Jantjies seals Barbarians comeback win over Pumas
TWICKENHAM, Uni ted Kingdom: South African Elton Jantjies dropped a goal late in the match to add the final polish to a remarkable comeback by the Barbarians in beating Argentina 3835 at Twickenham on Saturday.
The match provided early seasonal pantomime knockabout fare in typically crowd-pleasing Barbarians style.
Thei r las t foray at RFU headquarters had added to England and Eddie Jones’s post Six Nations depression when a Chris Ashton hat- trick contributed to a 63- 45 humbling.
The Barbarians’ invitational team has been playing national sides on a regular basis since 1948.
This time there was a preponderance of South Africans in the line-up – which was coached by Springboks handler Rassie Erasmus – and for a while the Barbarians looked to be heading for heavy defeat.
Tries by Matias Orlando, Ramiro Moyano, captain Pablo Matera and Sebastian Cancelliere saw them open up a 28-7 lead – former Pumas great Juan Manuel Leguizamon touching down for the Baa-Baas.
A penalty try and a score from Springboks captain Siya Kolisi reduced the deficit to 28-21.
Julian Montoya scored for Argentina, but tries from South African duo Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager and Jantjies’ late kick sealed a thrilling win.
“It ’ s a massive privi lege representing this historic club,” said de Jager.
“The guys just went out there and put everything on the line and it’s good to get a win.
“One thing that ’ s a lways guaranteed from a Baa-Baas side is team spirit.”
For Matera and his players it was a disappointing way to end their Northern hemisphere tour which yielded little in the way of results – they lost to Six Nations champions Ireland, France and Scotland – but fatigue would have played a role coming off the Rugby Championship. — AFP