In the end it was Rassie Erasmus who was right when it came to his Springbok team’s match against Argentina in Buenos Aires - he said it would be a grind and it was as the world champions won a scrappy match 17-10 to complete a 100 per cent buildup to Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
The Springboks hold on to extend their winning streak this season after a tough outing in Argentina 🇿🇦✅#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/BlTBqmyeDA
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 8, 2026
That is 100 per cent in terms of wins, which read four out of four if you add this warmup game to the home leg of the Nations Championship.
But this game was about more than just getting the result, it was also about assessing who is ready for the big tests to come, and in that sense the negative note was the loss of skipper Siya Kolisi to what he later confirmed was a hamstring injury in the first half.
Kolisi staying on the field was one of the main focuses for the Boks as after playing just the one game, the non-cap international against Barbarians, back in June, the captain needed to prove his readiness for the first test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
Unfortunately that goal wasn’t met and Kolisi now looks unlikely to play in Johannesburg.
“I hurt my hamstring again and I will have to go for a scan to see how bad it is,” said Kolisi in the post-match television interview with the host broadcaster.
“It is really tough, but I can’t be sad about it. I will just have to go for my scan and see how long I will be out for.”
Not what the fans wanted to see 🫣
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 8, 2026
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi walks off injured in the first half and is replaced by Marco van Staden 🤕
📺 Stream on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNho4A4 | #SSRugby pic.twitter.com/RJoStwZ7Rr
Another concern is Andre Esterhuizen, the big centre, who had to leave the field with a concussion for the second game in succession.
HANEKOM PROVED HIS WORTH AS AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER
If those injuries were the main negatives the positive was the superb performance turned in by Cameron Hanekom in his first full test match in his best position of No 8. Paul de Villiers is of course in superb form and wore the Bok No 6 but having Hanekom, who played with De Villiers on the flank in the game against England, proving his worth as an international loose-forward will have provided a big boost.
So would the impact of the so-called “bomb squad”, who came on the second half and did what they were selected to do - they shifted what up to then had been a difficult game for the Boks in the visiting team’s direction.
In the first half the Boks were scrappy and struggled with their kicking game and, just as Erasmus had predicted, which was why he said it would be a grind, they also lacked cohesion and connection.
They were a trifle fortunate to get to halftime level with a spirited Argentina team at 10-all, which was largely thanks to some good defence and then a superbly taken try that featured good hands from Aphelele Fassi and Canan Moodie and the pace of Edwill van der Merwe down the space that created to round it off on the stroke of halftime.
Backline moves 💫
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 8, 2026
Edwill van der Merwe finishes off brilliantly on the wing to level things heading into the break 👏
📺 Stream on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw | #SSRugby pic.twitter.com/04Q7zAbi5y
That cancelled out an eighth minute try to Argentina flanker Benjamin Grodona that put the Argentina 10-3 ahead after a second minute penalty from Santiago Carrerras had been answered by one from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The first half was one the Boks will want to forget, as Argentina thrived on getting the game to be scrappy, and the Boks were a bit fortunate to be level at 10-all at halftime thanks to a try to Edwill van der Merwe on the stroke of halftime that featured impressive passing from Canan Moodie and Aphelele Fassi.
That converted try cancelled out the one that Pumas flanker Benjamin Grodona score through some lax Bok defence near their line in the eighth minute after Carrerras had given Argentina a 3-0 lead after two minutes and then Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu had responded with one in the fifth minute.
LOS PUMAS PLAYED WELL
The hosts met the Boks physically in the first half, although it was kind of apparent that as the half wore on the slow poison was starting to be applied.
But that poison took proper effect when the likes of Ben-Jason Dixon, Cobus Wiese, Zachary Porthen and later Jan-Hendrik Wessels were introduced in the second half.
Veteran flyhalf Handre Pollard too, with the double World Cup winner playing much of the half at centre after Esterhuizen’s injury.
Initially Feinberg-Mngomezulu had dropped back to fullback for Fassi, who then returned when Esterhuizen left the field.
The Boks were physically dominant in the second half, took charge of the battle for possession, and while Hanekom’s dot down off an advancing five metre scrum was the only score of the half, the Boks looked in control for most of it with the Pumas mainly defending, which they did very well and with great passion.
But the game was a good test for the Boks’ defence too, and in some ways coach Erasmus might have welcomed the last prolonged attack from the final move of the game from Argentina, as the South African defensive set was good in a way that might be needed against the All Blacks.
The Boks looked a bit relieved at the final whistle, but if that suggests elements of a wakeup call, that will probably be good for them.
EBEN AND CO CAME THROUGH WELL
What was also good was the way most of the players returning from injury, the obvious exceptions having been mentioned, got through their time on the field, with Eben Etzebeth turning in a particularly noteworthy performance in the sense that he spent the entire 80 minutes on the field.
That was no doubt down to him being needed to lead in the absence of Kolisi, but regardless of the reason, him playing a full 80 minutes after such a long layoff was both impressive and highly encouraging.
His lock partner Lood de Jager also got through his work, and while Feinberg-Mngomezulu wasn’t perfect and showed early signs of rust, he grew into his role during the game and proved himself ready to be used against the All Blacks if he is selected.
Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie also got through a big body of work over the 80 minutes, Morne van den Bergh made his return to the playing field, and overall, while the final score was close, the main goals of the game were met.
And the Boks won, which as Erasmus said beforehand, was the most important thing.
SCORES
South Africa 17 - Tries: Edwill van der Merwe and Cameron Hanekom; Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2; Penalty: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Argentina 10 - Try: Benjamin Grodona; Conversion: Santiago Carrerras; Penalty: Santiago Carrerras.