By Lucky Vince Pienaar
˃˃ First half
Not Loftus nor Ellis Park have been more excited than a packed Mbombela Stadium in welcoming the Boks – with the loudest cheer going to Eben Etzebeth playing in his 128th test match in the green and gold.
Argentina coach, Felipe Contepomi has promised a fast start. We find out now.
It takes just two minutes for the Boks to get a penalty kick – which they decline for a lineout. Another penalty and the Boks elect a scrum on the five metre line – and why not? The great Springbok pack get another scrum penalty. When will the penalty try come? Not needed. Aphelele Fassi scores near the posts. Jaden Hendrikse takes the conversion. (SA 7-0 Arg 8min)
Argentina look dangerous after the kick off, except Cheslin Kolbe intercepts and takes play into the Argentina quarter.
The bitter Argentinian defence eventually breaks down with an aerial move by Pieter-Steph du Toit to score. Again Jaden Hendrikse converts. (SA 14-0 Arg 16min)
Argentina get a sniff of a chance, and they do what they do best: Tomas Albernoz cruises in under the poles. (SA 14-7 Arg 19min)
A minute later, Argentina are under the pump again as Hendrikse scores an easy penalty. (SA 17-7 Arg 20min)
Mateo Carreras’ yellow card for a dangerous tackle adds to the pressure that Los Pumas are already struggling to deal with. (31min)
Yip. Fassi, the Weekend Special goes in for a second. Hendrikse misses to tough penalty. (SA 22-7 Arg 33min)
For the entire match so far Argentina have had three players covering Cheslin Kolbe, but finally Kolbe beats three defenders to score. (SA 27-7 Arg 39min)
˃˃ Second half
As Argentina kick off there is nothing to say that the Boks will be slowing down.
Los Pumas are immediately on the backfoot in their own quarter as the Boks backline play at incredible pace.
Siya Kolisi calls for an easy penalty kick which Hendrikse misses. South Africa’s kicking problems persist, then. (44min)
Argentina, still with only one score on the board, seem to be tiring but they have not stopped fighting.
The last quarter arrives with both sides seeming a little flat but then, other than pride, there is very little still to play for.
Argentina come within inches of scoring, but lose possession instead.
Matera’s card is upgraded to a 20 minute red card which means another player can replace him on 70 minutes.
Libbok comes off to well-deserved appreciative cheers from the crowd. (66min)
Santiago Carreras gets a yellow card for a knockdown that could easily have been a penalty try, but Argentina are now down to 13 men.
The next movement results in a try for Malcolm Marx. As expected, Handré Pollard slots the perfect conversion. (SA 34-7 Arg 70min)
Pieter-Steph du Toit scores in the very next move. Again Pollard converts perfectly. (SA 41-7 Arg 73min)
Jesse Kriel gets his turn under the posts. (SA 48-7 Arg 77min)
The Argentinian side, though back to 15 men, are understandably simply waiting for the final whistle. Game over.
Final score.
South Africa (7 tries) 48-7 (1 try) Argentina
SA tries: Aphelele Fassi (2), Pieter-Steph du Toit (2), Cheslin Kolbe, Malcolm Marx, Jesse Kriel
Arg tries: Tomas Albernoz
Pictured above: Springboks
Source: X
