Springboks power home but fall short of their target

■ By SAM JACKSON

South Africa ….38pts

Tries: Wiese 19, Kolisi 29, Penalty 64, 72; Arendse 80

Conversions: Steyn 19, 29, 82

Penalties: Steyn 38

Argentina ……….21pts

Tries: Bertranou 40, Gonzalez 47, Moroni 68

Conversions: Boffelli 40, 48, 69

South Africa finished with a win over ill-disciplined Argentina at a sold out King's Park in Durban but could not manage the try scoring bonus point they needed to go with a 39-point winning margin on the scoreboard to claim the trophy.

Argentina ran them close but were once again let down by their discipline as they received four yellow cards and conceded two penalty tries.

The Boks also scored through No.8 Jasper Wiese, flanker Siya Kolisi and replacement full-back Kurt-Lee Arendse.

The Pumas scored three tries through scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou, back row Juan Martín Gonzalez and centre Matias Moroni, but spent much of the time defending as they conceded 22 penalties in the game.

“It's tough, but we never take a win for granted and it is an honour to beat a great side like Argentina,” South Africa captain Kolisi said. “The way we started, it was slow but we were able to score some points.

“We created so many opportunities in their half and we did not take the chances. We create so much, our game-plan is working, we just don't convert those opportunities.”

South Africa dominated possession and territory in the first half but only led 17-7 at the break depite yellow cards for Argentina forwards Marcos Kremer and Juan Martin Gonzalez. Leicester No.8 Wiese scored his first try for South Africa as the home side scrummed the ball over the line, before Kolisi crossed when he broke away from a maul and dived over.

A Frans Steyn penalty extended the lead but Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou sniped round the fringe to score before half-time.

Argentina started the second half much the brighter and scored an excellent second try from pacy back row Gonzalez who swerved outside Willie le Roux and galloped in for 17-14. The Boks forward grunt forced a penalty try, but the hosts discipline frayed in the final 25 minutes.

Eben Etzebeth and Faf de Klerk were both in the sin-bin as Matias Moroni strolled in, but a second penalty try, earning Argentina a fourth yellow card en route, and Kurt Lee Arendse's score in the final minute settled the match.

But it wasn't enough to claim the title.