South Africa scraped past Argentina 17-10 in Test rugby at the possible expense of inspirational captain Siya Kolisi in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Kolisi, in his first match in seven weeks following a hamstring injury, trudged off in the 25th minute. He may be a doubt to lead the Springboks back home against New Zealand in two weeks in the opening Test of the blockbuster Greatest Rivalry series.

“I hurt my hamstring again unfortunately,” he said. “It’s tough but I can’t be sad about it. There’s nothing I can do but go in for a scan and see how long I’m out for.”

The skipper was among a core group of Springbok stalwarts given match time in Buenos Aires after missing the Nations Championship in July because of injuries.

Caps record-holder Eben Etzebeth and fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu played every minute and lock Lood de Jager, coming back from a hip injury, lasted until the third quarter.

They got to celebrate a 12th straight Test win, but only just.

The depleted Pumas almost snatched a draw after the full-time whistle. From a tap penalty in front of the Springbok posts, they pounded the visitors for 15 phases until the final high pass to an unmarked Matías Moroni was dropped.

Argentina Coach Felipe Contepomi pounded the coaches’ booth and Moroni was in tears.

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Substitute Yoane Wissa scored twice to give Matthias Jaissle a winning start as Newcastle boss with a 2-1 comeback pre-season win at 10-man Valencia.

But the friendly at the Mestalla threatened to be overshadowed by Jose Gaya’s red-card horror tackle on Anthony Elanga, which saw the Newcastle winger stretchered off in the first half and led to both sets of players clashing.

Fortunately for the Sweden international, his injury does not appear to be serious, with Elanga later up and walking after a contusion to the shin.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Jaissle was “relaxed” over Elanga’s injury.

The German said: “It seems to be not bad, so we are pleased. I hope it’s true, then he can start again next week.”

He added: “Of course I was in fear [it was a serious injury], definitely, but now I’m more relaxed as the medical department is showing almost green lights, and there’s nothing serious.”

Elanga’s injury after Valencia’s Filip Ugrinic’s stunning fifth-minute opener had given Jaissle a nightmare start to life in the Newcastle dugout.

But his half-time changes sparked a Toon turnaround with new signings Bazoumana Toure and Sean Steur impressing.

It was last summer’s signing Wissa who pounced on a mistake to level in the 52nd minute.

New arrival Toure then broke clear of the Valencia defence to unselfishly set up Wissa for a tap-in to complete the comeback in the 76th minute.

Toure should have had a second assist after fine work down the left, but Jacob Murphy put over his cross in stoppage time.

The win brings some relief to Newcastle on the day they lost their captain Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal.

Jaissle’s next pre-season test will come on Wednesday as his new side face Everton at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Wissa’s fresh start under Jaissle

Sky Sports News’ Keith Downie at the Mestalla:

“A good end to a positive week in Spain for Newcastle – and a trophy for Jaissle in his first match in charge as they lift the ‘Orange Cup’.

“Some impressive signs from new signings Aladji Bamba, Steur and Toure.

“Newcastle’s travelling fans sent home from The Mestalla with a spring in their step.

“One major positive was Wissa’s performance.

“Newcastle really need him to come good this season. It was a huge £55m outlay on a 29-year-old, and last season was a nightmare for him.

“He looks sharp and is coming off a good World Cup showing. Maybe this could be a fresh start for the striker.”

Jaissle keeping ‘balanced’ after debut win

Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle speaking at his post-match press conference:

“First of all, I’m really happy that there are no serious injuries. Anthony, we are happy, and it seems to be okay, actually – that was the most important thing.

“Of course, winning games always helps to gain confidence, but we also knew that we had a hard week behind us. The players did well in the camp; there was a pure commitment in each session.

“We had a hard load, so therefore now we deserve two days off, and then we start again.

“It was a friendly today; we will not smash the locker room now and celebrate a lot.

“We’re quite balanced; we know what it is about. Now it’s pre-season, and we’re still looking to work on it.

“It’s just a journey; we don’t want to hang onto that.

“The victory is higher than it is, but also we don’t see the losses lower than it is then, so we should be quite balanced in our approach.

“We should just analyse the situation and develop from there, and that’s what we’re going to do.

“Now next week, there are things we need to work on, definitely.”

Ireland’s Aaron McKenna defeated Etinosa Oliha to become a middleweight world champion.

For McKenna this fight in Dublin was a dream homecoming. The Irish middleweight had pursued his career across America, sparring in some of the world’s best gyms and amassing an undefeated pro record.

This contest, for the vacant IBF middleweight title, was his first world title fight and his first professional contest in Ireland.

With brother Stevie taking a spectacular knockout earlier, McKenna made a memorable entrance, wildly cheered into the ring by the 3Arena crowd, so loudly that the floor was almost rumbling.

But he didn’t let emotions carry him away at the start of the fight. He edged forward onto the front foot, feinting. He timed a left hook as Oliha, unbeaten himself coming in, stepped to him.

McKenna let his jab flicker out. His hands were quick, his right streaked in and McKenna used his left hook to let a cross blast through.

But the Italian wrested the second round his way, thumping through right hooks, punches McKenna felt, to show that he too could launch meaningful attacks.

McKenna ground forward, stifling his own long-range work but bodily forcing Oliha back.

When he did strike his opponent with a reaching right, the crowd roared and as the fight progressed into its second half McKenna did move more on his toes, darting back to scrape his left hook into the side of Oliha’s head.

The Italian looked to rip hooks into him but McKenna marshalled him to the ropes and slugged Oliha with a left hook.

McKenna imposed himself again in the ninth round but Oliha, a solid operator, showed little sign of wilting.

In the 10th round McKenna circled out and reeled off double jabs. As they grappled in a clinch though, Oliha unleashed a flurry that caught the Irishman.

McKenna briefly put space between them with a cross to the chin. He scored to the body with thudding right hooks too.

Oliha charged from his corner with a long one-two to start the 11th round. With flashier work, McKenna landed a left uppercut off his jab. Oliha though hacked back at him with a right hook up close.

McKenna continued to punch in greater volume. A clash saw him cut on the forehead just before the end of the 11th. He trusted in a hefty right hook as a response.

He didn’t want or need to take risks in the last round. He moved sharply, striking an increasingly desperate Oliha with jabs and the crowd all around him stood up cheering, clapping and chanting his name.

McKenna worked an uppercut, Oliha drove in a right but even when McKenna took shots he didn’t let them shake him as he closed out a unanimous decision.

When that final bell chimed, McKenna rushed to the corner post and jumped up onto the ropes to celebrate.

As soon as the words “from Monaghan” were declared by the ring announcer, confirming McKenna a 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 victor, the arena burst into deafening cheers once again.

“A new world champion. I’ve been saying it for years. A big thank you to Zuffa Boxing for giving me this platform and bringing a fight back to Ireland for me,” McKenna beamed afterwards.

“I’ve been a professional for nine years and never got the chance to fight in Ireland. Why? Just look at these beautiful fans.

“I never lost discipline in training. There were times when I wondered whether I’d ever get the chance.

“My dad [their trainer] sacrificed his whole life for me and my brother, dedicating everything to helping us chase our dreams.

“Finally, I’ve got my hands on this.”