A Handre Pollard-inspired South Africa have warmed up for the World Cup in style, beating Argentina 46-13 in the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship to claim their first major international trophy in a decade.
Flyhalf Pollard scored two of the Springboks’ five tries, five penalties and three conversions for 31 points – his best career haul – to help them to a fourth southern hemisphere title in Salta.
There were also tries for hooker Bongi Mbonambi and wings Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe after Santiago Cordero had scored the only try for the Pumas in the second minute.
The emphatic win gave the unbeaten Springboks a bonus point and a total of 12 points from their three matches, four more than second-placed Australia who earlier on Saturday stunned reigning champions New Zealand 47-26 in Perth.
“It’s a fantastic feeling,” said Duane Vermeulen, who captained the twice world champions.
“It’s the first time in 10 years South Africa has won the Rugby Championship or Tri-Nations and it’s a nice reward for all the hard work we’ve put in.
“It’s also a good thing for us going into the World Cup. It’s one step up, still a lot of work to be done but yah, it’s a good feeling.”
The Pumas, whose last Test win was against the Springboks in Mendoza in the 2018 championship, have now lost their last eight Tests although close results against New Zealand and Australia had given them hope of a winning chance.
Cordero’s early try from Nicolas Sanchez’s pinpoint cross kick to the corner raised that hope higher but all Argentina had to show for their hard work from then on were six more points from the flyhalf’s boot.
The South African victory was founded on brilliant defence, especially in the second half when they would not yield to intense Pumas pressure near their line, and good counter-attacking.
They kicked four penalties when there was little to separate the teams in the first half.
An early try from Mbonambi, who was driven over the Pumas line by the Springbok maul and Pollard’s first with a break into space under the posts, gave South Africa a 24-13 halftime lead.
Pollard stretched the lead with a fifth penalty before Argentina enjoyed their longest spell of possession and control without managing to breach the Springbok line as a deserved second try went begging.
South Africa lost scrumhalf Faf de Klerk to the sin bin for repeated offsides but Pollard scored another try while they were a man short before Mapimpi earned the bonus point and Kolbe secured it.
Pumas coach Mario Ledesma said despite the disappointing results in the truncated championship, Argentina would not be distracted from their preparations for a tough World Cup pool that includes England and France.
“It’s tough to find positives with this result but it was a good week,” he said.
