South Africa vs Argentina LIVE: Rugby Championship result as Springboks win but miss out on title

South Africa 38-21 Argentina: The Springboks needed to beat the Pumas by 40 points to snatch the Rugby Championship away from the All Blacks

(REUTERS)

New Zealand were crowned Rugby Championship winners after South Africa fell short of an imposing target to snatch the title away from the All Blacks.

The All Blacks’ big 40-14 victory over Wallabies earlier on Saturday meant that the Springboks had to beat Argentina by 40 points to snatch the title away from New Zealand.

They fought valiantly in Durban but only managed a 38-21 victory as they missed a number of chances throughout the game and the Pumas hit back strongly in the second half.

It means the All Blacks retain the title they won last year, as the Springboks finish second in the table - level on points with New Zealand but crucially trailing in the points difference stakes.

Relive all the action with us below:

South Africa vs Argentina - Rugby Championship updates

• Springboks win but not by the 40 points required to snatch the Rugby Championship title away from All Blacks
• FULL-TIME! South Africa 38-21 Argentina
• 72’ - TRY! Another penalty try from a collapsed amul for the Springboks (RSA 31-21 ARG)
• 68’ - TRY! Moroni dots down from miss pass (RSA 24-21 ARG)
• 47’ - TRY! Gonzalez steps Le Roux for a brilliant score (RSA 17-14 ARG)
• 40’ - TRY! Lavanini dives over from close-range to narrow the deficit (RSA 17-7 ARG)
• 28’ - TRY! Kolisi sneaks over after a maul (RSA 14-0 ARG)
• 19’ - TRY! Wiese goes over from the back of a scrum (RSA 7-0 ARG)

[24 September 2022 17:40 · Luke Baker]

TRY! South Africa 24-14 Argentina

55 mins - Great driving maul, edging inexorably towards the Pumas line, brought down and that’s a PENALTY TRY! Cynically collapsed by Argentina and the ref raises his arm.

YELLOW CARD for Jeronimo de la Fuente for the collapse so Argentina will be down to 14 men for the next 10 mins.

[24 September 2022 17:39 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 17-14 Argentina

53 mins - Another dominant Springbok scrum and they can kick to the corner. Great platform and a chance to take back control of this game.

[24 September 2022 17:33 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 17-14 Argentina

50 mins - Steyn using his body as a battering ram. Fair to say, at 112kg, he’s not your traditional fly-half and he barrels into Guido Petti, sending the big man backwards! Love it!

Argentina on the attack though and have a platform in the Springbok 22 but the ball is turned over. Good breakdown work by the Boks to get the penalty.

[24 September 2022 17:29 · Luke Baker]

TRY! South Africa 17-14 Argentina

47 mins - Argentina have really upped the tempo after the break and they get their reward! What a TRY by Juan Martin Gonzalez. He’s a flanker but down the blindside, he steps Willie le Roux, completely selling him the dummy and races in for the score. Sublime footwork!

Tricky conversion out wide on the left for Boffelli but his effort flies straight through the middle. Pumas within three points

[24 September 2022 17:26 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 17-7 Argentina

46 mins - Argentina spread left as Mallia finds Imhoff with a long pass. He cuts inside and get the Pumas into the 22. The attack comes to a stop when Sclavi is pinged for continuing to play when held on the floor.

South Africa kick towards halfway and they finally have a platform for some second-half ball.

[24 September 2022 17:23 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 17-7 Argentina

44 mins - Good composure from Mapimpi as he deals with a Carreras kick that hits the turf. He gathers in his own in-goal area, feeds Steyn and the fly-half boots a long touch.

Argentina have had the better of the opening exchanges in this second period though.

[24 September 2022 17:22 · Luke Baker]

South Africa 17-7 Argentina

42 mins - Argentina on the attack early in the second half. They secure a five-metre lineout and try to score down the blindside but a foot in touch denies them. Good cover defence from the Springboks.

[24 September 2022 17:20 · Luke Baker]

KICK-OFF! South Africa 17-7 Argentina

41 mins - Back underway in Durban. South Africa need a miracle to nick the Rugby Championship title but Argentina will fancy their chances of winning this Test still.

[24 September 2022 17:05 · Luke Baker]

HALF-TIME! South Africa 17-7 Argentina

That Lavanini try on the stroke of half-time was unexpected but South Africa are still in control of this Test match. Their chance of winning the Rugby Championship is dwindling though.

Winning by 40 points is looking like a tall task from here.

[24 September 2022 17:03 · Luke Baker]

TRY! South Africa 17-7 Argentina

40 mins - A final chance for Argentina - restored to 15 men with the return of Gonzalez - before half-time. They get ball in the South African half and a Carreraskick into the 22 causes havoc.

No-one can claim it, eventually Gonzalez gets on it and recycles with an offload to Carreras. Tomas Lavanini then picks up at the base and dives over to the right of the ruck, stretching out for the TRY! A well-taken conversion by Carreras narrows the gap to 10.

Out of nowhere but the Pumas are back in it.