Argentina vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby World Cup warm-up result and reaction
Argentina 13-24 South Africa: The Springboks beat the Pumas for the second week in a row
Tries by wings Makazole Mapimpi and Canan Moodie helped a much-changed South Africa to a 24-13 victory over Argentina in their Rugby World Cup warm-up clash in Buenos Aires, ruining a major milestone for home hooker Agustin Creevy.
The Springboks made 13 changes for the game with several players given a chance to impress before coach Jacques Nienaber names his 33-player World Cup squad on Tuesday, but they trailed 10-3 after an ill-disciplined first half.
After Mapimpi and Moodie crossed for scores in quick succession at the start of the second period however, they turned the screw, and the boot of fly-half Manie Libbok took them clear as he kicked 14 points.
The home side’s only try was scored by scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou and they had few answers to the South African power game, but when Creevy came on as a replacement he became the first Argentine player to reach 100 Test caps.
Relive the clash below:
Argentina 13-21 South Africa, 70 mins
Good defence by Kriel, who shoots out of the line and forces a mistake#, a knock-on from prop Joel Sclavi.
Moodie then kick chases like his life depends on it and hauls down Boffelli on the return, again forcing a spill. The formidable Boks front row then do what they do best and splinter the Pumas scrum to win a penalty. Another shot from Libbok upcoming
PENALTY! Argentina 13-21 SOUTH AFRICA (Manie Libbok, 67 mins)
It’s a long-range penalty for Manie Libbok just inside the Argentina half but that doesn’t stop him! A great kick, on target and enough distance to go over.
It’s been a bizarre performance off the tee by Libbok but fair play to him being able to forget his previous, more straightforward misses and nail some tough kicks.
Argentina 13-18 South Africa, 66 mins
Gerhard Steenekamp breaks the line after a great flat pass by Libbok. Eventually it’s another Springboks penalty and their No 10 will have a shot at the posts, which is the facet of the game he’s struggled with today.
Argentina 13-18 South Africa, 64 mins
The second-half defensive intensity of the Springboks is superb. They push Argentina back behind the gain-line time and time again until they’re forced to kick.
It’s long, aimless and goes dead, so suddenly it’s South Africa ball in the opposition half.
Argentina 13-18 South Africa, 61 mins
Jean Kleyn pinged for a neck roll and Argentina kick to the corner. Another quality lineout from Montoya and they set the maul but it’s stopped by South Africa. They’ve defended that facet really well today.
And then a turnover for the Boks! More great work at the breakdown, Jean-Luc du Preez nicks the turnover and they can kick clear.
PENALTY! Argentina 13-18 SOUTH AFRICA (Manie Libbok, 59 mins)
Boffelli and Moroni both rise well to claim separate high balls but South Africa are winning the breakdown battle at the moment. Again their pack crunches in and wins a kickable penalty.
On the ten-metre line but fairly central and this time Manie Libbok corrects his radar and slots the three points.
MISSED PENALTY! Argentina 13-15 SOUTH AFRICA (Manie Libbok, 56 mins)
The Springboks upping the intensity a bit here. They force a turnover as Kleyn makes a solid tackle and Jasper Wiese gets over the ball to win the penalty.
Manie Libbok with the shot at goal but once again, his radar is off. He’s had a pretty poor day from the tee (but a good one in open play)- and this slips wide left of the posts. He looks annoyed with himself.
PENALTY! ARGENTINA 13-15 South Africa (Emiliano Boffelli, 51 mins)
The South African defence stiffens but a penalty coming after Deon Fourie ruled not to have rolled away in the tackle.
It’s straight in front of the posts and Boffelli does the inevitable. Argentina back within two points.
Argentina 10-15 South Africa, 50 mins
Franco Mostert back on after his sin-bin and things look very different now to when he went off!
The Pumas trying to gain a foothold after that two-try blitz. Powerful carry by Lucio Cinti and they’re set up in the Boks 22.
TRY! Argentina 10-15 SOUTH AFRICA (Canan Moodie, 46 mins)
It’s another try for the Springboks! Manie Libbok at the heart of this one as the fly-half pings a pinpoint cross-field kick into the waiting arms of Canan Moodie.
From there, the winger skips outside his man and races over the line. The conversion is no good from Libbok but this has been an incredible start to the second half
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