South Africa beats Argentina (38-21) but title goes to New Zealand

Sports Desk, 24 Sep South Africa beat Argentina 38-21 in the final match of the 2022 Rugby Championship at King’s Park Stadium in Durban, but the title went back to New Zealand, which had earlier beaten Australia 40-14.

The reigning world champions ‘Springboks’ needed to defeat the ‘Pumas’ with 39 points and bonuses to clinch a second crown in the Southern Hemisphere oval-ball superpowers. Almost the entire first half to achieve it, the Albiceleste team blocked it and the ‘All Blacks’ added their eighth title in ten editions.

Discipline errors weighed on Argentina in the first period, with South Africa 17-0 clear after two tries from Jasper Wise and Chia Kolisi and Franz Steyn’s conversions, but the ‘Pumas’ found the light with Gonzalo’s marker. Bertrano on the brink of half time and another by Juan Martin Gonzalez on the way back from the locker room, then replaced by Emiliano Boffelli (17-14).

This discipline caused South Africa more than one upset in the second period, but also Argentina. Two penalty attempts gave the ‘Springboks’ air and weighed down the ‘Pumas’, who cut off a new reaction attempt after a try by Matias Moroni (24-21) on eleven minutes.

A penalty again extended the South African lead to 31-21 and the final touch saw Kurt-Lee Arendse replace them with another conversion from Bell and Steyn. Argentina struggled and at times looked like they could decide the match on their side, but they couldn’t and paid for it with defeat.

South Africa knew how to defend themselves in difficult moments and showed their power and experience to save the game, but they could not win the title that New Zealand was celebrating again. EFE

Japan/ism