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South Africa were the better team on Saturday in Buenos Aires.. Played at the Estadio Libertadores de América, the Springboks completed a bonus point 36-20 win over Los Pumas. It came after a strong opening half from the visitors and an even second half.
Argentina had the better of South Africa in the early collisions. This included winning penalties at the scrum and breakdown. The second of which gave Emiliano Boffelli a kicking opportunity from halfway. Boffelli landed the penalty.
South Africa kicked deep from the restart. They regathered the ball and put together nine phases before winning a penalty. Damian Willemse made it a 3-3 scoreline in the 12th minute. Both kickers missed their second penalties.
The remainder of the half was all Springboks. They scored three tries. First, South Africa won a penalty try. James Doleman deemed Santiago Carreras to have made a tackle from an offside position. Argentina had no argument against the penalty try. Second, South Africa won a penalty from the kick-off. Attacking mauls culminated with scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse splitting the defense to score under the posts. Third, Malcolm Marx threw a lineout, went to the tail and scored from a rolling maul.
It was not entirely one-way traffic. Argentina managed a penalty following the penalty try. Other than that the second quarter saw South Africa’s forwards dominating and the three tries were entirely on merit as the men in green suffocated the home side.
In addition to being well behind, Argentina were again playing with fourteen men. Gonzalo Bertranou’s yellow carding meant Tomás Cubelli replaced winger Lucio Cinti at half-time.
The tide did nonetheless turn. Argentina were able to compete better in the areas that South Africa had commanded in the first half. It brought with it penalties in Argentina’s favor and two South African yellow cards.
Argentina crossed for quick fire tries in the third quarter. First, a penalty try was rewarded for a neck roll by Kwagga Smith on Tomás Cubelli. The scrum-half was deemed to have been in a try-scoring position. Second, Matías Moroni scored under the posts after receiving a timely pass from Marcos Kremer.
The match was suddenly poised at 22-20 in favor of South Africa. The Springboks regathered to hit-back through Damian de Allende. The center powered over through the tackle of two forwards to give his team breathing space in the final minutes.
Argentina were nine points down and looking to end on a high. The ball went the other way though with Malcolm Marx scoring in the corner. His score made it a bonus point win by five tries to two. The teams meet again in seven days time. They will fly from South America to Africa for the final round Rugby Championship matchup in Durban.
SCORING
ARGENTINA 20
Tries – Penalty try (65′), M. Moroni (69′)
Cons – No kick (65′), E. Boffelli 1/1 (70′)
Pens – E. Boffelli 2/3 (9′, 24′)
YC – S. Carreras (21′), G. Bertranou (40’+2′)
SOUTH AFRICA 36
Tries – Penalty try (21′), J. Hendrikse (28′), M. Marx 2 (32′, 80′), D. de Allende (75′)
Cons – No kick (21′), D. Willemse 1/2 (29′), F. Steyn 2/2 (76′, 80’+1′)
Pens – D. Willemse 1/2 (12′)
YC – W. le Roux (59′), K. Smith (65′)
TEAMS
ARGENTINA
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (17 Thomas Gallo 47′), 2 Julián Montoya (capt.) (16 Agustín Creevy 65′), 3 Eduardo Bello (18 Joel Sclavi 47′), 4 Matías Alemanno (19 Guido Petti 64′), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Juan Martín González (20 Rodrigo Bruni 65′), 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou (23 Matías Moroni 50′), 10 Santiago Carreras (22 Benjamín Urdapilleta 76′), 11 Lucio Cinti (21 Tomás Cubelli HT), 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Steven Kitshoff (17 Ox Nché 67′), 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Frans Malherbe (18 Trevor Nyakane 59′), 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lood de Jager (20 Kwagga Smith 52′), 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.) (16 Deon Fourie 60′), 7 Franco Mostert, 8 Jasper Wiese (19 Elrigh Louw 52′), 9 Jaden Hendrikse (21 Faf de Klerk 60′), 10 Damian Willemse (23 Frans Steyn 65′), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel (22 André Esterhuizen 76′), 14 Canan Moodie, 15 Willie Le Roux
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistants: Craig Evans (Wales) & Damon Murphy (Australia)
TMO: Chris Hart (New Zealand)
