South Africa vs Argentina LIVE: Rugby Championship result and reaction as Springboks hold off Pumas
South Africa 22-21 Argentina: The Springboks withstood waves of pressure from the visitors to sign off the Rugby Championship with a home win
Flyhalf 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 on Saturday.
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 on Saturday with a comprehensive 38-7 victory over Australia in Melbourne but the Boks’ victory sees them end second, with Argentina in third.
Follow live updates from South Africa vs Argentina in the final round of the Rugby Championship below
South Africa 22-14 Argentina, 78 minutes
A deep restart asks Argentina to play from deep, something they are initially unwilling to do, punting upfield. South Africa kill some clock, cleverly, before Faf de Klerk hoists a box kick.
Santiago Carreras claims a mark but is soon on the move, spreading to the left...where there is space! Up over halfway...kicked ahead! Was that the right call? Cheslin Kolbe scrambles back and grounds in goal but a chance to potentially keep ball in hand goes begging for Argentina, leaving just two minutes to find the nine points they need.
It will be their scrum, though, five out.
TRY! South Africa 22-14 ARGENTINA (Mateo Carreras try, 75 minutes)
And Mateo Carreras delivers that speedy score!
Argentina are alive! Brilliant continuity in phase play and a clever offload off the floor from Matias Moroni allows his Newcastle teammate Carreras to push his way over on the right.
Now, can his namesake convert? Not quite, Santiago Carreras’s kick pulled to the left. Argentina need two more scores.
South Africa 22-9 Argentina, 74 minutes
Two converrted scores would be enough for Argentina to engineer an unlikely turnaround, but they need to strike quickly.
YELLOW CARD! Damian de Allende is sent to the sin bin (South Africa 22-9 Argentina, 73 minutes)
Damian de Allende won’t see this game out - he sticks out a mitt to block an Argentina pass with the South African defensive line broken, and once his touch is ruled to have travelled forward, Andrew Brace has no option but to go to his pocket.
Hope for Argentina?
South Africa 22-9 Argentina, 71 minutes
South Africa fancy another adventure up the right, but Pieter-Steph du Toit is driven into touch before he can find Jesse Kriel after Cheslin Kolbe had lit the kindling.
TRY! SOUTH AFRICA 22-9 Argentina (Manie Libbok try, 69 minutes)
A breakaway South Africa score!
Oh, Argentina. There are spaces starting to appear as they work quick hands to the left, but Tomas Lavanini and Joel Sclavi aren’t the men the Pumas want in the line to try and exploit it. A flicked pass flies between the front five pair, with Faf de Klerk sharp as ever to collect the loose change. De Klerk pops for his half-back partner, granting Manie Libbok a clear canter for the corner and his first international try.
Libbok adds two more from the tee.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 67 minutes
Kwagga Smith rolls into Gonzalo Bertranou, prompting an official warning from Andrew Brace to South Africa. The next misdeed will result in a card.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 66 minutes
This bitty period of play continues. South Africa peculiarly turn down a chance to maul on the right, a decision that backfires as Faf de Klerk fumbles a horrible transfer to him from the front of the lineout.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 64 minutes
Argentian are starting to put more consistent stress and strain on the edges of the South Africa defence, but a couple of untimely handling errors let them down, Juan Imhoff diving off his feet to protect possession.
South Africa flip the field, eschewing a kick for touch and instead turning Argentina with a long kick into the visitors’ 22. Santiago Carreras, who has covered superbly all evening, is first man back, showing his rugby smarts again. Argentina thump a clearance up to the halfway line.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 63 minutes
One more penalty might see a South African sent to the bin, and it looks like a Springbok might be in trouble as they bring a maul to floor. Andrew Brace has his arm out initiall, but is over-ruled by his assistant, Argentina deemed the cause of the collapse. A confused Julian Montoya asks for an explanation, which Brace duly provides - good work from the officiating team, it would appear, with only blue and white shirts off their feet as it came down.
Still Argentina’s ball, though, as Montoya hits double tops with a dart 35 metres out.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments