Springbok replacement flyhalf Manie Libbok missed a 79th-minute kick that would have won the game, condemning Rassie Erasmus’ side to their first defeat in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship as Argentina won a thriller 29-28 in Santiago Del Estero in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Boks seemed to have done enough to shade a disjointed performance, but Libbok hooked a relatively simple kick that should have put them ahead with less than 60 seconds left that would have secured the Rugby Championship title.
Now instead both teams will head to Mbombela next weekend for what comes down to a massive finale that Argentina could still come out on top.
The Boks did get one bonus point out of the game by losing by less than seven, meaning they moved to 19 points, while Argentina are on 14 and it is still South Africa’s championship to lose. The one-point difference on the night means that the Springboks still have a positive points differential of 53 while Argentina are positive 16, which means Argentina would have to win by 38 points next week to stop the Boks from claiming the championship.
OUTPLAYED AFTER A BLISTERING START
Still, it was a Bok performance that left a lot to be desired as they were outplayed for big parts of the game by Argentina and were at times hanging on after a blistering start that saw them 17-0 up but then concede 26 straight points to go in at the break 26-22 behind after a dubious yellow card to Kurt-Lee Arendse changed the complexion of the game.
Despite the helter-skelter first half, no tries were scored in the second half as penalty kicks eventually won the day.
Libbok was generally good in play, but the missed kicks once again raised the spectre of the Rugby World Cup where Libbok was widely criticised for his kicking. In truth, this was a kick that should have been taken, and the miss was extremely costly.
Match report: No miracle escape in Santiago del Estero, with the Pumas' win setting up a title decider in Nelspruit next weekend - more here: https://t.co/XHuQKKdUjJ 👀#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #ARGvRSA pic.twitter.com/ifZpm2WO6y
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 21, 2024
Libbok’s defenders can rightly point out that he hasn’t played a lot of rugby over the past few months and that lack of time in the middle may have been a factor, but it will be difficult to shift to counter the narrative that will come from this kick.
Still, there were other parts of the game that the Boks will need to fix ahead of Mbombela if they are to finish in style.
DIP IN FORM AND GIVING ARGENTINA A SNIFF
The Boks again looked like superstars in the opening minutes, and then again had another dip in form, and Argentina, not needing more than a sniff, with a partisan crowd behind them, were more than deadly on the counter-attack, and stretched the Boks more than once.
Despite all the set-piece dominance, the Boks never got the scrum penalties they needed late in the game and always looked like they were struggling. Argentina’s breakdown work, and the Boks being pinned at crucial times for either offside or not rolling away - where referee Christophe Ridley seemed to be consistent in favour of the home side - cost them at times.
The Bok defence also looked brittle at several stages, falling off tackles in the first half too easily and allowing the Pumas too much front foot ball.
And to know that a defence that let in only five tries in four matches let in four in 40 minutes, and the Boks were outscored four tries to three, it certainly bears some investigation. While this was a strong side selected, the continuous changes made - there were 10 for this game - seemed to also have an effect as the Boks didn’t look settled - although that could easily have been from the pressure that Argentina put them under.
PURE GRIT FROM LOS PUMAS
The Pumas won this game on grit and determination, and on finding holes in the Bok defence in that first half when they got on top.
But the Boks were left with a bad taste on Arendse’s yellow card, where his tackle seemed to hit Santiago Carreras on the chest, then slip up and catch the chin. While on the replays it hardly looked like more than a penalty, Ridley decided it was worthy of a yellow - and a costly yellow at that.
It came after the Boks had been relentless in the opening minutes, with Aphelele Fassi ghosting through an outside line to score untouched, and minutes later Jesse Kriel ran a beautiful inside angle to add a second try.
One Handre Pollard penalty later and the Boks were 17-0 up.
But it was like fools gold, as the Boks couldn’t keep up this intensity. Carreras found too much space on the outside and got Argentina on the board.
Despite two exceptional steals from Marco van Staden, the Boks’ breakdown woes continued, and when Arendse was sent to the bin it was the elixir they needed.
ARGENTINA POUNCE AS DEFENCE RATTLED
Suddenly the crowd was behind them, they played with more width and found the loss of Arendse gave them the freedom to stretch a defence that looked rattled. Another wide ball and Carreras had put Pablo Matera away in the same corner for the second try.
It's not our night in Santiago del Estero, well done @lospumas, we go again next week in Nelspruit 😔#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #ARGvRSA pic.twitter.com/THUqwmGlVm
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 21, 2024
A lineout maul was inches away from being out over the sideline when the ball was whisked back infield for Joel Sclavi to gladly accept and power through Makazole Mapimpi’s tackle to get the third try and put his side into the lead.
Thomas Albornoz - who was mercurial on the night and scored 14 points - threw a dummy close to the line and ran in untouched and the Boks were looking as if they were hit by a haymaker.
Cobus Reinach grabbed one back by taking a quick penalty close to the line and running towards the corner to score untouched.
Pollard brought the scoreline back to a one-point game early in the second half and Libbok put the Boks ahead with his first kick.
Albonoz did the same when he got the opportunity and Libbok’s second shot, ironically in a better position than the first, was not to be, giving Argentina a hard-earned victory.
The Boks will return home wounded, knowing they were not good enough.
And that should fuel them to get the job done in Mbombela, and not miss another opportunity.
Scorers
Argentina - tries: Santiago Carreras, Pablo Materas, Joel Sclavi, Thomas Albornoz
Conversions: Albornoz (3). Penalty: Albornoz
South Africa - tries: Aphelele Fassi, Jesse Kriel, Cobus Reinach Conversions: Handre Pollard (2). Penalties: Handre Pollard (2), Manie Libbok.