The Springboks made an ideal begin to the match, driving the Argentinean pack again within the scrum earlier than Handre Pollard nailed an outstanding touch-finder to arrange the line-out deep within the Pumas’ 22. From there, a wonderfully executed backline transfer created area for Aphelele Fassi to cost by way of a spot within the midfield and rating.
In the meantime, the Pumas didn’t begin nicely, making too many unforced errors, which stored the Boks on the entrance foot. A second attempt appeared virtually inevitable and it got here after one other interval of Bok strain ended with Jesse Kriel bursting by way of a spot and charging over.
The Boks quickly added three extra factors through the penalty spot to open up a 17-0 lead, however simply when the Pumas appeared down and out, they managed to discover a response, an outstanding inside cross within the midfield splitting open the Springbok defence and permitting winger Mateo Carreras to go over for a attempt that will fully change the momentum of the match.
The house facet have been handed one other enhance when a TMO test noticed Kurt-Lee Arendse despatched to the bin for 10 minutes for a excessive deal with that appeared fairly marginal.
The Pumas now had their tails up and picked up their second attempt after once more discovering area out extensive following some very good interaction from their backs, although it was flanker Pablo Matera who went over for the rating, beating what was beginning to appear like a really shaky Springbok defence.
The Pumas have been quickly again on the assault after discovering area behind the Bok defence through a well-placed grubber kick that compelled Fassi to play the ball on the bottom and provides away a penalty. From there, Argentina kicked for the nook, the place Joel Sclavi was capable of go over following a scrappy maul to attain Argentina’s third attempt. Albornoz couldn’t convert from the nook however the Pumas have been now main 19-17, having fully erased a 17-point deficit within the blink of a watch.
The Boks out of the blue appeared like they’d no reply for the Pumas, and when Ben Jason-Dixon was penalised for not rolling away, it allowed the hosts to return on the assault. Profitable a penalty contained in the Boks’ 22, their choice to go for the tap-and-go paid off handsomely, as a easy dummy from Albornoz allowed the flyhalf to canter over for attempt quantity 4.
With time operating out within the half, the Boks lastly managed to discover a response to all of the carnage on the different finish of the sector when a fast faucet from Cobus Reinach following a collection of penalties noticed the scrumhalf beat the defence single-handedly and go over within the nook. Pollard couldn’t add the extras because it completed 26-22 to Pumas following a loopy first half of rugby.
The Boks began the second half displaying loads of intent and managed so as to add six useful factors to their tally through successive penalties to retake the lead, the second kick coming from substitute Manie Libbok who had entered the fray together with plenty of different Bomb Squad members, together with a record-equalling Eben Etzebeth.
After the attempt fest that was the primary half, factors out of the blue appeared a lot more durable to come back by for each groups, with the gamers tiring within the sapping South American warmth.
However it was a bit of break from Albornoz that sparked the Pumas as soon as once more, ultimately leading to a penalty that the flyhalf duly transformed to place the hosts again in entrance with a bit of over 10 minutes to play.
Moments later, the Boks butchered a unbelievable try-scoring alternative after Fassi knocked the ball on with the try-line beckoning.
With time operating out, the Boks got one closing likelihood when the Pumas gave away the penalty for not rolling away, however Libbok couldn’t convert the very makeable kick as his erratic boot as soon as once more reared its ugly head.
The Springboks got one closing likelihood following a Pumas kick-off, however the house facet gained the turnover to seal a well-known victory in entrance of an adoring crowd in Santiago.
