Marx double powers Springboks to much-needed bonus point win over Los Pumas

The Springboks have come away with a 36-20 bonus point win over Los Pumas in Buenos Aires to keep the Rugby Championship title race alive.

A last minute try to hooker Malcolm Marx propelled the Springboks to the three try bonus point to draw level with the All Blacks on competition points ahead of the final round next week.

The Springboks looked in cruise control after building a comfortable 22-6 halftime lead on the back of three tries while the Pumas struggled with discipline and couldn’t get much going on attack.

The Boks were awarded a penalty try in the 20th minute when Santiago Carreras was offside when he attempted a try-saving tackle. He was yellow carded in a double blow for the Pumas.

Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse then ghosted over through the ruck defence for the second try and Marx powered over for the third from a rolling maul.

Gonzalo Bertranou was sin binned for repeated infringements on the stroke of halftime leaving the home side in a serious predicament heading into the sheds.

The visitors were given a scare by a late Pumas comeback after withstanding a heavy period of Pumas attack which saw numerous South African indiscretions penalised in the second half.

Willie le Roux and Kwagga Smith were shown yellow cards but Argentina struggled to break the Springboks defence with a ton of possession and territory.

Argentina secured a penalty try of their own before a second to Matias Moroni closed the gap to 22-20 with around fifteen minutes to play.

Inside centre Damian de Allende crashed over to give the Springboks a comfortable lead again while Marx’s double secured his side a crucial bonus point.

“To come here is very hard. Argentines are very passionate people and they take pride in their rugby,” Springboks captain Siya Kolisi said at the post-match presentation.

“For us to get a bonus point was special.

“Argentina played really well, it was a great battle. It has been tough for us and we had to pull together as a group.”

Pumas captain Julian Montoya lamented his side’s lack of application in the first half that left his side needing to climb out of a deep hole.

“The first half we weren’t where we wanted to be in terms of defence and discipline,” Pumas captain Julian Montoya said.

“In the second half our attitude was much better and we kept going. But it wasn’t enough.

“We have to learn from this, you have to play for 80 minutes if you want to win against the world champions.”

South Africa return home to play Argentina in Durban next week while the All Blacks will host the Wallabies at Eden Park as the Rugby Championship title comes down to the final round.