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:
South Africa team news
Fly-half Manie Libbok is the only member of the South Africa side that started last weekend to retain his place, with Jacques Nienaber electing to ring the changes. Damian Willemse takes over from Willie le Roux in the vital playmaking full-back role, while Cobus Reinach starts ahead of Herschel Jantjies at nine with Grant Williams recovering from that unfortunate incident last weekend.
Bongi Mbonambi becomes the 64th Springboks skipper, leading the side from the heart of the front row in a starting forwards unit that features the versatile Deon Fourie, who can also play hooker, on the openside. Replacement loosehead Gerhard Steenekamp is set to win a first cap.
South Africa XV: Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi (capt.), Thomas du Toit; Jean Kleyn, Marvin Orie; Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert, Jasper Wiese; Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok; Makazole Mapimpi, Andre Esterhuizen, Lukhano Am, Canan Moodie; Damian Willemse.
Replacements: Joseph Dweba, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Jean-Luc du Preez, Evan Roos; Herschel Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse.
Argentina team news
Agustin Creevy will make history as the first Argentine to win 100 international caps when he replaces captain Julian Montoya at hooker. Pedro Rubiolo is brought into the starting side in the place of Lucas Paulos, who was knocked out in South Africa last week, in the only change to the run-on pack. Gonzalo Bertranou is preferred to Lautaro Bazan Velez at scrum-half while Santiago Cordero makes his first appearance of the summer on the wing.
With Juan Cruz Mallia suspended after colliding with Grant Williams in Johannesburg, Martin Bogado is handed a debut, with Emiliano Boffelli also back amongst things in the back three and Guido Petti a handy returnee on the bench.
Argentina XV: Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (capt.), Francisco Gomez Kodela; Pedro Rubiolo, Tomas Lavanini; Pablo Matera, Santiago Grondona, Juan Martin Gonzalez; Gonzalo Bertranou, Santiago Carreras; Santiago Cordero, Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, Emiliano Boffelli; Martin Bogado.
Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Guido Petti, Facundo Isa; Lautaro Bazan Velez, Tomas Albornoz, Matias Moroni.
When is Argentina vs South Africa and how can I watch?
When is Argentina vs South Africa?
Argentina vs South Africa is due to kick off at 8.10pm BST this evening at the José Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Action, with coverage on the channel from 8pm BST. Subscribers can stream the action via the Sky Go app.
South Africa edge past Argentina in Rugby Championship finale
These two sides met a week ago and here’s what happened.
Fly-half Manie Libbok scored a breakaway try against the run of play to secure South Africa a bruising 22-21 victory over Argentina and earn a second-place finish in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park.
The Springboks had to withstand heavy Argentine pressure, some of their own making through poor execution, but managed to grind out the win as they also scored tries through lock Eben Etzebeth and centre Damian de Allende.
Argentina were in the contest all the way but battled to break down the resolute home defence and got tries late on through wing Mateo Carreras and replacement Gonzalo Bertranou as the visitors pushed for what would have been a first-ever win in Johannesburg.
New Zealand claimed the Rugby Championship trophy earlier in the day with a comprehensive 38-7 victory over Australia in Melbourne but the Boks’ victory sees them end second, with Argentina in third.
Argentina vs South Africa live stream: How to watch Rugby World Cup warm-up on TV
After almost beating the Springboks in Johannesburg last weekend, Argentina host South Africa in Buenos Aires looking for a momentum-building victory ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
It will be a significant occasion for Argentine rugby with hooker Agustin Creevy set to become the first Pumas player to win 100 caps when he comes off the bench.
With both head coaches due to name their final World Cup squads early next week, this is a final chance for many of those on the cut line to try and earn a place.
“We’ve been emphasising the importance of giving as many players as possible a fair chance to show what they can do with an eye on finalising our Rugby World Cup squad,” Jacques Nienaber, South Africa’s head coach, said this week. “This is going to be a massive physical battle and there will be a lot of pressure on the players mentally and physically, which is exactly the type of situation we would like to see them in as we enter our World Cup warm-up games.”
Here’s everything you need to know:
Argentina vs South Africa live stream: How to watch Rugby World Cup warm-up on TV
Everything you need to know ahead of another meeting between the southern hemisphere sides
Argentina vs South Africa - Rugby World Cup warm-up
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the Rugby World Cup warm-up clash in Buenos Aires between Argentina and South Africa
With the naming of squads for next month’s tournament edging ever closer, players on both sides will be desperate to impress their head coaches and book a spot on the plane to France.
Stick with us for full live coverage of the contest.
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