Pumas strike late to edge Boks in thriller
SALTA: A late penalty by replacement flyhalf Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias gave Argentina a 26-24 victory over South Africa in a roller-coaster Rugby Championship match in Salta on Saturday.
Both sides scored two tries as the Pumas, who led 13-3 at halftime, beat the Springboks for the second time in 24 meetings and the second in as many seasons.
It was Argentina’s third win in the championship since joining the elite southern hemisphere tournament in 2015, having also beaten Australia once.
The Springboks, for whom winger Bryan Habana grabbed a record 65th try on Saturday, came from behind to beat the Pumas in Nelspruit last weekend and were within minutes of doing it again.
Argentina dominated the first half despite losing prop Ramiro Herrera to the sin bin for a foul tackle in the 20th minute.
The Pumas took a 6-3 lead while down to 14 men with fly-half Nicolas Sanchez’s second penalty on the half hour and they scored their first try right after Herrera rejoined the fray, having come very close with two earlier efforts.
A sweeping attack from inside the Pumas’ 22 with several players involved in a slick passing movement down the left wing ended with full-back Joaquin Tuculet touching down to put the home side 13-3 ahead at the interval.
South Africa began the second half much better and a good attacking move brought their first try after flanker Francois Louw’s slick pass behind his back to Habana sent the wing away for his 20th championship try.
Full-back Johan Goosen converted to level at 13-13 and Sanchez, who took a nasty knock to the head trying to defend the attack, had to be replaced with centre Juan Martin Hernandez moving inside to take his place.
Hernandez, who masterminded Argentina’s win in Durban last year, engineered a fine second Pumas try with a neat crossfield kick to the far right corner where flanker Juan Leguizamon beat Habana to the ball and scored.
Argentina were seven points up again but with 13 minutes remaining they lost Hernandez to injury and South Africa smelt blood.
Replacement forward Pieter-Steph du Toit went over from a scrum close to the Argentine line and the Springboks looked like they might once again benefit from a stronger bench and snatch victory.