Aphelele Fassi scored two of the Springboks’ four first-half tries before helping out Cheslin Kolbe. Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was named player of the match, also scored the first of his two tries, and fly-half Tomas Albornoz scored for Argentina.
The game’s pivotal moment occurred in the second half when Pablo Matera, a Pumas substitute, received a yellow card that was later upgraded to a 20-minute red for making contact with his head while attempting to clear Vincent Koch.
Malcolm Marx took advantage of a blatant knock-on from full-back Santiago Carreras, who joined Matera in the sin bin. Du Toit scored once more, and the game’s last touchdown came from centre Jesse Kriel, who converted a dinked kick by Handre Pollard. With their victory, the Springboks also exacted revenge for their one-point loss in Argentina previous Saturday, which had kept them from winning the title a week early.
It had been an hour and a half of travel. “The way we stood up after last week says a lot about our team,” Springboks captain Siya Kolisi said to Sky Sports. The Rugby World Cup in 2019 forced a shorter format, therefore the Springboks’ triumph is their first in a full tournament since 2009, before Argentina entered the competition.
Rassie Erasmus’s illustrious coaching resume now boasts two World Cups, two Rugby Championships, and a British and Irish Lions tour victory, in addition to the victories.
Even though they lost, this was the first time the Pumas had defeated all three teams in the Rugby Championship and were still in the running for the championship going into the final round.
They came in third at the end of the tournament after New Zealand had won the runners-up berth earlier on Saturday against Australia. Lock Eben Etzebeth, who eclipsed Victor Matfield as his county’s most-capped player, played in his record 128th Springbok encounter.
The 32-year-old’s name and cap number were lit on fire during a special pre-game presentation. As the flames gradually went out, Etzebeth broke down in tears while his teammates sung the national anthem.
After the game, Kolisi remarked, “I want to say to my best friend Eben that I am so grateful to be on this journey with you.” We’ve been friends since we were 18 years old, and because of the way you play the game, you’ve guided us in a lot of different ways.
“I am honoured to be your buddy and am very proud of you. Telling my grandchildren that I played with Eben Etzebeth excites me. I adore you, my friend. Cheers!” The one bright spot from South Africa’s lone championship loss last week was that it gave them a chance to triumph in front of their home crowd for the first time in five years.
The world champions didn’t waste any time in raising the noise as Fassi crashed over near the posts for an early try, adding to the unique atmosphere at Mbombela Stadium.
After a little scramble, flanker Du Toit sprang over the ruck to plant the ball skilfully, setting up another shortly after. Although it seemed inevitable, the Pumas, who overcame a 17-point deficit the previous weekend, sent another message that they shouldn’t be written off despite a sluggish start when Santiago Grondona burst free and threw Albornoz in for their first goal. News for The Daily Rugby
But South Africa took advantage of the space created when Mateo Carreras was sent off for knocking out Fassi in the air, and Kolbe bounced the ball off the deck to Fassi, who scored on his second try.
The full-back soon returned the favour, and even though Kolbe still had a lot of work to do, he was unstoppable with his strength and dancing feet near the tryline.
After the Pumas’ lacklustre play in the last quarter, the Boks’ brutality was unleashed. Kriel scored the best of the final three tries, latching onto Pollard’s wonderful kick to exact revenge on Argentina for being down to 13 men.
South Africa: Fassi, Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse; Libbok, Hendrikse; Nche, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Nortje, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese.
Replacements: Marx, Steenekamp, Koch, Louw, Smith, Reinach, Pollard, Am.
Argentina: S Carreras; Isgro, Moroni, Chocobares, M Carreras; Albornoz, Garcia; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Sclavi, Rubiolo, Lavanini, Gonzalez, Grondona, Oviedo.
Replacements: Ruiz, Calles, Delgado, Molina, Matera, Bazan Velez, Cinti, Cruz Mallia.
Sin-bin: M Carreras (29), S Carreras (68)
Red card: Matera (55)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)