South Africa 30-23 Argentina: Springboks clinch thriller against Pumas
Last Updated: 22/08/16 3:08pm
No 8 Warren Whitley scored a try in the 78th minute to give South Africa a thrilling 30-23 win over Argentina in their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday.
South Africa left it late to register their opening day win in the Rugby Championship at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
With 13 minutes to go, Argentina were up by 10 points but the Springboks somehow managed to fight-back and secure the win.
Argentina took a 13-10 lead into the break after a converted Matias Orlando try plus two penalties from fly-half Nicolás Sánchez gave them them the edge over South Africa's one try through Ruan Combrinck and a Elton Jantjies penalty.
Sanchez kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Pumas before Santiago Cordero's try put them 23-13 up with time running out. However South Africa showed great composure to hit back with a try from full-back Johan Goosen before Whitley went over to seal the comeback.
South Africa raced out of the blocks from the whistle and showed a different attacking intent to their usual scrumming and mauling - although their power in the scrum was still evident against the Pumas and set up the platform for their late win.
The Springboks had the first scoring chance on a pitch made slippery by pre-match rain, but fly-half Jantjies pulled his kick wide of the right post. However, from the drop-out the Springboks took the lead with Jantjies bursting past two defenders before good hands from him and and Goosen sent right wing Combrinck over in the corner.
Jantjies atoned for his penalty miss by converting from the touchline to give the home side a seven-point lead as they sought revenge for a 37-25 loss in Durban last year.
Sanchez and Jantjies exchanged penalties before Argentina were down to 14-men after Manuel Montero saw yellow card for not putting Damian de Allende down safely in the tackle.
This however inspired the visitors who turned up the pace and showed some wonderful hands to get winger Matias Orlando over in the corner. Sanchez's touchline conversion was spot on to give Argentina a 13-10 lead.
Composure was needed from the Boks and they looked to have scored their second try when centre Lionel Mapoe found a gap and went over. However replays showed he lost the ball grounding it and when Jantjies missed another penalty they had to settle going into the break three points down.
There was a further blow for the Springboks six minutes into the second half when veteran Bryan Habana was sin-binned after he slipped chasing a high ball and accidentally took out Cordero.
Jantjies and Sanchez traded penalties before the Pumas went 23-13 ahead through a try by Cordero that Sanchez converted.
A four-minute purple patch for South Africa brought the teams level as Goosen scored and Jantjies slotted a conversion and a penalty.
Whiteley then scored the crucial try which Jantjies also converted from the touchline to give South Africa a winning start over brave opponents who secured a losing bonus point.
