Jantjies’ late drop secures famous win for BaaBaas
A LATE drop-goal from Elton Jantjies completed a comeback win for the Barbarians to wrap up this year’s Autumn internationals at Twickenham.
The Pumas lead 28-14 at the break but regularly conceded penalties in the second period which enabled the Baa-Baas to claw their way back into the game.
With a minute left, Jantjies secured a famous win for the invitational side with a drop-goal from 35m after tries from Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager had brought them back in to the game.
The Barbarians had taken the lead inside two minutes as Siya Kolisi and Schalk Brits combined before Leguizamon barreled over for 7-0.
That early score woke the Pumas, though, and two minutes after Sebastien Cancelliere went close on both wings, Matias Orlando crossed on the right after Baa-baas flyhalf Handre Pollard took the dangerous option of a chip close to his own line.
Fly-half Diaz Bonilla converted to level things up and then turned provider when his grubber through was easily gathered by Ramiro Moyano to make it 14-7.
Moyano was at the heart of the next try, his offload after a powerful run finding Orlando, who then found Matera in support for their third try.
The Argentines were cruising at 21-7 with the Barbarians all at sea.
Five minutes later Argentina moved further ahead with Moyano again involved, kicking across to Cancelliere for the crossing.
The Baa-baas cancelled that out before the break as they were awarded a penalty try for a maul being collapsed.
The first score of the second period was always going to be crucial and the Barbarians came out hungry but were halted by spirited defence.
Argentina could not stop the driving maul, however, and Kolisi crossed on 48 minutes for a converted try that narrowed the score to 28-21.
The response was positive from Argentina and their fifth try wasn’t long in coming, Montoya barging over from the back of a maul for 35-21.
De Allende was next to cross for the Baa-baas as he gathered Jantjies’ grubber through to bring the match back to a seven-point game.
The scoring then dried up before De Jager galloped over with five minutes remaining and then it was down to Jantjies as, after adding the extras to the try, he sat back in the pocket with two minutes to play to land the match-winning drop-goal, bringing an end to an entertaining clash.