Sept 22 (Askume) – Flyhalf Tomas Albornoz converted a penalty with 11 minutes remaining to help Argentina beat South Africa 29-28 and keep their hopes of winning the Rugby Championship in Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
The world champion Springboks, who were awarded a late penalty after Manny Libbok missed a first-half penalty, top the table with 19 points, while second-placed Argentina have 14 points. The final between the two teams will be held in Nelspruit next Saturday to decide the winner.
Argentina had four shots through winger Mateo Carreras, flanker Pablo Matra, Tore Sclavi and Albonos, and took advantage of a yellow card for visiting winger Kurt Lee in the first half to extend their lead from 17–0 to 26–0.
After resting several key players, the South African team made 10 substitutions and scored through shots from defender Afilai Fasi, centre Jesse Kriel and right back Cobus Reinach but they lost for the first time in this year’s tournament.
South Africa will have to wait another week for a fifth Southern Hemisphere title and will need a point from the meeting in Nelspruit, although Argentina have shown it is not done yet.
“Congratulations to Argentina, they held on and didn’t give in,” said South Africa’s stand-in captain Salman Moirat. “They put a lot of pressure on us but we were okay for most of the game. Well played.”
“We have to keep the pressure on. There were times during the game where we let the pressure drop. That’s something we have to work on next week.”
The Springboks beat Argentina at the first scrum and from the resulting attack line, a simple backline move opened a hole in the home defence, allowing Fasi to overcome over the try line.
His second shot was one better, finding Kriel under the post.
Andre Pollard added three more points on the stroke of half-time but when the ball finally came to Argentina it was a superb strike.
Some intricate backline play opened up the left flank and Carreras scored from a cross.
The momentum then changed and things got worse for the Springboks, who were reduced to 14 men after he was booked for a dangerous tackle on Arends.
The Argentine’s second attempt was almost as successful as his first, using excellent hands to find space on the left wing to cross to Matera.
The home team scored the third goal while Arendez was still on the sidelines and Sclavi scored in attack and the home team went ahead 19–17.
The aggressive Argentina scored with their fourth try when Albonos found a hole in the thin Springbok defence.
Before halftime, Reinach took a penalty kick and immediately converted a corner kick. The visitors gained some momentum, but by halftime they trailed 26-22.
Pollard and substitute Leberc converted penalties to give the Springboks the lead again 10 minutes into the second period but Argentina moved on to their third championship win when Albonos put them ahead again.
Eben Etzebeth came off the bench to make his 127th appearance for the Springboks, equalling Victor Matfield’s all-time record.
