The Springboks and Argentina met for the second time in the 2021 Castle Lager Rugby Championship today. Although Argentina looked a lot better the Springboks was just in another class and won 29-10.
Ill-discipline by Argentina, who was more intent on countering the Springboks' strengths than to actually play rugby made the first half a bit of a bore. Two quick tries early in the second half secured another clinical win for the Springboks as they outmuscled Argentina in another physical test. A try 5 minutes after the time was already up made the score a bit more respectable for Argentina.
10:51 Handre Pollard converted the Springboks 1st penalty (03-00).
17:07 Handre Pollard converted the 2nd penalty for the Springboks (06-00)
20:00 Argentina is looking a lot better than last weekend, however, the Springboks does not seem to be bothered much by the extra energy of Argentina. The momentum is with the Springboks at this stage.
22:20 Handre Pollard converted his 3rd penalty for the Springboks (09-00).
24:07 Domingo Miotti converted Argentina's 1st penalty (09-03).
29:05 Handre Pollard converted another penalty (12-03)
31:25 Rodrigo Bruni (Argentina) was sent off with a yellow card.
32:35 Handre Pollard extended the Springboks lead with another converted penalty (15-03).
40:00 Argentina played the 1st half with a lot more energy, however, a stop-start affair with both sides making a lot of unforced errors. Argentina conceded 13 penalties in the first half explaining the Springboks 4 converted penalties. Admittingly I am a bit bored.
45:45 Makazole Mapimpi scored the Springboks first try of the evening as the Springboks started to take the ball through several phases (22-03).
51:52 Malcolm Marx scored the Springboks second try. A brutal onslaught by the Springboks on Argentina is starting to pay some dividends (29-03).
60:00 The match has become a physical brawl with the Springboks having the upper hand. The score at that stage doing a bit of an injustice to Argentina's efforts.
81:22 A yellow card to Tomas Lavanini (Argentina).
85:21 Pablo Matera and Argentina have the final say in the test as Matera scored Argentina's first try (29-10).
Scorers:
Springboks: Try: Makazole Mapimpi, Malcolm Marx. Conversion: Handre Pollard (2). Penalties: Handre Pollard (5).
Argentina: Try: Pablo Matera. Conversion: Nicolas Sanchez Penalty: Rodrigo Bruni.
Springboks: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Franco Mostert, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Marvin Orie, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Trevor Nyakane. Replacements: 16. Bongi Mbonambi, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Nicolaas van Rensburg, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Dan du Preez, 22. Jaden Hendrikse, 23. Damian Willemse.
Argentina: 15. Juan Cruz Mallía, 14. Ignacio Mendy, 13. Santiago Chocobares, 12. Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11. Santiago Carreras, 10. Domingo Miotti, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou, 8. Rodrigo Bruni, 7. Guido Petti, 6. Pablo Matera, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 4. Matias Alemanno, 3. Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2. Julian Montoya (c), 1. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Replacements: 16. Facundo Bosch, 17. Facundo Gigena, 18. Santiago Medrano, 19. Marcos Kremer, 20. Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21. Felipe Ezcurra, 22. Nicolas Sanchez, 23. Lucio Cinti.