South Africa are the Rugby Championship champions for the first time after they produced another excellent display to hammer Argentina 46-13 in Salta.
Although Los Pumas got off to an outstanding start, with Santiago Cordero touching down, the Springboks deservedly took a 24-13 advantage into the break via tries from Bongi Mbonambi and Pollard, while the fly-half added 14 points from the tee.
Argentina were simply overpowered by Rassie Erasmus’ team and the away side duly sealed the win when Pollard, Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe went over.
It meant the ‘Boks finished a fine campaign unbeaten and secured their first southern hemisphere crown since 2009, when it was called the Tri Nations.
The Springboks have enjoyed a revival under Erasmus, justifiably taking the title after three fine performances in the competition, but they were initially put under pressure with Nicolas Sanchez to the fore.
The fly-half broke through the visiting rearguard and took play up to the 22. Although the visitors did well to halt the break, the fly-half produced a deft cross-field kick for Cordero to collect and score.
Unperturbed, the two-time World Cup winners hit back via Pollard’s penalty before they put the Argentines’ set-piece under significant duress. Mario Ledesma’s men have struggled in the tight this year and South Africa took advantage of their weaknesses at the lineout and scrum.
Following a penalty, South Africa set up a maul and the home side were powerless to stop their opponents’ dominant drive, which surged across the whitewash and allowed Mbonambi to touch down.
HIGH FIVE! ✋
Springboks back on top in Salta courtesy of a try from Mbonambi and the boot of Pollard. ARG 13—14 SA
Follow the action here 👉 https://t.co/2FydW54qer pic.twitter.com/1ffqX6rIEN
— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) August 10, 2019
To the Pumas’ credit, they battled and regained their advantage via their stand-off’s three-pointer, but the Springboks remained in the ascendancy and took a 14-10 advantage through successive Pollard efforts off the tee.
Although Argentina remained in contention via their pivot, Erasmus’ charges continued to control matters and were rewarded by Pollard’s try and penalty for an 11-point buffer at the interval.
Ledesma needed a response from his squad but it failed to materialise as another needless penalty resulted in the visiting playmaker extending their lead.
The hosts were boosted by a yellow card for scrum-half Faf de Klerk after a series of infringements, but Argentina failed to benefit and were instead sent into reverse by some brutal ‘Bok defence. It altered the momentum and, after good work from Steven Kitshoff and Franco Mostert, Pollard barged over from close range.
That was effectively game over but South Africa were not finished there and rounded off a fine display with two further tries via wingers Mapimpi and Kolbe.
Well done guys!! Congratulations on a splendid victory and successful campaign. pic.twitter.com/eYYWf4Xiq6
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 10, 2019
The scorers:
For Argentina:
Try: Cordero
Con: Sanchez
Pens: Sanchez 2
For South Africa:
Tries: Mbonambi, Pollard 2, Mapimpi, Kolbe
Cons: Pollard 3
Pens: Pollard 5
Yellow Card: De Klerk
Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera (c), 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Gonzalo Bertanou, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Joaquin Tuculet
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Jesse Kriel
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Karl Dickson (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
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