipper and centre Jean de Villiers, leading his country for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury last November.
De Villiers called the defeat “embarrassing” just five weeks out from the World Cup.
Australia won the Rugby Championship earlier Saturday with a 27-19 triumph in Sydney over world champions New Zealand, Argentina finished third and winless South Africa last.
“We deserved to make history tonight,” said Pumas skipper and hooker Agustin Creevy, “and I am so happy.
“My team played with tremendous heart and the victory is very encouraging after losses to New Zealand and Australia last month.
“It was vital to close the Championship with a win.”
De Villiers said: “That was a pretty embarrassing loss, but all credit to Argentina for executing their game plan so well.
“We did not do the green and gold jersey proud tonight and I believe our problems are more mental than physical.”
It took the Pumas just 100 seconds to go ahead as an inside pass caught the Springboks napping and Imhoff sent centre Marcelo Bosch over for a try that fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez converted.
After fly-half Handre Pollard trimmed the deficit to four points via a penalty, the South Americans struck again as Imhoff gathered an aimless kick ahead and triggered a move he later finished off.
Hernandez, a veteran of the 2007 and 2011 World Cup tournaments and recalled in place of off-form Nicolas Sanchez, converted again.
Another Pollard penalty was followed by another Imhoff try with the Pumas winning a scrum and breaking on the narrow side for the winger to go over.
Inexperienced Springbok tighthead prop Vincent Koch was having a torrid time at the scrums and being repeatedly penalised by French referee Romain Poite.
South Africa narrowed the gap to 21-13 when lock Lood de Jager used his bulk to barge over and Pollard converted.
But two Pumas penalties, from Hernandez and Bosch, left the visitors 14 points ahead halfway through the match.
Koch was replaced by Marcel van der Merwe at half-time as coach Heyneke Meyer reacted to a nightmare first half at scrum time for the Springboks.
South Africa controversially fell seven points further behind three minutes into the second half when Imhoff completed his hat-trick.
While the Springboks waited on the try-line, believing the referee had not restarted play after an injury, Hernandez took a tap penalty and passed to Imhoff, who waltzed over for Hernandez to convert.
Full-back Willie le Roux offered a glimmer of hope to the stunned 27,000 crowd by beginning and ending a move which produced a try that Pollard converted, leaving South Africa 14 points adrift with 30 minutes left.
Argentina, watched by some survivors of the first Pumas to tour South Africa 50 years ago, were next to score as Bosch dropped a goal before winger Bryan Habana claimed a late try for the hosts.
