Bryan Habana tries to find a way through a much improved Argentine defence in Mendoza

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, ill-discipline cost the home side dearly and gifted South Africa its first win in the competition away from home since 2009.

Argentina wasted no time in seeking redemption for the 73-13 thrashing they received last weekend in South Africa. The Springboks scored three tries from lineouts in Soweto but the Pumas shot out of the gates and gave the visitors a taste of their own medicine, with Leguizamon barrelling over from an attacking throw after less than two minutes. Felipe Contepomi added the extras from the sideline for a positive 7-0 start.

Penalties to Morne Steyn and Contepomi followed and while Argentina defended the Springboks’ first real attacking raid, they couldn’t clear their lines and left a huge overlap which winger Bjorn Basson exploited to tie the scores at 10-10 after 15-minutes.

Morne Steyn slotted two late penalties to spare the Springboks’ blushes

Ruan Smith went close for the visitors, who turned down a kickable penalty midway through the half but were unable to add another five-pointer to their score.

Meanwhile, the new scrum laws continued to be an issue. There were repeated re-sets in the first half, and even referee Steve Walsh showed his preference for the old system when he said “crouch, touch, bind,” before apologising for the confusion.

Contepomi missed a long-distance penalty from in front but sustained pressure inside South Africa’s half resulted in Bosch rampaging through some weak defence for the Pumas’ second try. Steyn slotted another penalty on the stroke of halftime for a 17-13 score at the break.

A third Steyn penalty straight after the resumption narrowed the gap to one-point before Contepomi went off injured in the 48th minute. Walsh had let the Pumas get away with a lot in the first half, but continued ill-discipline saw the whistle-blower slowly run out of patience and kept the Argentines on the back foot throughout the third quarter.

The Springboks began shifting the ball across the field in attack, probing for gaps with strong midfield runners, but the desperate Pumas defence and vicious breakdown work held them at bay. The home side didn’t do themselves many favours on attack, constantly giving possession away with a series of mindless midfield bombs that South Africa easily dealt with.

Bosch sliced a 50-plus metre penalty in the 60th minute as Argentina grew in confidence with fulltime nearing and their first Rugby Championship win approaching. But continuing poor discipline extinguished any hopes of an upset as Steyn lined up his fourth and fifth penalties of the day to take a 22-17 advantage as the fulltime siren sounded.

All teams now have a bye week before competition resumes on September 7.

SOUTH AFRICA 22 (Bjorn Basson try; Morne Steyn con, 5 pens) bt ARGENTINA 17 (Marcelo Bosch, Juan Leguizamon tries; Felipe Contepomi 2 cons, pen)