South Africa crushed Argentina 73-13 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto on Saturday to set the early pace in the Rugby Championship.

The bonus-point win over rivals who had two forwards sin-binned put the Springboks level with New Zealand on five points, but well ahead on points difference.

South Africa scored nine tries to open their championship campaign emphatically, avenging a surprise 16-16 draw between the teams in their last meeting a year ago with the biggest win in the southern hemisphere competition.

The Springboks took control at FNB Stadium in Soweto from a 30th-minute penalty try and crossed seven times in the second half to keep Argentina winless in seven games in the four-nation competition.

South Africa moved powerfully to a seventh straight Test win under coach Heyneke Meyer, with five-eighth Morne Steyn kicking 28 points.

The Boks had eight different tryscorers after the penalty try and kept a meek Argentina scoreless from the 23rd minute until their only try through Felipe Contepomi in the last minute.

On Saturday night, the All Blacks chalked up their 100th Test win over the Wallabies – a commanding 47-29 victory in their Rugby Championship opener – to leave Australia’s Bledisloe Cup hopes in tatters.