The Springboks were crowned 2025 Vodacom United Rugby Champions, defending their crown they won in 2024, after beating Argentina 29-27 at the Allianz Stadium in London.
Argentina started like a house on fire, and following a yellow card to Canan Moodie, Argentina kept on attacking, and following an attempted intercept by Cheslin Kolbe, Bautista Delguy scored in yellow-carded Moodie’s corner. Santiago Carreras converted to lead 07-00 after five minutes of play.
Five minutes later, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted an easy penalty to cut the Pumas’ lead to 07-03.
The Pumas continued to force the Springboks to concede several penalties, and Santiago Carreras converted two easy penalties to extend their lead to 13-03.
The Springboks set up camp in the Pumas’ red zone for an extended time; however, the Pumas’ disciplined defence kept the Springboks from scoring until Jaco Reinach, off the back of a dominant scrum, scored the Springboks' first try. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to cut the Pumas’ lead to 13-10 with three minutes to play in the first half.
Three minutes from the start, Malcolm Marx broke off the back of a failing lineout-maul to score in the corner for the Springboks to lead Argentina 15-13.
With the driving maul off their lineouts failing, the Springboks launched wave after wave of attacks on Argentina’s tryline until a gap opened up for Cobus Reinach to snipe again and score the Springboks' third try. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to extend the Springboks' lead to 22-13 with thirty minutes still to play.
With twenty minutes to play, Malcolm Marx scored his second and the Springboks' bonus-point try from a pick and go. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to extend the Springboks’ lead to 29-13.
Another brain-fart from Cheslin Kolbe, who passed a great pass to Bautista Delguy, who secured his second try for the Pumas. Santiago Carreras converted to cut the Springboks' lead to 29-20 and fifteen minutes still to play in the second half.
With time up on the clock, Carreras made a brilliant kick-pass to Rodrigo Isgro to score in the corner. Carreras converted to cut the Springboks' lead to 29-27, which was also the final score.
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Juan Cruz Mallia, 10 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 9 Simon Cruz Benitez, 8 Santiago Grondona, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Mayco Vivas. Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Juan Gonzalez, 21 Joaquín Oviedo, 22 Agustín Moyano, 23 Rodrigo Isgro.
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Jesse Kriel.