The Rugby Championship title race is still alive after Argentina beat the Springboks 29–28 in Santiago del Estero on Saturday night. The Springboks will need just one point, but an important point it will be, when they face Argentina at home in Mbombela next Saturday.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made ten changes to his side for the game to give his wider squad a run.

The Springboks got off to a flying start in hot and humid conditions, with Jesse Kriel and Aphelele Fassi scoring tries within the game’s first ten minutes. Pollard converted both tries and succeeded with a penalty kick to put the Boks in front 17–0 within the first 15 minutes.

The hosts responded with interest, Mateo Carreras, Pablo Matera, Joel Sclavi, and Tomas Albornoz each scoring a try with only one missed conversion by Albernoz, putting the Pumas in front. Cobus Reinach scored an unconverted try just before half-time to reduce Argentina’s advantage to 26-22 at halftime.

‘Erasmus refused to blame Libbok’

Penalty goals by Pollard and Manie Libbok in the second half, put the Springboks in the lead, but Albernoz’s penalty put Los Pumas in front by one point.  South Africa had one more chance to secure the victory when a penalty was awarded to South Africa practically in front of the posts.  However, Libbok missed and it was over for the world champions.

After the game, Erasmus refused to blame Libbok for missing the kick, telling Reuters the Boks made too many mistakes.

“We made too many mistakes at crucial times and Argentina took their chances,” he said. “If it wasn’t for a missed kick, we would have had smiles sitting here now.  But if we had done the things we should have in the game, it would not have come down to that one kick. We lost lineouts and made other errors. It was not a great display from us.”

The defeat is the Springboks's first in five games in this year’s Rugby Championship, but they remain top of the table on 19 points.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger