Argentina vs Springboks | Rugby Championship

HALF TIME! 26-22. Having scored the last try of the half, Reinach puts the ball into touch to bring an end to a thrilling first period in this clash. The Springboks looked to be cruising to a comfortable win after flying into a 17-0. However, Argentina's response has been impressive and the hosts deserve their lead at the break. However, the question will be whether Los Pumas can make it count this time, having surrendered a half-time lead in their last game against the Springboks.

39’

Conversion

CONVERSION MISSED! 26-24. Handre Pollard misses the conversion, his first miss from the tee today. The score stays at 26-24.

39’

Try

TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, REINACH! 26-22. It's a tryfest in Santiago del Estero! The Springboks win a penalty from a maul in Argentina's 22. Cobus Reinach is sharp, taking a quick-tap and dashing through to score in the corner.

38’

Commentary

There's a bit of relief for the Springboks as the visitors win a penalty outside Argentina's 22. However, the visitors turn down a potential three points to go for the maul.

36’

Conversion

CONVERSION, ARGENTINA, ALBORNOZ! 26-17. Albornoz converts his try, taking Argentina into a nine-point lead.

35’

Try

TRY, ARGENTINA, ALBORNOZ! 24-17. What a comeback this has been from Los Pumas! After winning back-to-back penalties, Argentina attack the Springboks' tryline, taking a quick tap, from which flyhalf Albornoz scoots over to extend the home side's lead.

29’

Commentary

The Springboks are back to 15 players as Kurt-Lee Arendse makes his way back onto the park, as South Africa earn a scrum on Argentina's 22-metre line. However, Jasper Wiese knocks the ball on.

28’

Conversion

CONVERSION MISSED! 19-17. Albornoz missed his touchline conversion. The score stays at 19-17.

27’

Try

TRY, ARGENTINA, SCLAVI! 19-17. Argentina take the lead! It's big tighthead prop Joel Sclavi who forces his way over after getting the ball from a maul that was being driven into touch. The try is checked and cleared by the TMO.

25’

Commentary

Argentina win a breakdown penalty near South Africa's tryline. Albornoz kicks the ball into touch for a lineout.

23’

Conversion

CONVERSION, ARGENTINA, ALBORNOZ! 14-17. Albornoz converts the try as Argentina have suddenly cut the deficit to just three points, after trailing by 17.

22’

Try

TRY, ARGENTINA, MATERA! 12-17. Argentina are back in the contest. This comes from an overlap on the left wing, as Mateo Carreras finds space before popping a wonderful pass for Pablo Matera to trot in Los Pumas' second try.

19’

Penalty

PENALTY MISSED! 7-17. Tomas Albornoz hooks his penalty attempt. The score stays at 7-17.

18’

Yellow Card

YELLOW CARD! Kurt-Lee Arendse is sent to the sin bin for a high tackle. The Springbok winger tried to bend his knees but caught the ball carrier in the chin. Albornoz will have a shot at goal.

18’

Commentary

TMO CHECK! The TMO wants to have a look at a dangerous tackle from South Africa.

16’

Conversion

CONVERSION, ARGENTINA, ALBORNOZ! 7-17. Tomas Albornoz is successful with his first kick at goal.

15’

Try

TRY, ARGENTINA, CARRERAS! 5-17. Argentina strike back! It's a much-needed try for Los Pumas, started with a linebreak from a lineout down the left wing, finished off by Mateo Carreras.

13’

Penalty

PENALTY, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 0-17. Pollard continues his good start off the kicking tee with his first penalty of the match.

12’

Commentary

The Springboks are all over Argentina in the opening 10 minutes of this clash. South Africa win a penalty inside the hosts' 22, after a wonderful crossfield kick from Handre Pollard is gathered by Jesse Kriel. Pollard will kick at goal.

9’

Conversion

CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 0-14. With that successful conversion, Handre Pollard becomes the Springboks' second-highest points scorer.

8’

Try

TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, KRIEL! 0-12. The Springboks are in again! This time it's Jesse Kriel, who runs a line near the breakdown after mini-break engineered by Ben-Jason Dixion, dashing through to score. What a start for the visitors.

6’

Commentary

The Springboks win a penalty from the kick-off, which Pollard puts out just outside of Argentina's 22. South Africa launch a multi-phase attack, but a pass goes into touch in Argentina's 22.

5’

Conversion

CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 0-7. Handre Pollard is successful with his first kick at goal.

4’

Try

TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, FASSI! 0-5. What a start for the Springboks! The world champions initially maul, before shifting the ball away, with Aphelele Fassi picking a perfect line to dive over the tryline untouched for the opening try.

2’

Commentary

Less than two minutes in and we have our first scrum. The Springboks make a statement, shoving Argentina backwards and winning a penalty, which Handre Pollard puts out in Argentina's 22.

1’

Kick Off

KICK-OFF! 0-0. Argentina get this Rugby Championship clash in Santiago del Estero underway! Jasper Wiese fields the ball for South Africa and Cobus Reinach clears.

0’

Commentary

It's almost time for kick-off. The teams are out on the park and we will have the national anthems.

0’

Trivia

The referee for today's match is Christophe Ridley from England. He will be assisted by England's Matthew Carley and Italy's Gianluca Gnecchi. The TMO, also from England, is Ian Tempest.

0’

Trivia

Amid all the title talk, it should not be forgotten that today's clash will be a special one for Eben Etzebeth. South Africa's long-serving second-rower will equal Victor Matfield's record as the country's most-capped player if he comes off the bench for his 127th appearance. That would set Etzebeth up to break the record in next weekend's return match at the Mbombela Stadium.

0’

Team News

Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to the Springbok side that beat the All Blacks in Cape Town. The only players to retain their places in the starting lineup are centre Jesse Kriel, flyhalf Handre Pollard, prop Ox Nche, lock Ruan Nortje and No 8 Jasper Wiese. Centurion lock Eben Etzebeth will earn his 127th cap if he is called on from the bench.

0’

Team News

South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Manie Libbok.

0’

Team News

Argentina head coach Filipe Contepomi has made three changes to the side that staged a massive comeback to beat Australia 67-27. Locks Franco Molina and Pedro Rubiolo replace Guido Petti and Tomas Lavanini, while No.8 Joaquin Oviedo starts with Juan Martin Gonzalez dropping to the bench.

0’

Team News

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo. Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Matias Moroni.

0’

History

Recent history favours South Africa, who have won their last eight Test matches against Argentina by a margin of 15.4 points per game. However, the Springboks were trailing at half-time in the most recent meeting with Los Pumas in Buenos Aires in August 2023.

0’

Trivia

A win today will be enough for South Africa to claim their first Rugby Championship title since 2019. Argentina will be hoping for a bonus-point victory to make their job of beating the Springboks in Nelspruit easier, to win the southern hemisphere title for the first time in their history.

0’

Trivia

The Springboks come into this match sitting top of the Rugby Championship table on 18 points, following back-to-back home wins against New Zealand. Meanwhile, Argentina are in third place on 10 points, having kept their hopes of a first-ever southern hemisphere title alive with a record-breaking victory over Australia last weekend.

0’

Weather

It is a hot and humid day in the capital city of Argentina's northern province. The Springboks have been welcomed by temperatures hitting the upper 30 degrees for their first-ever match in Santiago del Estero and will be around 37 degrees by kick-off.

0’

Welcome

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Rugby Championship penultimate-round clash between Argentina and South Africa at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero.

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Current Standings

POS

Team

Pts

Springboks

Argentina

-25

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J. Wiese