South Africa survived a huge scare from Argentina to sneak a 33-31 win in the Rugby Championship on Saturday with a penalty by replacement five-eighth Morne Steyn in the final three minutes getting the visitors home.
The Springboks' win was their second over Argentina in as many weeks and earned South Africa a one-point lead over New Zealand in the four-nation competition.
South Africa has eight points from two games while the All Blacks have seven points after hammering Australia 51-20 in Auckland on Saturday with Argentina and Australia sitting on two points apiece.
Smashed in the scrums and often outplayed out wide, a shaky South Africa came back from 28-16 down with two late tries and Steyn's clinching kick in a desperate 20-minute spell at the end.
Argentina was rampant at times in the northern city of Salta and came so close to their first win over South Africa and their maiden victory in the four-nation competition.
The Pumas momentarily recovered from South Africa's late charge and centre Marcelo Bosch thumped over a 52-metre penalty to edge them ahead 31-30 before Steyn won it.
"I'll say it again, this Argentinian team, they're a team on the up," South Africa captain Jean de Villiers said.
"They're getting better and better and credit must go to the way they played. They played incredibly well."
De Villiers called his team's unconvincing show "a work in progress."
"At this stage, we'll just take the win," he said.
World No.2 South Africa had taken a 16-13 halftime lead that was barely deserved and only came through a breakaway try by winger Bryan Habana, who extended his South African record to 56 tries in his 99th test as he chased down a hack ahead from halfback Ruan Pienaar.
The Pumas, ranked No.12 in the world, still haven't won in 14 games in the Rugby Championship.
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