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
Missed penalty! South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 61 minutes
No dice. A miss to the left earlier in the half and now one to the right, Santiago Carreras not quite curling it back far enough.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 60 minutes
Joel Sclavi has been introduced to try and counter that South African scrummaging bench strength, the tighthead anchoring effectively. Duane Vermeulen picks up from the back and creates enough room for Faf de Klerk to clear to touch.
More South African limbs stray where they shouldn’t be at the lineout. Argentina point to the posts to try and break the second half scoring duck.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 59 minutes
A little bit unlucky for Argentina, a clear rip from Kwagga Smith not spotted by Andrew Brace as Juan Martin Gonzalez carries, the Irish referee ruling a knock-on to grant those new South African front rowers an immediate scrum skirmish.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 58 minutes
Gonzalo Bertranou, on at scrum-half for Lautaro Bazan Velez, is grasped by Faf de Klerk as he tries to pass, the South Africa nine’s hand pushing the ball forward as he makes the tackle. That permits Argentina to fling the ball about a bit more, spreading it to the right and turning that knock-on advantage into a penalty as South Africa are warned again, this time for their overall discipline.
All change in the front row for South Africa as they steel themselves for a five metre lineout - Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane and Vincent Koch on.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 55 minutes
And Am runs out of room on the left wing, treading on the touchline as he tries to combine with a teammate on his right. Duane Vermeulen is warned that too many of his players are in the referee’s ear, Andrew Brace unhappy by the home side’s incessant protesting.
Another Springboks change. Kwagga Smith steps in for Marco van Staden.
Pieter-Steph du Toit makes contact in the air with the lifted Argentine lineout catcher. This is turning into a bright spell for the visitors.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 54 minutes
That was comfortably the closest Argentina have come since the first few minutes of the game, this brilliantly talented backline finally showing what they are capable of as South Africa’s blitz defence faltered for the first time. Lukhanyo Am is on for South Africa, replacing Kurt-Lee Arendse.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 53 minutes
But South Africa hold firm! Steven Kitshoff! A timely, top-notch jackal from the loosehead, forcing replacement prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro to seal off as Argentina crawled towards the line.
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 52 minutes
Here come Argentina! It’s the best we’ve seen from the visitors in possession, fabulous handling freeing Lucio Cinti on the left, the outside centre stepping free from a tackler. Pablo Matera is inches away...
South Africa 15-9 Argentina, 50 minutes
Carreras’s next kick has the opposite problem, an attempted Garryowen sliced into touch on the full.
The fly-half makes a better job of his backfield duties, claiming neatly under pressure from Kurt-Lee Arendse. He takes a mark, and a friendly flick off South African fingers means it’ll be Argentina’s lineout to throw up near halfway.
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