Flyhalf Tomas Albornoz kicked a penalty 11 minutes from the tip handy Argentina an exciting 29-28 victory over South Africa and preserve their hopes of profitable the Rugby Championship alive in a blisteringly scorching Santiago del Estero on Saturday.
The world champion Springboks, who had the possibility to win the sport with a late penalty from flyhalf Manie Libbok that was missed, lead the desk with 19 factors from second-placed Argentina on 14 factors forward of a ultimate assembly between the edges in Nelspruit subsequent Saturday the place the title can be determined.
Argentina scored 4 tries by way of wing Mateo Carreras, flanker Pablo Matera, prop Joel Sclavi and Albornoz as they took benefit of a first-half yellow card for visiting wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and turned a 17-0 deficit right into a 26-22 halftime lead.
South Africa, who had made 10 modifications to their aspect after resting a number of regulars, scored tries through fullback Aphelele Fassi, centre Jesse Kriel and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach as they misplaced for the primary time on this 12 months’s championship.
South Africa should wait one other week to say a fifth Southern Hemisphere crown and wish a degree from the assembly in Nelspruit to make certain, although Argentina have proven it’s removed from a foregone conclusion.
“Congratulations to Argentina, they caught at it and didn’t go away,” stand-in South Africa captain Salmaan Moerat mentioned. “They put us beneath plenty of stress however we performed good rugby for a lot of the sport.
“We have to proceed making use of stress. There have been occasions within the recreation once we let go of it. That would be the huge work-on for us going into subsequent week.”
The Springboks demolished Argentina within the first scrum and from the ensuing attacking line-out, a easy backline transfer opened a gap within the dwelling defence and Fassi was capable of coast over the tryline.
They scored their second strive after extra wonderful dealing with that put Kriel into a niche beneath the posts. Flyhalf Handre Pollard added an extra three factors, however when Argentina did lastly get the arms on the ball, they scored an outstanding strive.
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Some intricate backline play opened up the defence on the left wing and Carreras was capable of cross for a transformed rating. The momentum modified after that and the Springboks’ trigger was not helped by a yellow card for a harmful deal with towards Arendse that decreased them to 14 gamers.
Argentina grabbed their second strive in virtually the identical trend as their first, opening up the house on the left wing with some wonderful arms and Matera was capable of cross.The house aspect received their third rating whereas Arendse was nonetheless off the sector as an attacking line-out noticed Sclavi barge over and the hosts led 19-17.
The rampant Argentines scored their fourth strive as Albornoz discovered a niche in what was turning into a porous Springboks defence. The guests lastly discovered some momentum once more simply earlier than halftime as Reinach took a fast faucet from a penalty and raced over within the nook however they trailed 26-22 on the break.
Pollard and his substitute Libbok landed a penalty every to place the Springboks again into the lead 10 minutes into the second interval, however when Albornoz put Argentina forward with 11 minutes to play, Los Pumas have been capable of maintain on for his or her third win of the Championship.
Eben Etzebeth got here off the bench to earn a record-equalling 127th Springbok cap, drawing him degree with Victor Matfield on the all-time record.
