Rugby Championship

Hooker Malcolm Marx scored a try in the final minute to secure a 36-20 bonus-point victory over Argentina and keep the Springboks in the Rugby Championship ...

"The first half we weren't where we wanted to be in terms of defence and discipline," Argentina captain Julian Montoya said. For us to get a bonus point was special," Bok captain Siya Kolisi said at the post-match presentation. They host Argentina in their final clash in Durban next weekend while the All Blacks are at home to Australia.

All four teams could still win the most fiercely competitive championship in the last round next weekend.

Warned repeatedly by New Zealand referee James Doleman, who penalized the Pumas 12 times in the half, the home side lost a second player to the sin-bin, scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou, and almost conceded another try on halftime. Then the Springboks produced a textbook lineout maul that carried hooker Malcolm Marx over the line for 22-6 after 32 minutes. Carreras conceded the penalty try and was sin-binned.

The Rugby Championship is going down to the wire with the All Blacks and Springboks tied on points with one round remaining.

His second try restored the bonus point the Springboks dearly wanted with a victory to set up an intriguing last round. Then the Springboks produced a textbook lineout maul that carried hooker Malcolm Marx over the line to lead 22-6 after 32 minutes. Carreras conceded the penalty try and was sin-binned. The first try was a penalty try, to no surprise. But Lood de Jager's score was rubbed out by a knock-on. With the man advantage, Argentina earned a penalty try, and with a two-man advantage scored another try to close the gap to 22-20 with 10 minutes to go.

South Africa got the job done but were made to graft for their 36-20 bonus-point win over Argentina in Saturday's Rugby Championship Test in Buenos Aires.

Boffelli added the extras which meant South Africa held a narrow 22-20 lead, but they held their composure when De Allende powered through two tackles before scoring their fourth try in the 75th minute. However, the Boks were also guilty of that, especially on defence, and in the 60th minute Willie le Roux received a yellow card when he was caught offside deep inside his 22. And during that time Moroni crossed for their second try after great work from Marcos Kremer in the build-up. The ball was shifted wide to Canan Moodie, who was stopped just short of the try-line before Hendrikse gathered and went over but he failed to ground the ball after a desperate tackle from Santiago Carreras. [Argentina](https://www.planetrugby.com/team/argentina), Matias Moroni crossed the whitewash and they were also awarded a penalty try, while Emiliano Boffelli slotted a couple of penalties and a conversion. First, Hendrikse glided through a gaping hole deep inside Argentina territory after Marx did well in the build-up with a powerful carry.

Following a 36-20 victory for South Africa over Argentina in their Rugby Championship clash, here's our five takeaways from the match in Buenos Aires.

However, with a 14-point deficit separating them from New Zealand at the top of the table, they will know that next weekend they have to score and score big. On the basis of today, they have no injury concerns for the return fixture and we can expect to see a massive response from a proud nation that are very much on an upcurve of form. However, in a week’s time, they have the relatively easier tie, hosting Los Pumas, whilst the All Blacks again face Australia, a side they struggled to put away on Thursday, had it not been for the rather controversial call by Mathieu Raynal at the end of the match. When Los Pumas play well, the interplay loop work of Matera and the half-backs, combined with the inside switch passing is a joy to behold. For all De Allende’s solidity and defensive skill, his run down the tramline in the first half could have been timed with a calendar and showed just how limited his attacking play is. They played half of the first period with 14 men on the pitch, an uphill task against any side, but doubly so against a team as direct as South Africa.

South Africa brushed aside a series of scandals during the week to storm to the top of the Rugby Championship with a bonus point 36-20 win over Argentina on ...

But De Allende powered through two tackles to score from close range and Marx benefitted from tired tackling to score in the corner as South Africa extinguished Argentine hopes. Almost immediately, Matias Moroni made a stunning break though the heart of the Springbok defence to dot down under the posts and Boffelli's conversion made it a two-point game, with South Africa still down to 14 men. Scrum-half Bertranou was yellow carded and Lood de Jager bulldozed over for what would have been a fourth South Africa try, only for Doleman to rule there was a knock-on in the build-up as the Boks led 22-6 at half-time. New Zealander referee James Doleman had no option but to award a penalty try and send Carreras to the sinbin. South Africa brushed aside a series of scandals during the week to storm to the top of the Rugby Championship with a bonus point 36-20 win over Argentina on Saturday. The unflappable Emiliano Boffelli knocked over the first penalty of the game for Argentina on nine minutes but moments later Damian Willemse replied for the visitors.

South Africa stayed alive in the Rugby Championship with a hard-earned 36-20 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Francois Steyn (on for Willemse, 65th min) – 6 – Brought the calmness the Boks needed in the backline when Los Pumas looked to steal the show. Albertus Smith (on for De Jager, 54th min) – 5 – Won a breakdown penalty in his first action as a replacement. Deon Fourie (on for Kolisi, 60th min) – 6 – Won a crucial turnover penalty with two minutes remaining and worked hard on defence. Was a real menace on defence. However, was yellow-carded and conceded a penalty try – which put his team under pressure. Great work off the ball, but it was his physical presence on defence and at the breakdown that was invaluable. Continued to work hard and took his tackle count into double digits. He also made a match-high 17 tackles. His reading of the game is up with the best. Great on defence and with the ball in hand. He was not flawless, but is settling into his new role. However, he conceded a couple of penalties and a yellow card.