By Lucky Vince Pienaar
After only three minutes, Handré Pollard’s pass put Aphelele Fassi into the gap for a perfect try and immediately it was looking good for the Boks.
Jesse Kriel raced over just four minutes later; and when Pollard scored a penalty, the Boks seemed to be very much on their way to an easy victory. (Arg 0-17 SA 17min)
And then the wheels came off.
Kurt-Lee Arendse went off for ten minutes after a very questionable foul play decision and the game changed.
Although Argentina conceded penalty after penalty at the scrums, they were never intimidated, taking the game to the Boks.
Mateo Carreras and Pablo Matera scored tries in quick succession and the game was well and truly on. Only five minutes later, front-row strongman Joel Sclavi barged over the line and Argentina were in the lead. (Arg 19-17 SA 26min)
South Africa didn’t seem to have a plan – and there was no Siya Kolisi to provide the leadership.
Tomas Albernoz’s try took Los Pumas further into the lead but fortunately Cobus Reinach kept his head and scored an individual try keeping South Africa in the hunt. (Arg 26-22 SA 38min)
In the second half, the Boks started playing a much tighter game, controlling the game from the tight phases. Argentina kept playing wide and putting pressure on the Springbok defence but there were no tries in the second half.
Pollard scored a penalty, bringing the Boks close to Argentina and Manie Libbok, replacing Pollard gave the Boks the lead with a penalty. (Arg 26-28 SA 50min)
Albernoz’s penalty took Argentina into a one point lead (Arg 29-28 SA 68min) but with 12 minutes to go, the game was certainly not over.
South Africa could have taken the victory had Manie Libbok had anything less than a disastrous outing. He kicked a penalty to the corner flag, but it went over the tryline. The he made a mess of an easy penalty that would have won the match. One hopes that Manie, hooking the ball past the left upright, has finally kicked himself out of the Springbok side.
The Boks lose by one point. Argentinian coach Felipe Contepomi must be a very happy man. His team has now beaten Scott Robertson’s New Zealand, Joe Schmidt’s Australia and tonight, Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks.
Argentina (4 tries) 29-28 (3 tries) South Africa
Tries Argentina: Mateo Carreras, Pablo Matera, Joel Sclavi, Tomas Albornoz
Tries South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Jesse Kriel, Cobus Reinach
Pictured above: Jesse Kriel’s early try seemed to set up an easy Bok victory – but it was not to be.
Source: SA Rugby
