South Africa vs Argentina LIVE: Rugby Championship result as Springboks win but miss out on title

South Africa won the battle but lost the war following their 38-21 victory over ill-disciplined Argentina at a sold-out King’s Park in Durban on Saturday, a result that handed the 2022 Rugby Championship title to New Zealand.

The All Blacks top the standings with 19 points from their six games, one more than South Africa, who could not manage the try-scoring bonus point they needed to go with a 39-point winning margin on the scoreboard to claim the trophy.

Instead, Argentina ran them close in Durban but were once again let down by their discipline as they received four yellow cards and conceded two penalty tries. The Boks also scored through No 8 Jasper Wiese, loose-forward Siya Kolisi and replacement full back Kurt-Lee Arendse.

The visitors looked dangerous every time they had ball in hand and scored three tries through scrum half Gonzalo Bertranou, back row Juan Martin Gonzalez and centre Matias Moroni, but spent much of the time on defence as they conceded 22 penalties in the game.

Reuters

The Springboks get the win in Durban and finish level on points with New Zealand atop the Rugby Championship table but miss out on the trophy on points difference. They didn’t get the 40-point victory they needed.

80 mins - South Africa knock on so Argentina recover the ball and run from deep. Lovely gliding run by Urdupilleta gets them into Springbok territory.

But they cough the ball up! One last chance for the Boks now, starting from halfway.

And it is a TRY! Good hands down the right from Mapimpi, Moodie and De Klerk, with Kurt-Lee Arendse in support for the run-in. A good way to finish for South Africa. Conversion added by Steyn and that’s that.

79 mins - Throw-in not straight by Creevy, so it’s a free-kick for South Africa. A scrum in a central position that should drain the clock a bit more. The Boks are going to win this but come up short of the Rugby Championship title

78 mins - Ugly scrum but Argentina do somehow get the ball out as the scrum collapses. That could easily have gone against the Pumas but the referee determines South Africa are at fault. Pumas pump the ball clear to halfway.

77 mins - Firm defence by Argentina and De Klerk punished for a knock-on at the breakdown, although there was an Argentine body on his side of the ruck. Referee deems he’s doing everything he can to get out of the way, so it’s De Klerk’s nudge forward that gets punished.

Argentina scrum in their own 22 which, to be fair, isn’t a lot of fun against the Springbok front row.

76 mins - Into the final five minutes and the Springboks now have 15 men again as De Klerk’s sin-bin ends.

Another driving maul from the lineout makes good ground into the 22. They keep it up the jumper with the forwards before Steyn tries to make a dart through. Repelled. SA reset.

75 mins - Argentina gamely come forward again but good defence by South Africa, halting them around halfway.

The Pumas earn the scrum but they’re going backwards and it’s a Springboks penalty. The Bomb Squad doing their thing off the bench. IT’s been an area of domination for the hosts today

72 mins - Etzebeth immediately carrying the ball and he is dangerously tackled in the 22. South Africa penalty, kicked to the corner.

Great driving maul, headed for the line and it’s brought down so that’s a penalty try! Huge for the Springboks.

Joel Sclavi also gets a YELLOW CARD for his collapsing, so it’s 14 vs 14 now. And De Klerk will return before the end of the game, whereas Sclavi won’t