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Rugby Championship: The Springboks' struggles in Argentina

South Africa have traditionally struggled away from home against Argentina, particularly since the inception of the Rugby Championship in 2012.

The Springboks beat Argentina by 18 points in 2017, but before that the matches between the two teams in South America have been decided by five points or less.

Los Pumas seem to lift their game when they take on the South Africans at home in this competition, and should really have achieved more than the draw and one win in the in four matches in their own backyard against the Boks.

KweséESPN takes a look at the past clashes between the two countries in the Rugby Championship ahead of Saturday's clash at the Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza.

26 August 2017, Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta: Argentina 23 South Africa 41

Flyhalf Elton Jantjies produced a fine all-round performance in the Springboks' biggest win over the Pumas since the inception of the Rugby Championship. The Lions man scored a try and contributed 14 points with the boot to help the Boks, who played in red, to a rather comfortable win.

27 August 2016, Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta: Argentina 26 South Africa 24

Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias kicked a late penalty goal to help Argentina record their second win over the Springboks in two years, and their first ever victory on home soil against South Africa. Argentina certainly were the best side on the day, as the Boks looked horribly off the pace for most of the match. But the home side were also aided by some woeful goalkicking by the visitors.

23 August 2014, Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta: Argentina 30 South Africa 33

The Springboks had beaten Argentina 13-6 in horribly wet conditions in Pretoria the previous week and were looking forward to some sunshine in Salta. But what they got was a Los Pumas team champing at the bit. The match was played at a frenetic pace, and the Boks trailed by 12 points at the break. Right at the end, South Africa required a 76th minute penalty by Morné Steyn to clinch the deal.

24 August 2013, Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza: Argentina 17 South Africa 22

The Boks recorded their biggest margin of victory against Argentina the previous week in Johannesburg, a 73-13 romp at the FNB Stadium. The return fixture in Mendoza turned out to be a much tighter affair, though. The Boks were 17-13 behind at the break and had to rely on the reliable kicking boot of Morné Steyn to clinch another nail-biter.

25 August 2012, Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza: Argentina 16 South Africa 16

The Boks had a relatively comfortable win in over Los Pumas the previous week at Newlands, but they would struggle to get going in a rather scrappy and ill-tempered affair in Mendoza. The Boks should, objectively, have lost this match, because they made countless errors and their set pieces were woeful. They needed a Frans Steyn charge-down, which led to a try for the player, to spare their blushes.