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Springboks unbeaten run ends at hands of Los Pumas in Argentina
By Ben Smith
The Springboks’ unbeaten run in the Rugby Championship has ended after a 28-29 defeat to Argentina in their round five clash in Santiago del Estero.
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Argentina held on for their first win over South Africa since 2018 in Mendoza after eight consecutive losses to keep their slim title hopes alive.
The visitors got out to a fast start, racing out to a 17-0 lead inside the first 12 minutes as Aphelele Fassi and Jesse Kriel scored tries converted by Handre Pollard.
A set-piece strike off a lineout put Fassi over untouched, while minutes later Kriel burst through the line near the ruck on a hard angle.
After a Pollard penalty extended the lead to 17, Argentina hit straight back from a lineout play. A switch from flyhalf Tomas Albornoz took play down the short side, before a bust from inside centre Santiago Chocobares put Mateo Carreras in for the try.
A yellow card to winger Kurt Lee Arendse proved a turning point in the first half, with Los Pumas striking twice with the star in the sin bin for a high tackle on Carreras.
Pablo Matera scored down the left side again after a wide play that put Mateo Carreras through a half gap. From a switch maul play, prop Joel Sclavi crashed over to take an unlikely lead.
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The Pumas fourth try came soon after to flyhalf Tomas Albornoz with a sly dummy to slide through and over.
The Springboks hit back right on half-time through Cobus Reinach to head into half-time down 26-22.
The second half became a real arm wrestle with the kick battles and set piece battles crucial. Pollard and Libbok added penalties to take the lead 28-26.
A break by Albornoz from a set piece play gave Argentina the opportunity to re-take the lead with 10 minutes remaining, with Albornoz slotting the goal.
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Argentina had a chance to put the game beyond doubt in the corner from a lineout, but Eben Etzebeth came up with a crucial steal and the Springboks worked there way down to the other end.
After getting a penalty around 30 metres out with one minute remaining, it looked like the Springboks would steal it at the death but the penalty attempt by Manie Libbok went wide.
The tournament will now be decided in Nelspruit next weekend with the teams meeting again. However, the Springboks have a five-point lead in the standings heading into that clash after securing a losing bonus point.
Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
Jaw-dropping stats.
92% possession in the last 10 minutes, with the scoreboard at 29-28, but unable to find the 2 points necessary. Ouch!
Also, over the course of the game the Boks had 40% more passes, 80% more carries, and 50% more line breaks, but fewer points on the board. Is that a new-fangled attack that is still not working, or is the new normal for the Boks to work that much harder for their points than their opponents do?
But the real problem was defense. 28 points should be enough to win a game. The Boks are at their best when they consistently limit their opponents to 15 points or less. That's a good goal for any team. Argentina is a good (and under-rated) team, but the Boks have stopped good teams before.
Rassie needs to spend the next week figuring out why a backline that is full of double RWC winners has become so porous. The KLA yellow card explains some of it, but the Boks usually adapt. It may be time to call his buddy Nienaber. One part of it is that if you're going to de-emphasize the territorial game, then there is more pressure to minimize turnovers.
Manie will be wishing that there was a good kicker elsewhere in the team, so that he could contest for #10 without having to be a BMT place kicker. SA supporters were expecting something like the end of the Currie Cup final, but with a much easier kick. Unfortunately Manie doesn't seem to improve his kicking accuracy under pressure.
It has to be said: Congrats to Argentina.
Pumas were excellent value for the win, some brilliant tries! Boks playing with square pegs in round holes with an unbalanced side. Loads to learn from this defeat which has been coming if we’re brutally honest. Boks haven’t played well this RC and still found a way to win until yesterday. Rather get this mangled gameplan sorted sooner than later. Defense is suffering when players are chopped and changed plus it’s a wake up call to get it sorted. Anyway, a game Boks could have won but in a way glad to have lost in the grander scheme of things. Stop messing around with so many “combos”
Definitely not all on Manie, though the feeling of an inevitable miss when he takes to an important kick is not commensurate with top level play. Los pumas took advantage of some gaping holes in defence - as did Kriel and Fassi for their tries. 36 DC and humid AF is not rugby-playing weather and this had a huge effect on the game - scrappy and error-strewn with some schoolboy decisions/execution.
Much better at the breakdown from the Boks and immense scrummaging, but loss of control at the lineout, many missed tackles and a lack of leadership at times. Well done to Argentina - great to see them rising in the ranks, they're a team full of character, skill and passion and they deserved the win.
Onwards to Mbombela where I expect to see a very different game from SA, should be a cracker with all to play.
I am surprised that some of the SA fans of this site who are usually so toxic keep quiet today….but they will recognize themselves.
Might have something to do with the game finishing at midnight their time. Hardly think SA supporters or any rugby supporter would be rushing to read a BS article at 2am or first thing Sunday morning
Im sure Rassie instructed Manie to miss that kick………
It's part of the greater plan. The grand master would never lose accidentally.
That Argentina attack is an adaption on the old Leinster attack. You can see why they were able to score so heavily against Australia.
puma power
Another Benny Hill article. Lol he is a sad little man.
Feel for Manie but realize at this level you need a “sure thing” when it comes to a place kicker. This miss was not even the most difficult - not like the penalty was at the touch line. Well, it’s a good thing the Boks can still win it at home. Would have been nice if they could’ve done a clean sweep.
Manie missing the kick to touch towards the end was the bigger kick to naajtes. That is a rookie mistake - one Sacha make every now and then (hero complex?). Manie is so dynamic but on balance, you cannot play him unless you have someone else who can take penalties on the field. Damien, start your practice
Good on Pumas. Surely they're approaching top 4 status. We'll see when the witchcraft of world rankings is recalculated.
Good on Rassie for giving the wider Bok squad experience. I wish ABs coaches would wake to that. Of course, its all on his head if it blows up in his face if Bok don't take out the RC with all canons in & ablaze next week.
They’re into 6th with 84 behind England who are on 85
Great game Argentina. They have been the best team to watch this Rugby Championship. They're a great antidote to the one dimensional plodding rolling maul game.
The world champions choked that game away. 17-0 up and still lost the game in the end. No excuses for that embarrassment!
Clearly you have no respect for Argentina. They just did what Nz could not in 4 attempts.
I hope now Rassie gets over his love affair with Libbock. He should be discarded forever as he only ever loses us matches with his amateur kicking.
I agree that when Manie tees up the confidence is low it’s going over .Pollard missed a kick and Arg missed quite a few so it’s not all on Manies head . However it’s still obvious the Boks need a better kicker on the field if Rassie still wants Libbok as flyhalf .
He kept SA in the game via his contestable kicks. The penalty wasn't a penalty anyway as Hendrickse played the ref by sitting on a player, trapping him offside.
Agree he has had an extended run and has to go. Will he even be the 10 at the Stormers anymore?