South Africa coach Allister Coetzee heralded the beginning of a new era after his side swept all three matches of France's tour, cruising to a 35-12 victory in Saturday's final Test.
"We wanted to set the record straight and prove that we had flipping good players, it's self-pride," he said following the whitewash in front of 55,820 spectators at Johannesburg's Ellis Park stadium.
The Boks' stellar series performance firmly put to bed 2016's awful run of form in which the side lost eight of 12 Tests -- a calendar-year record.
But Saturday's crowning victory came despite the absence of South Africa skipper and No. 8 Warren Whiteley, who was out with a groin injury. He was replaced by lock Eben Etzebeth
SCORE
South Africa 35
Tries: Kriel, Etzebeth, Marx, Paige
Cons: Jantjies 3
Pens: Jantjies 3
France 12
Pens: Plisson 4
Argentina v Georgia
Ramiro Moyano was the villain and the hero as Argentina won for only the second time in 11 Tests by defeating Georgia 45-29 Saturday in San Salvador de Jujuy.
The winger was sin-binned during the first half of the one-off international for tackling an airborne opponent, but atoned by scoring three second-half tries within 14 minutes.
Victory was a timely morale booster for the Pumas, whose next outing is away to resurgent South Africa on August 19 in a Rugby Championship opener.
Georgia, the dominant European second-tier nation with ambitions of playing in an expanded Six Nations Championship, finished strongly after trailing by 30 points on the hour.
SCORE
Argentina 45
Tries: Creevy, Tuculet, Moyano 3
Cons: Sanchez 4
Pens: Sanchez 4
Georgia 29
Tries: Kacharava, penalty try, Matiashvili, Mamukashvili
Cons: Matiashvili 2
Pens: Kvirikashvili
Japan v Ireland
Ireland overpowered Japan 35-13 on Saturday to finish with a perfect record on their three-game summer tour.
Joe Schmidt's second-string side looked on course to rack up 50 points for the third successive match as the visitors ran in four first-half tries in Tokyo.
Despite wilting in the heat as the game went on, Ireland had enough of a cushion to keep the Japanese comfortably at arm's length in a dress rehearsal for their 2019 Rugby World Cup pool clash.
"That was very tough going," Schmidt told reporters. "It was very hot out there and players were fatiguing so it was good to get a good start and hang on. Japan made it very hard for us."
SCORE
Japan 13
Tries: Matsushima, Yamada
Pens: Ogura
Ireland 35
Tries: Ringrose, van der Flier, Marmion, Ruddock, Reidy
Cons: Jackson 5
Samoa v Wales
Wales players had to overcome a debilitating virus sweeping their camp to beat Samoa, coach Robin McBryde revealed Saturday.
More than 10 players were said to have been stricken by the bug in the lead up to their 19-17 win on a muddy pitch in Apia on Friday.
Several players, including captain Jamie Roberts were sick on the sideline at halftime in the match.
"You can't underestimate the situation we were in here in Samoa," McBryde said.
"Conditions were poor for both teams and we've had a little bit of illness in the camp. The boys could have used that as an excuse, but they dug in so deep. I'm just so pleased for the players."
SCORE
Samoa 17
Tries: Leiua, Leiataua
Cons: Tusi Pisi 2
Pens: Pisi
Wales 19
Tries: Evans 2
Pens: Davies 3
Canada v USA
Mike Te'o and Nick Civetta each scored two tries for the USA as the Eagles played a dramatic 28-all draw against Canada on Saturday in a 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifier in Montreal.
South African-born D.T.H. van der Merwe scored two tries for Canada and Irish-born Shane O'Leary added two conversions and three penalty kicks, the last in the 78th minute to lift the home side into a deadlock.
The dramatic result before 13,187 at the home of Canadian football's Hamilton Tiger-Cats sent the two-leg qualifying series into a winner-take-all showdown next Saturday in San Diego, California.
The winner books a berth for Japan while the loser faces another series against a South American rival to reach the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
SCORE
Canada 28
Tries: van der Merwe 2, Carpenter
Cons: O'Leary 2
Pens: O'Leary 3
USA 28
Tries: Te'o 2, Civetta 2
Cons: 4
