Argentina v South Africa LIVE: Result and reaction as Los Pumas earn historic victory over Springboks
Argentina 29-28 South Africa: The defeat means the Springboks must win their last match to lift the trophy
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South Africa must wait before getting their hands on the Rugby Championship trophy after a superb 29-28 victory from Argentina stopped them from being crowned champions.
A blistering first half saw no fewer than seven tries as Los Pumas fought back from an early South African onslaught. The Springboks flew out of the traps with tries from Aphelele Fassi and Jesse Kriel helping them to a 14-point lead before Handre Pollard added three more from a penalty kick.
At that stage it was all South Africa but a 10-minute sin bin for Kurt-Lee Arendse swung the momentum. With the extra man advantage, and their backs to the wall, the hosts put on a show for their watching fans.
Mateo Carreras, Pablo Matera and Joel Sclavi all forced their way over the line before a excellent dummy from Tomas Albornoz sent Argentina ahead. With Arendse restored just a few minutes before the break, Cobus Reinach sprinted in for a try and made it a four-point game heading into the second half.
A more tactical 40 minutes followed with the lead switching hands due to penalty kicks and no tries being scored. Substitute fly-half Manie Libbok had the chance to win the game in the 79th minute but whipped a kick wide and Los Pumas hung on to clinch the win by a point.
Relive the action from the Rugby Championship clash in our live blog below:
Argentina v South Africa
The national anthems of both countries are played with the players all belting out their respective songs. The Argentinian anthem is an upbeat and rousing one.
The fans are hyped...
Argentina v South Africa
Los Pumas play host the Springboks in round five of the Rugby Championship. It’s a hot day in Argentina and conditions will be tricky for the visitors.
South Africa seem confident though. This should be a good match up.
Argentina vs South Africa
Almost time for this Rugby Championship match to get going. South Africa are overwhelming favourites having won all four of their games against Australia and New Zealand.
Another victory tonight will see them lift the trophy for the first time since 2019. Can they get it done?
Kick off is up next...
All Blacks survive thrilling Wallabies comeback to cling on to Bledisloe Cup
New Zealand scored four tries in the first 25 minutes and held off a late Australian fightback with 13 men to beat the Wallabies 31-28 in a Rugby Championship thriller at Stadium Australia.
The All Blacks were held to one penalty in the second half and lost two players to yellow cards, but their early lead proved enough to earn an eighth straight win over their neighbours and ensure they would retain the Bledisloe Cup for another year.
The Wallabies will take heart from their second half fightback, especially after the record 67-27 loss to Argentina two weeks ago.
All Blacks survive thrilling Wallabies comeback to cling on to Bledisloe Cup
Australia 28-31 New Zealand: A fast start allowed the visitors to prevail in Sydney despite another second-half collapse
Argentina vs South Africa match officials
Referee: Christophe Ridley (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Matt Carley (Eng) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
Argentina vs South Africa
There were some quite pointed comments from Rassie Erasmus this week on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has not perhaps endeared himself to his head coach by hiding an injury from the Springboks staff to feature against the All Blacks.
“What our players must understand; we have respect for everybody, but we must be honest when it comes to injuries,” Erasmus said. “Nobody who’s got an injury and 80% ready is better than a Springbok who has no injuries and is 100% ready. So Sacha is lucky that we won those Test matches because he gambled a bit.”
The youngster will not feature until November, leaving Handre Pollard to take the reins in these last two Rugby Championship Tests. You’d still imagine that Feinberg-Mngomezulu will regain his spot at the top of the fly half pecking order as South Africa embrace a more expansive style, but the uber-consistent Pollard is just so reliable.
Argentina look to match Springboks back five strength
Argentina are developing real depth in their back five of the pack, with old stagers like Marcos Kremer and Guido Petti joined by youngsters Pedro Rubiolo and Joaquin Oviedo, who are developing quickly to become key figures. It is a mark of the quality at the disposal of Felipe Contepomi that he can leave Juan Martin Gonzalez in reserve to match the Springboks’ bench punch and not feel like he is losing too much from his starting side.
A group still led by Pablo Matera will have to match South Africa today. The visitors are without four of their regular starting five at the back of the scrum - if Argentina can get on top of that remodelled group at the breakdown and dominate the lineout, a shock could very well be on the cards.
All Blacks survive thrilling Wallabies comeback to cling on to Bledisloe Cup
Both New Zealand and Australia were already out of the Rugby Championship title race when they met earlier, but the pair served up a doozy, with the Wallabies roaring back to threaten a sensational comeback in Sydney. There was just too much to do, though, as the All Blacks rode a fast start to ensure that the Bledisloe Cup will remain on their side of the Tasman.
All Blacks survive thrilling Wallabies comeback to cling on to Bledisloe Cup
Australia 28-31 New Zealand: A fast start allowed the visitors to prevail in Sydney despite another second-half collapse
Team news - South Africa
Rassie Erasmus makes ten changes to the Springboks side that beat New Zealand, with seven of his squad rested entirely from the trip. Salmaan Moerat leads the side once more after making his captaincy debut against Australia earlier in the competition, with lock Etzebeth set to equal Victor Matfield’s Springbok record of 127 Test appearances if he takes the field from the bench. Handre Pollard continues at fly half.
South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Thomas du Toit; 4 Ruan Nortje, 5 Salmaan Moerat (capt.); 6 Marco van Staden, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Cobus Reinach, 10 Handre Pollard; 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 15 Aphelele Fassi.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith; 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Manie Libbok.
Team news - Argentina
Argentina make three alterations with the back five of their pack, with Pedro Rubiolo returning from concussion to partner Franco Molina in a new-look second row. Joaquin Oviedo’s two-try performance off the bench against Australia earns him a start at number eight, while uncapped prop Pedro Delgado awaits a debut on the bench.
Argentina XV: 1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julian Montoya, 3 Joel Sclavi; 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo; 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Joaquin Oviedo; 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Tomas Albornoz; 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Bautista Delguy; 15 Juan Cruz Mallia.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez; 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Matias Moroni.
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