Argentina Return To Life With Famous Win Over South Africa

Argentina have returned to life with a famous win over South Africa. Los Pumas completed their third ever win over the Springboks, converting a 27-7 half time lead into a 32-19 victory.

A Bautista Delguy double and a full-house of scoring from Nicolás Sánchez sent a RWC warning to England, France, Tonga, and the USA. Los Pumas have returned to life. They have also kept their Rugby Championship campaign alive as they now turn to preparing to travel to Oceania.

It was very much a famous win with Los Pumas being the deserved winners. They played the better rugby and outscoring the Springboks by four tries to three. They did so in front of a vocal crowd of 28,000 in Mendoza.

The scoring opened in the 4th minute with Nicolás Sánchez slotting a penalty. South Africa would quickly respond, scoring their opening try. Captain Siya Kolisi pounced on an opportunity to put the Springboks ahead. South Africa’s 7-3 victory would be their only lead in the match.

Argentina needed a go-to-man and he would come in the form of Bautista Delguy. The right winger went over for back-to-back converted tries. Both came with a teammate breaking the line, firstly Emiliano Boffelli and secondly Matías Moroni.

Sánchez converted both and then went over for a converted try of his own. The eight minute period saw Argentina going g from 7-3 down to leading 24-7. The Stade Français bound Sánchez then closed out the first half by landing a drop goal from 40 meters out.

Argentina’s 27-7 lead was the largest in history against South Africa. Los Pumas’ first win was in 2015 and was by 12 points. The South Americans would make history by winning by 13 today though South Africa won the second half.

Before the Springboks scored second half points Los Pumas added to their tally. Ramiro Moyano crossed in the 48th minute to score what was the final points of the afternoon for Argentina.

The 32-19 victory was threatened at times as South Africa were focused heavily on responding. They did so with two tries to replacement center Lionel Mapoe. Ultimately, though, Argentina was 13 points ahead with 7 minutes remaining and was able to see out the win.

SCORING

ARGENTINA (32)
Try: Delguy (2 – 19′, 23′,), Sánchez (27′), Moyano (48′)
Conversion: Sánchez (3 – 19′, 23′ y 27′)
Penalty: Sánchez (4′)
Drop Goal: Sánchez (39′)

SOUTH AFRICA (19)
Try: Kolisi (14′), Mapoe (2 – 64′, 72′)
Conversion: Pollard (14′, 65′)
Yellow Card: Etzebeth (24′)

TEAMS

ARGENTINA
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 23 Juan Cruz Mallía

SOUTH AFRICA
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Siya Kolisi (capt.), 6 Francois Louw, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Damian Willemse