Argentina vs Springboks
By Sello Mosia
In a thrilling Rugby Championship encounter in Santiago del Estero, Argentina’s flyhalf Tomas Albornoz secured a dramatic 29-28 victory for Los Pumas against the reigning world champions, the Springboks, on Saturday, 21 September 2024. Albornoz’s decisive penalty kick, just 11 minutes from full time, was enough to seal the win and keep Argentina’s hopes of winning the Rugby Championship alive. The result sets up a title-deciding clash between the two teams in South Africa next week.
Early Dominance by the Springboks
The Springboks started the match in dominant fashion, racing to a 17-0 lead within the first 13 minutes, thanks to early tries from Aphelele Fassi and Jesse Kriel, both converted by Handre Pollard, who also added a penalty. At this point, it appeared as though the Springboks were cruising towards another comfortable victory. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after South African winger Kurt-Lee Arendse was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle .
Argentina’s Resilience and Comeback
With Arendse off the field, Argentina seized the opportunity to claw their way back into the game. Left-wing Mateo Carreras opened the scoring for the Pumas, capitalising on fast hands from his teammates and a misaligned Bok defence. Two further tries followed from Pablo Matera and prop Joel Sclavi, leaving the Springboks shell-shocked. Albornoz added a fourth try for the Pumas, and by half-time, Argentina had turned a 17-point deficit into a 26-22 lead .
Tense Second Half
The second half saw both teams battling for control, with penalties dominating the scoreboard. Pollard’s penalty early in the second half brought the Springboks back to within one point, and his replacement, Manie Libbok, gave South Africa a slender 28-26 lead with a penalty in the 50th minute. As both teams fought for every inch, it was Argentina who had the final say. A controversial penalty against Bok prop Gerhard Steenekamp for not rolling away gave Albornoz the chance to retake the lead, and the flyhalf made no mistake with his kick .
Libbok’s Missed Opportunity
In the dying moments of the match, South Africa had a chance to snatch victory when they were awarded a penalty just outside the 22-metre line. Flyhalf Manie Libbok, who had earlier given the Boks the lead, stepped up to take the kick but pushed it wide, allowing Argentina to hang on for a famous victory .
A Decisive Final Clash Awaits
The win takes Argentina to 14 points, trailing the Springboks who lead the table with 19 points. The two sides will face off again in South Africa next week, with the Rugby Championship title on the line. For Argentina, this victory not only boosts their championship hopes but also marks a significant achievement as they overcame the reigning world champions in a match of immense pressure and intensity .
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