Rugby Championship: Scrappy Springboks Scrape Past Pumas
by Brendan Bradford –
South Africa followed up their nine-try drubbing of Argentina last weekend with an unconvincing 22-17 win over the Pumas in Mendoza in the second round of the Rugby Championship overnight. The win keeps the Springboks at the top of the table with the All Blacks lurking in second while Argentina move up to third third courtesy of a bonus point for losing by less than seven.
Tries to Juan Leguizamon and Marcelo Bosch and points from Argentine captain Felipe Contepomi’s boot gave the home side an unlikely lead as the clock wound down, but two late Morne Steyn penalties was enough to see South Africa scrape an admittedly undeserving win.
Argentina played a smart game, avoiding the South African lineout, defending fiercely and dominating the breakdown while the Springboks lacked cohesion on attack. In the end