Fullback Aphelele Fassi and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit scored two tries every as dominant South Africa claimed the Rugby Championship with a complete 48-7 victory over Argentina at a festive Mbombela Stadium.
Wing Cheslin Kolbe, hooker Malcolm Marx and centre Jesse Kriel additionally crossed for tries because the hosts bullied Argentina within the scrum on Saturday and ran the guests ragged with the ingenious backline play they’ve launched into their recreation this season.
Argentina’s solely attempt got here through fly-half Tomas Albornoz and so they weren’t helped by yellow playing cards for wing Mateo Carreras and fullback Santiago Carreras, and a 20-minute pink card for flanker Pablo Matera as they misplaced their self-discipline below strain.
There was double trigger for celebration as lock Eben Etzebeth turned essentially the most capped Springbok on his 128th look, going previous the file of Victor Matfield, because the world champions completed with 24 factors within the desk, eight greater than runners-up New Zealand.
Lock Eben Etzebeth in motion throughout his Springboks record-breaking Take a look at in opposition to Argentina at Mbombela Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Nelspruit. (Picture by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Photographs/Getty Photographs)
Argentina completed third on 14 factors, with Australia propping up the desk on simply 5 factors after solely managing to win one in all their six matches.
“I’m misplaced for phrases, it has been a journey and a half and to bounce again from final week says so much about our workforce,” Springbok captain Siya Kolisi stated.
“I wish to say to my greatest buddy, Eben Etzebeth, ‘you’ve got at all times been by my aspect, you’ve got led us as a workforce in so some ways. I’m so happy with you. Cheers my brother, I like you’.”
The Springboks chosen Manie Libbok at flyhalf however deferred his kicking duties from the tee to scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, signalling their intention to run the ball.
And Libbok, who missed a late penalty in entrance of the poles final week as Argentina gained 29-28 in Santiago del Estero, was the conductor for the Springboks, igniting their backline as they ran in seven tries.
South Africa bagged two of these tries early to settle any nerves as they stored the guests penned in their very own half.
Fassi crossed after a backline transfer from the set-piece noticed him bash his approach over close to the posts, earlier than Du Toit stretched excessive of a ruck to dot down and make it 14-0 in as many minutes.
Argentina hit again, opening up the Springboks defence with some fast arms for Albornoz to canter in for his or her solely attempt.
The guests picked up their first yellow card of the Rugby Championship when Mateo Carreras impeded Fassi within the air.
The Springboks dominated possession with their man benefit and Fassi scored his second attempt as they moved the ball left and proper throughout the pitch to work the area for him to go over.
The house aspect added a fourth with an excellent jinking end from Kolbe as he turned his defender inside out within the nook to dot down and make the halftime rating 27-7.
Argentina misplaced Matera to a pink card quarter-hour into the second half for a harmful clear-out on the ruck on Vincent Koch and Santiago Carreras to a deliberate knock-down.
With their numerical benefit, the house aspect added additional scores by means of Marx, Du Toit and Kriel to assert their first southern hemisphere title since 2019 and their fifth general.
“Credit score to South Africa, they have been the higher workforce at present,” Argentina captain Julian Montoya stated. “We weren’t ok, we needed to be higher.”
