Boks’ blushes spared by disallowed try
A second-string Springboks team beat Argentina 24-18 in a Rugby World Cup warm-up test which would have given both teams’ preparations a different complexion had the Pumas not had a late try disallowed.
Lucas Mensa’s score in the 77th minute would have put Argentina ahead 23-21 with a conversion to come — and very possibly given Argentina just their second win over the Boks in South Africa — but the midfielder was ruled out for an obstruction early in the counter-attack.
Instead, South Africa first-five Elton Jantjies kicked the resultant penalty down the other end of the field to seal victory and finish with 14 points off the tee.
Wing S’busiso Nkosi scored a try in each half to help keep the Springboks unbeaten this season with one more warm-up test to come before the World Cup in Japan.
South Africa’s frontline players were given a rest by coach Rassie Erasmus after they crushed Argentina 46-13 in Salta a week ago to win a curtailed Rugby Championship. Erasmus didn’t start any first-choice players at Loftus Versfeld except captain Siya Kolisi, who returned from injury for his first test this season.
Some of the starting 15, such as 38-year-old hooker and captain Schalk Brits, are probably third in line in their positions but the Springboks reserves did enough.
After their humbling at home last weekend, Argentina appeared to be struggling again in the first half in Pretoria. But an intercept try by lock Guido Petti right on halftime and against the run of play gave the Pumas hope — and a surprise 10-8 lead at the break.
Captain Pablo Matera scored in the second half to make it 18-18 and raise the possibility of a first win in South Africa since 2015.
Jantjies’ two late penalties denied Argentina and completed a solid night for the back-up No 10.
Argentina missed crucial opportunities as well as having the dramatic late try disallowed. Wing Sebastian Cancelliere knocked on a pass a metre from the tryline early in the second half and before Nkosi’s second try. And replacement firstfive Benjamin Urdapilleta missed a conversion and penalty in the late stages.
At 21-18 to South Africa, Urdapilleta started the move that ended with Mensa slicing through a splintered South Africa defence with three minutes to go to score next to the posts and apparently snatch a shock victory. But the referee reviewed TV replays and decided Argentina’s Jeronimo De La Fuente obstructed South Africa prop Vincent Koch and prevented him making a tackle on Urdapilleta early in the attack.
Argentina’s disappointment was tempered by the fact it was a muchimproved performance, especially up front, from Salta.
“The game could have gone to either of the teams. Unlucky for us [yesterday],” Matera said. “The World Cup is coming, everything is positive. We were stronger than the Springboks in the scrum — very different to last week.”
South Africa gave up the first-half lead while on attack after the hooter when halfback Cobus Reinach threw an optimistic pass and second rower Petti snapped it up and ran more than 50 metres the other way, the big man out-pacing the Springboks cover. Matera went over with 15 minutes to go to level the scores and force South Africa to dig deep.