The Springboks handed their number one World Rugby ranking to Ireland with a sloppy 29-28 loss to Argentina with the 2024 Rugby Championship to be decided in Mbombela next weekend.
The Springboks scored two unanswered tries to lead 17-00 after just fifteen minutes of play, however, a yellow card to Kurt-Lee Arendse combined with sloppy defence allowed Argentina to score four unanswered tries to lead 26-22 at the halftime break. With seconds to play a missed attempt to convert a penalty by Manie Libbok handed the win to a deserving Argentina.
The Springboks launched their first attack, which started from a dominant scrum and led to a five-meter lineout from which they attacked, spreading the ball wide and Aphelele Fassi scoring the Springboks' first try to lead 07-00 after just four minutes of play in the first half.
Four minutes later, Jesse Kriel ran a brilliant line and scored the Springboks' second try to extend the Springboks lead to 14-00.
Four minutes later Handre Pollard added a converted penalty, however, sloppy defence by the Springs allowed Argentina space out wide and winger Mateo Carreras scored their first points of the match with a splendid try to cut the Springboks lead to 17-07.
Argentina kept on exploiting the halfhearted defence of the 14-man Springboks out wide and scored their second try when flanker Pablo Matera strolled over for Argentina's second try. The Springboks led 17-14 after twenty minutes of play in the first half.
Argentina were in complete control at that stage and prop Joel Sclavi rumbled over the Springboks' tryline to take a 19-17 lead after twenty-six minutes of play in the first half.
Argentina continued their assault on the Springboks' tryline until Tomas Albornoz scored their fourth and bonus point try, thanks to the Springboks' pointsmen who waved him past on his way to the tryline.
With two minutes still to play in the first half, Cobus Reinach took a quick tap from a penalty and sniped past several defenders to score the Springboks' third try. Argentina led 26-22 at the halftime break.
The match lost most of its excitement in the second half and the Springboks took a 28-26 lead following penalties by Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok.
Tomas Albornoz puts Argentina back into a 29-28 lead with a converted penalty with twelve minutes still to play in the match. With seconds left on the clock, Manie Libboks missed a crucial attempt to convert a penalty handing Argentina a deserved first win over the Springboks since 2018.
Scorers:
Argentina: Tries: Mateo Carreras, Pablo Matera, Joel Sclavi, Tomas Albornoz. Conversions: Tomas Albornoz (3). Penalty: Tomas Albornoz.
Springboks: Tries: Aphelele Fassi, Jesse Kriel,Cobus Reinach. Conversions: Handre Pollard (2). Penalty: Handre Pollard (2), Manie Libbok.
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Thomas Gallo. Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Matias Moroni.
Springboks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Manie Libbok.