Reigning world champions, the Springboks won 22-21 against Pumas in the last match of the Rugby Championship 2023. A tournament dominated head and shoulders by the All Blacks, winners of Australia earlier in the day 38-7.
Dominating but sluggish, the teammates of Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe were surprised at the start, first with the shock of Toulouse Mallia on Grant Williams who left the N. 9 of the Boks K.O. before being escorted out of the field on a stretcher. Then by the two early penalties from Santiago Carreras which put the Pumas on track at 6-0 on the scoreboard after less than ten minutes of play.
The South African second row brought his team back into the game with a first try in which he was the protagonist and the corner finisher (19th). The dominance of the Springboks has increased without being reflected in the score. Before De Allende planted the second try (26th) to take off (15-6).
Returning to six lengths after a penalty from Carreras before the break, the Argentinians showed good game intentions on returning from the locker room to annoy a rather amorphous but still solid South African team on several occasions. This is why Michael Cheika’s men often broke their teeth without managing to score. Manie Libbok crucified Argentine hopes after a counter-attack try (69th).
The two attempts at the end of the meeting of the Pumas rewarded a long work to come back with the last attempt of Bertranou (80 1) to only one small point, 22-21 (final score). Too short to hope to win, but the few points missed on foot by Santiago Carreras could have won his teammates.
Argentina finished 3rd in this Rugby Championship 2023 with a victory (against Australia) and two defeats (against New Zealand and South Africa). But the last two performances can give Michael Cheika hope for the World Cup and points to work on to improve.
