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 0-3 Argentina, 9 minutes
What can Argentina launch, then, from a good attacking platform? Santiago Chocobares pops for Lucio Cinti on his shoulder but Damian de Allende is a typically sturdy brick in the South Africa defensive wall.
Argentina work two more phases for little further progress, but Kurt-Lee Arendse’s failure to vacate a ruck sees the Springboks pinged. Santiago Carreras points at the posts - 45 metres on the angle from wide on the right...
South Africa 0-3 Argentina, 8 minutes
It’s Eben Etzebeth who lumbers up on a kick chase now, a flick off Tomas Lavanini’s fingers putting the South Africa lock onside. Etzebeth can’t quite clutch it, and Argentina get the better of the aerial ping-pong that ensues. The visitors will throw a lineout on the Springboks’ ten-metre line.
South Africa 0-3 Argentina, 6 minutes
South Africa show their variety with the boot, a flat crossfield kick and a higher angled hoist both well contested for by Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe, flashes of yellow on their scrumcaps glinting in the evening sun. Argentina handle it reasonably competently, though, with Santiago Carreras then covering the backfield superbly to get across to an attempted punt for territory.
South Africa 0-3 Argentina, 4 minutes
Jesse Kriel drops a certain score! This chaotic opening continues, Kriel getting his arms up to block an Argentina clearing kick, and a try his for the taking as the ball hops up in-goal. But it slips off his fingertips as he leaps to try to ground - he probably had time to watch it fall a little further with no Argentine nearby!
Kriel slaps his hands together, annoyed with himself.
PENALTY! South Africa 0-3 ARGENTINA (Santiago Carreras penalty, 3 minutes)
Straight and true from the Argentina fly-half.
Julian Montoya is in need of attention, Argentine red pouring down the hooker’s face. The captain is patched up and back in the line in time to receive the restart.
South Africa 0-0 Argentina, 2 minutes
Argentina point at the posts this time, this penalty slightly more central. Santiago Carreras takes the tee, with no Emiliano Boffelli today.
South Africa 0-0 Argentina, 2 minutes
Argentina tap the penalty on the floor, captain Julian Montoya taking charge of restart duties and inviting his fellow forwards to try and bash down the door. They don’t manage it, South Africa’s blitz defence driving the Pumas back - but not without conceding a penalty.
South Africa 0-0 Argentina, 1 minute
Faf de Klerk is on and throwing a ball around with his teammates as South Africa try to occupy idle, anxious hands as they wait for Williams to be treated. The scrum-half has a neck brace on as he is carefully shuffled on to a stretcher. An awful start to the game.
Williams is sucking in oxygen from a facemask as he’s taken off on the medical cart.
South Africa 0-0 Argentina, 1 minute
“It’s completely unavoidable,” Andrew Brace explains to Duane Vermeulen as the Springboks skipper questions whether there was any foul play in Mallia’s actions. A fair call from the referee - Mallia charged Williams’s punt down and had no time to evade the kicker, turning away to try and avoid contact.
This is so, so tough for Williams, the livewire nine’s first start at an end just 16 seconds in.
South Africa 0-0 Argentina, 1 minute
A disaster start for South Africa! Grant Williams is charged down as he tries to clear having claimed the restart, with Juan Cruz Mallia’s hip then thumping into the scrum-half’s head and appearing to have knocked him out.
Argentina have a penalty but there is real concern for Williams, starting for the first time for South Africa.
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