In their Rugby Championship match in Buenos Aires, the Springboks defeated Argentina with a bonus-point victory of 36-20.
The Springboks experienced a rough week off the field when rumours of an affair between flyhalf Elton Jantjies and team dietitian Zeenat Simjee surfaced and both were sent home from Argentina before to the match.
SA Rugby also issued a press statement hours before the game to refute an allegation of possible recreational drug usage by several Springboks players.
Despite Argentina’s 3-0 lead, the Boks dominated the first half, both offensively and defensively, and their maul proved to be a potent offensive weapon.
The Boks attacked with great vigour, displaying beautiful running and ball distribution. Damian Willemse, the flyhalf for the opposing team, converted a penalty kick to tie the game.
Both Boffelli and Willemse missed their second attempts at goal, but the Springboks maintained pressure with the ball and were rewarded with a penalty try.
Canan Moodie began the play with a great run before scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse scored in the corner. The Boks were granted a penalty try after Pumas flyhalf Santiago Carreras was shown a yellow card for stopping the Bok No. 9 from scoring.
Penalty try 🚨
First try of the game goes the way of the Springboks with Argentina down to 14 men..
📺 Stream #ARGvRSA live: https://t.co/0BMWdeEYT3 pic.twitter.com/azXn4ZTNqU
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) September 17, 2022
The hosts moved closer to the Boks’ score when Boffelli slotted an easy penalty in the 23rd minute, but the South Africans stuck with what had clearly been working well for them as they continued to use their power game after a maul, before Hendrikse sold a clever dummy to cut through and score under the posts.
The Boks bombarded the Argentinians with assault after attack, earning a bonus point when Malcolm Marx scored after a thunderous driving maul in the opposition’s 22 after the Boks had again committed numbers in the lineout.
Despite having their first serious opportunity when Bok scrum leader Frans Malherbe was penalised at the scrum, Argentina were their own worst enemy due to their high mistake rate. They put up a lineout five metres out, but it was ineffective since they lost the ball.
The referee eventually cautioned the Pumas for their lack of discipline after the Boks earned a penalty in front of the posts just before halftime.
Michael Cheika’s group were again caught off-side as Jacques Nienaber’s squad moved for a scrum in front of the goal posts. This time, Gonzalo Bertranou, the scrumhalf, was sent to the sin bin.
Lood de Jager crossed the try line for the Boks at the stroke of halftime, but the referee judged that the lock had knocked the ball on during the set-piece.
The Boks committed too many mistakes in the second half, while Argentina was constantly comfortable under the high ball and menacing in attack.
In a reverse of the first 40 minutes, Argentina dominated the third quarter as they relegated the Boks to a defensive posture, and it was the Boks’ blunders in their own 22 that led to Wilie le Roux’s yellow card.
While the Boks produced several excellent driving back hits, Argentina’s ability to keep the ball alive and their support play were remarkable. It seemed nearly impossible that they hadn’t scored by the sixty-fifth minute.
Willemse fell down after attempting a tackle, and although he walked off the field and was replaced by Frans Steyn, the Boks will be crossing their fingers considering their present position at number 10.
The Boks were reduced to 13 players after Kwagga Smith was sent off for a high challenge on Tomas Cubelli that was deemed to have stopped him from scoring a try. Argentina continued to exert pressure as they sought to score their first try. A penalty try was granted to Argentina (13-22).
Matias Moroni scored Argentina’s third try in a controversial play, as the pass in the buildup was obviously forward, and the TMO also reviewed the grounding. It was granted nevertheless.
MALCOLM MARX SEALS A BONUS-POINT 36-20 WIN FOR THE SPRINGBOKS IN SALTA 👏 pic.twitter.com/gpeFwl47W7
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) September 17, 2022
It was going to take some doing by the Boks to get the bonus point, but they pulled it together and were rewarded for their composure when Damian de Allende brought some hope when he went over in the 74th minute. Steyn added the extras to stretch their lead and keep their hopes of a bonus-point victory alive.
The final few minutes were tense, but the Boks made proper use of the last play of the game with Marx going over for his brace. Steyn connected the conversion from touch.
Point scorers:
Argentina – Try: Penalty try, Matias Moroni. Conversion: Emiliano Boffelli. Penalties: Boffelli (2).
South Africa – Tries: Penalty try, Jaden Hendrikse, Malcolm Marx (2), Damian de Allende. Conversions: Damian Willemse, Frans Steyn (2). Penalty: Willemse.