Springboks surge home with late try double

By BEN JAYCOCK

Argentina……….20pts

Tries: Penalty 61, Moroni 69

Conversions: Boffelli 69

Penalties: Boffelli 9, 24

South Africa ….36pts

Tries: Penalty 20, Hendrikse 28, Marx 32, 80; De Allende 75

Conversions: Willemse 29, Steyn 76, 80

Penalties: Willemse 12

South Africa powered clear in the final 10 minutes to remain in the title hunt with last night's win in Buenos Aires.

The Pumas were just two points behind after Matias Moroni's try on 69 minutes but the world champions then flexed their muscles with two tries to seal the win.

In a tense opening, Emiliano Boffelli and Damian Willemse traded early penalties before South Africa went ahead through a penalty try. Jaden Hendrikse looked set to score the opening try after a silky break by Canan Moodie but Santiago Carreras tackled the scrum-half from an offside position and was yellow carded.

Boffelli dispatched three points in reply but the Springboks enhanced their lead as Hendrikse's dummy at a ruck fooled the Argentinian defence and he went under the posts untouched.

The Springboks began to dominate the set piece and Malcolm Marx was on the end of an unstoppable driving maul.

Argenting scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou was yellow carded after repeated infringements by the Pumas next to their own try line just before half-time.

After sustained pressure by Argentina in the second half, Willie Le Roux was yellow carded as it was the Springboks turn to be penalised for committed repeated offences next to their own try line.

However, Argentina failed to capitalise on all their possession and territory as the watertight Springbok defence proved a tough nut to crack. However eventually the Pumas pressure told and they were rewarded with their first try via a penalty try after Kwagga Smith tackled Boffelli round the neck preventing him from scoring a try, and was shown a yellow card.

Argentina set up a grandstand finish as Newcastle centre Moroni ran a great line to go under the posts and bring the Pumas within two points with 10 minutes remaining. But Damian De Allende's leg drive allowed him to go over from close range and Marx rounded off the bonus point win with a last minute try.

The two teams meet again next weekend with the Boks needing a bonus point win and for New Zealand to drop points at home to Australia if they are to lift the title.