1
Springboks unbeaten run ends at hands of Los Pumas in Argentina
By Ben Smith
The Springboks’ unbeaten run in the Rugby Championship has ended after a 28-29 defeat to Argentina in their round five clash in Santiago del Estero.
Argentina held on for their first win over South Africa since 2018 in Mendoza after eight consecutive losses to keep their slim title hopes alive.
The visitors got out to a fast start, racing out to a 17-0 lead inside the first 12 minutes as Aphelele Fassi and Jesse Kriel scored tries converted by Handre Pollard.
A set-piece strike off a lineout put Fassi over untouched, while minutes later Kriel burst through the line near the ruck on a hard angle.
After a Pollard penalty extended the lead to 17, Argentina hit straight back from a lineout play. A switch from flyhalf Tomas Albornoz took play down the short side, before a bust from inside centre Santiago Chocobares put Mateo Carreras in for the try.
A yellow card to winger Kurt Lee Arendse proved a turning point in the first half, with Los Pumas striking twice with the star in the sin bin for a high tackle on Carreras.
Pablo Matera scored down the left side again after a wide play that put Mateo Carreras through a half gap. From a switch maul play, prop Joel Sclavi crashed over to take an unlikely lead.
The Pumas fourth try came soon after to flyhalf Tomas Albornoz with a sly dummy to slide through and over.
The Springboks hit back right on half-time through Cobus Reinach to head into half-time down 26-22.
The second half became a real arm wrestle with the kick battles and set piece battles crucial. Pollard and Libbok added penalties to take the lead 28-26.
A break by Albornoz from a set piece play gave Argentina the opportunity to re-take the lead with 10 minutes remaining, with Albornoz slotting the goal.
Argentina had a chance to put the game beyond doubt in the corner from a lineout, but Eben Etzebeth came up with a crucial steal and the Springboks worked there way down to the other end.
After getting a penalty around 30 metres out with one minute remaining, it looked like the Springboks would steal it at the death but the penalty attempt by Manie Libbok went wide.
The tournament will now be decided in Nelspruit next weekend with the teams meeting again. However, the Springboks have a five-point lead in the standings heading into that clash after securing a losing bonus point.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Andy Farrell confirms Lions coaching team
3
Marcus Smith teams up with MLR's Miami Sharks in USA
4
Departing Quins boss Billy Millard in talks over huge Test job
5
Latest Comments
Fantastic idea to fix your annual showpiece fixture (from the Wallabies perspective) to a national holiday. Look at the success this has had in the USA, where NBA and NFL fans pack multiple arenas across the country on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving, the two most widely-celebrated national holidays in North America, with millions more tuning in on TV. This allows fans to create an association between the holiday and the game, while the ANZAC Day example has the added benefit of the same two teams (who are already established historical and geographical rivals) playing each year, adding to the sense of tradition and deepening the rivalry with each iteration.
Would love to see this more widely-implemented across rugby. For instance, Ireland should seek to tie the opening fixture of the Women’s Six Nations to St. Patrick’s Day and host the game in the RDS with the Leinster Schools Senior Cup Final serving as an opener (bonus points if you make the opponent England every year). Would pack out the stadium and the School’s final fans always bring fantastic atmosphere!
Go to commentsI don't know if the players have talk to Galthie, but they should talk to their employers, the clubs, first. After losing Dupont for at least 9 months, I am sure Toulouse will applause this idea with their two hands….
Go to comments