Error-strewn Boks blow chance to secure Rugby Championship crown as Pumas win in Santiago

Pumas players celebrate victory. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images)

22 Sep 2024

Argentina beat the Springboks 29-28 in Santiago del Estero, ensuring that the 2024 Rugby Championship title will be decided in the final round at Mbombela Stadium next week.

Flyhalf Manie Libbok will be seen as the villain of the piece after missing a relatively straightforward late penalty that would have given the Springboks victory against Argentina. And with it, the 2024 Rugby Championship title.

It was a howler at this level, but the 29-28 defeat was the outcome of many Bok errors compounded over 80 minutes.

Libbok’s 79th minute miss, which was from 35 metres, and only on a slight angle, was as straightforward as it gets to win Tests. In this match, it was also to confirm the Boks as 2024 Rugby Championship winners.

I am sure we will all get a lot of flak for missing that kick. But it shouldn’t have been on the last kick for us to win. We should have done it much earlier – Rassie Erasmus

It was a poor strike and sailed left of the uprights, to allow Argentina to close out the game and secure a famous win. It left the Pumas with an outside chance of winning the title themselves if they can beat the Boks in the final round in Nelspruit next week.

The Springboks have 19 log points, with the Pumas on 14. Argentina must secure a full five points at Mbombela and stop the Boks from earning a single log point. It’s a tall order, but not impossible.

No celebrations for Bok lock Eben Etzebeth, who made a record-equalling 127th Test appearance. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images)

Bok errors

Libbok’s goal-kicking at Test level has always been questionable and this was the starkest example of an area of the game that will continue to hold him back. He also missed a penalty kick to touch, which would have given the Boks a lineout close to the Pumas’ line.

He did many good things in the 30 minutes he was on as a replacement for Handrè Pollard, particularly delivering many accurate contestable kicks.

Those kicks won the Boks vital field position and allowed them to largely control the second half, after a wild opening 40 minutes in which seven tries were scored.

But when the crunch came, to deliver victory in spite of a litany of earlier errors, his temperament failed. It is a harsh assessment, but Test rugby is a harsh arena.

Read more: Historic Rugby Championship title in sight for Rassie’s ever-evolving Boks

Coach Rassie Erasmus, who made 10 changes to the team that beat the All Blacks in Cape Town for the clash in Argentina, defended his flyhalf after the match.

“I don’t think the game should have come down to the wire, with one man kicking it over,” Erasmus said.

“There were lots of opportunities where we lost the ball in lineouts, giving away penalties in their 22.

“It was not a great display by us. Manie is going to get a lot of flak, we all know that. He must find a way to manage it. I am sure we will all get a lot of flak for missing that kick. But it shouldn’t have been on the last kick for us to win. We should have done it much earlier.”

Erasmus was right that the Boks were poor in a host of areas — the lineout was sloppy, and their usually parsimonious defence was cut to shreds in a rampant 20-minute first-half spell by the Pumas.

The Boks missed 26 tackles of the 99 they were asked to make. A 30% missed tackle rate was inexcusable. They officially only lost two lineouts, but there were a few that they only just managed to secure, which stunted their attacks.

The Boks’ scrum dominated though, earning three penalties from the set piece, while the introduction of the bomb squad upped the physicality that was lacking after halftime.

However, Kurt Lee Arendse’s dubious 18th minute yellow card for a high tackle was vital in the outcome. While he was off, Argentina scored 12 points.

It was the culmination of a period in which they scored 19 unanswered points as the Boks fell off tackles and became rattled by the ferocity of their opponents in contact.

Bok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach is tackled by Pumas prop Joel Sclavi and centre Santiago Chocobares during the Rugby Championship clash in Santiago del Estero. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images)

Pumas purr

The home team outscored the Boks by four tries to three, overcoming a 17-0 deficit which the world champions established inside 13 minutes.

It was the first time in the history of the Rugby Championship that Argentina have beaten the Wallabies, All Blacks and Boks in the same year.

Read more: SA Rugby is in a good space, but there are dangers and challenges on the horizon

New coach Felipe Contepomi has built a resilient team that has the sharpest attacking outside backs in the competition. They are adding consistency to their game. The Pumas will be full of confidence at Mbombela next weekend.

Flyhalf Tomás Albornoz was excellent, contributing 14 points from a try, three conversions and a penalty. Centre Santiago Chocobares and wing Mateo Carreras caused havoc, particularly when the Boks were down to 14 men, while old warhorse back rower Pablo Matera was a constant carrying and linking threat.

Albornoz also missed three kicks at goal — one conversion and two penalty attempts — but in general play he pulled the strings confidently.

The Pumas’ second try came from Matera, who was cleverly deployed to the Boks right wing with Arendse missing. The home team overloaded the Bok defence in that weak area.

The Pumas’ third try was strongly finished by prop Joel Scalvi from a five-metre lineout drive. Albornoz scored the fourth with a quick tap from a third penalty in quick succession.

Pumas players celebrate victory. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images)

Fast start

The Boks made a brilliant start to the match, winning a scrum penalty, which flyhalf Pollard — who contributed 10 points from the boot — drilled close to the Pumas tryline.

From the lineout, the Boks released the ball to the back where Pollard produced a beautiful pass for fullback Aphelele Fassi to surge on to, to score. Fassi ran an excellent line.

Minutes later centre Jesse Kriel ran a lovely line on to a Cobus Reinach pass for the second try. It started with a good turnover by flank Marco van Staden, and strong carries by Ben-Jason Dixon and Ruan Nortje.

When Pollard landed a penalty, the Boks led 17-0 after 13 minutes. The crowd was silent. It was a near perfect start.

The Pumas though, have shown this season that they refuse to go away. Two weeks ago they trailed the Wallabies by 20-3 and ended up winning 67-27. They needed something to spark a comeback, and got it when Arendse was binned.

The Bok wing was deemed to have made head contact on the tackle on Carreras. Let’s just say it was marginal, but Argentina, having just scored their opening try of the match through Carreras, after a fine Chocobares line break, didn’t need another invitation to make it count.

Reinach managed to score a clever try just before halftime to narrow the deficit to 26-22 at the break.

After halftime the Boks visibly upped the ante in contact and dominated much of the second half, stemming the scoring and playing a smarter tactical game with Libbok’s accurate kicking from hand ensuring better field position.

The introduction of the bomb squad, particularly Eben Etzebeth who earned a record-equalling 127th Test cap, shifted momentum.

Pollard and Libbok landed second-half penalties to edge the Boks ahead, but it was always tenuous. Albornoz’s 69th minute penalty put the Pumas back in the lead, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

With this Bok team there is always one more chance to win it, and it duly arrived with a minute to play when the visitors won a breakdown penalty.

Unfortunately, this time, there was no happy ending for Libbok or the Boks. DM

Scorers:

Argentina – Tries: Mateo Carreras, Pablo Matera, Joel Scalvi, Tomás Albornoz. Conversions: Albornoz (3). Penalty: Albornoz.

South Africa – Tries: Aphelele Fassi, Jesse Kriel, Cobus Reinach. Conversions: Handrè Pollard (2). Penalties: Pollard (2), Manie Libbok.

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South Africa

Bok errors

Pumas purr

Fast start

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