1
South Africa put Argentina to the sword and win first Rugby Championship
By Online Editors
A Handre Pollard-inspired South Africa have warmed up for the World Cup in superb style, beating Argentina 46-13 in the southern hemisphere's Rugby Championship in Salta to claim their first major trophy for 10 years.
Flyhalf Pollard scored two of his side's five tries and kicked five penalties and three conversions for a personal haul of 31 points, his best in an international.
Earlier on Saturday, world champions New Zealand lost 47-26 to championship runners-up Australia in Perth.
Argentina winger Santiago Cordero shocked the South Africans by going over in the corner in the second minute in Salta but hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi put the visitors 8-7 ahead after 13 minutes after a driving maul.
Pollard and Puma flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez then got locked into a kicking duel, exchanging penalties, before the 25-year-old South African dived over the tryline just before the break to make it 24-13.
The Springboks' progress slowed early in the second half when scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was sin-binned, only for Pollard to cross again.
Wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe added further tries in the 64th and 67th minute to complete the rout.
"It's a fantastic feeling," said Duane Vermeulen, who captained the twice world champions.
"It's the first time in 10 years South Africa has won the Rugby Championship or Tri-Nations and it's a nice reward for all the hard work we've put in.
"It's also a good thing for us going into the World Cup. It's one step up, still a lot of work to be done but yah, it's a good feeling."
The competition has been shortened to one round of matches due to the Rugby World Cup in Japan which starts on September 20.
South Africa last won the Rugby Championship when it was known as the Tri Nations - way back in 2009.
Argentina became the fourth team to join the championship in 2012.
New Zealand had won the past three championships and six of the previous seven.
SOUTH AFRICA 46 (Handre Pollard 2, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi tries Pollard 3 cons 5 pens) bt ARGENTINA 13 (Santiago Cordero try Nicolas Sanchez con 2 pens) at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena. Referee: Romain Poite. Crowd: 22,190.
More to come...
- AAP
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' weaknesses
3
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy
4
Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu admits anger at Australian rugby
5
Latest Comments
I think you are trying to create a grievance here that doesn't exist.
Setting Ireland up again as a 'Mighty' team (self promoted is your implication I'm sure) that has fallen is just another back handed way of having a go at them.
This is just an analysis of permutations of the autumn series, nothing more.
Go to commentsAs a neutral fan, watching the Russell-Tuipulotu-Jones axis is a treat. Those guys are on another level, most likely the world’s best 10-12-13 combo attack-wise.
Also, it was heart-warming to see Tuipulotu’s grandma and mom watch their boy score a try and play great in a winning game. They must have been filled with pride.
Go to comments