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ARG vs RSA
The Rugby Championship
Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero
Argentina
vs
South Africa
29
FT
28
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 29 - 28
The stage is now set for a gripping rematch at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit next week. Both sides will be fired up with plenty to play for, as Argentina aim to keep their slim Championship hopes alive, while South Africa will look to bounce back and claim the title. It promises to be another epic encounter between these two rugby heavyweights! For now, that rounds things off in this one. Thanks for tuning into Tribe.
The second half was a true arm wrestle, with both packs not willing to give an inch. Albornoz was superb throughout, controlling the game with his classy playmaking, while Mateo Carreras and Pablo Matera were standouts for Los Pumas, causing the Springboks headaches in both attack and defence. South Africa’s forwards, led by Marco van Staden and Malcolm Marx, were relentless, but Argentina’s resilience proved too much in front of a raucous home crowd.
As the clock ticked down, South Africa applied relentless pressure, but Argentina’s defence held firm. The Springboks were handed a golden opportunity to snatch victory in the dying moments when they were awarded a penalty in the 80th minute. Libbok, who had been steady with the boot earlier, stepped up for a relatively straightforward kick from 30 metres out, but the pressure proved too much as he dragged it wide left, allowing Argentina to cling on for a famous win.
The second half was much tighter, with both sides battling for control in an intense forward contest. South Africa opened the scoring in the second period with a Pollard penalty in the 44th minute, before Manie Libbok added another penalty in the 50th to edge the Springboks ahead. The game remained finely balanced, and with neither team able to create much space out wide, the contest became a war of attrition. Albornoz missed a penalty attempt from 45 metres out in the 53rd minute, but he redeemed himself with a successful kick in the 69th minute to put Argentina back in front by a single point.
The first half was action-packed, with South Africa starting on the front foot. Aphelele Fassi opened the scoring in the 4th minute, and Jesse Kriel followed up with another try just four minutes later after charging hard onto a short ball. Handré Pollard added a penalty goal in the 13th minute, extending the Springboks' lead. Argentina quickly responded, though, with Mateo Carreras crossing the line after a brilliant line break by Santiago Chocobares. Tries from Pablo Matera and Joel Sclavi, followed by a sensational score from Tomas Albornoz, swung momentum in Argentina's favour. Cobus Reinach's late first-half try gave the Springboks a lifeline, but Argentina still led by 4 points at half time.
Argentina pull off a thrilling one-point victory over South Africa in Santiago del Estero, keeping their slim hopes of winning The Rugby Championship alive. The nail-biting triumph saw Los Pumas deny the Springboks a title-clinching win, meaning South Africa will have to wait until next week's rematch in Nelspruit to secure the Championship. It was a pulsating contest from start to finish, with both teams throwing everything into the match as the home crowd created an electric atmosphere.
80+2'
Kriel is met well on halfway, along with Arendse who attacks down the right. Slow ball for the Boks as Argentina aim up well in defence. Wide right it goes, where Smith works it over his 10m line. Over the ball are the Pumas, and they win the turnover penalty, sealing an incredible victory! The ball is sent into touch, and that is full time!
80+1'
The Pumas go long with the 22m restart and it's carried back by Wiese to halfway. The Boks swing it from side to side, building phases, but the Pumas defence holds strong.
80'
Libbok drags his kick wide left from just to the right and 30m out!