The Springboks secured the 2024 Rugby Championship title after cruising to a commanding 48-7 victory over Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Argentina’s lack of discipline cost them dearly as they trailed 27-7 at halftime. Pablo Matera, the winger, was given a red card, and Santiago and Mateo Carreras, the brothers, were also sin-binned.
For the Springboks, who had only won once in the competition five years prior, winger Cheslin Kolbe, hooker Malcom Marx, and centre Jesse Kriel also crossed the tryline.
Half of Scrum Unexpectedly selected as the goal-kicker, Jaden Hendrikse scored two penalties and two conversions. Handre Pollard, a stand-in playmaker, scored three conversions.
Half-fly In front of a 45,000-person audience at Mbombela Stadium, Tomas Albornoz converted his own try to score all of Argentina’s points.
With 24 points, South Africa won the six-round Southern Hemisphere Championship. Next were New Zealand (16 points), Argentina (14) and Australia (five), the outgoing champions.
Nine-time champions New Zealand defeated Australia 33–13 in Wellington earlier on Saturday to cap off a poor campaign.
For various reasons, lock Eben Etzebeth and fly-half Manie Libbok were the focus of attention before to the Mbombela match.
With 128 Test appearances, Etzebeth surpassed fellow lock Victor Matfield, who retired in 2015 after 127 international matches, to become the most-capped Springbok.
The 32-year-old was his usual diligent self throughout the whole 80 minutes of play for the four-time Rugby World Cup champions.
Last weekend, Argentina defeated South Africa 29–28 in South America thanks to a missed penalty by replacement Libbok, delaying the Championship’s conclusion.
Rassie Erasmus, the coach of the Springboks, demonstrated his confidence in the playmaker by moving him up from the bench to start in Mbombela despite the backlash on social media following his blunder.
However, Erasmus relieved Libbok of the goal-kicking responsibilities and made Hendrikse the first to take kicks at the posts. On three of his six tries, he was successful.
Libbok, meanwhile, made an impression when he had the ball, as multiple daring cross-field kicks nearly resulted in tries.
From the beginning, South Africa exerted constant pressure, and after eight minutes, it paid off as Fassi dove over and Hendrikse scored.
Argentina was unable to escape their half and was farther behind after six minutes when Du Toit scored after diving over multiple bodies. Once more, Hendrikse converted.
Finally breaking into Springbok territory, the Pumas were rewarded on minute 19 when deft handling put Albornoz between the posts and he added the extra point.
The seven-point deficit was quickly closed when Hendrikse converted a penalty. Fassi and Kolbe scored after wing Mateo Carreras was sin-binned, but Hendrikse was unable to convert either try.
Having dominated the first half, particularly in the scrums, the Springboks took a 27-7 advantage at the halfway point.
On minute 26, Argentina also lost star back Santiago Chocobares due to a leg injury. Lucio Cinti assumed his position as the inside centre.
Argentina was reduced to 13 men after full-back Santiago Carreras received a yellow card. Marx, Du Toit, and Kriel scored tries, all of which Pollard converted.
After this, South Africa will take a breather until early November, when they will play Scotland, England, and Wales in Test matches in Europe.
