A week after letting a winning chance slip through their fingers, Argentina beat South Africa 26-24 in the Rugby Championship to claim only their second-ever victory over the Springboks.
Replacement Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, the third goalkicker used by Argentina, kicked a penalty with three minutes remaining to clinch the win in Salta, Argentina on Saturday.
South Africa had snatched the lead with a Morne Steyn goal five minutes earlier.
For the second week in a row, Argentina saw a 10-point second-half lead evaporate.
Last weekend in Nelspruit, South Africa, the Pumas led by 10 points with nine minutes remaining only to concede two late tries and lose 30-23.
This time, Argentina held their nerve after Steyn seemed to snatch another Springboks victory, reclaiming the lead to match its first victory over South Africa in Durban last year.
South Africa was left to rue goalkicking lapses: Starting flyhalf Elton Jantjies and Steyn jointly missed four kicks at goal while Nicolas Sanchez, Juan Martin Hernandez, and Iglesias maintained perfect records for Argentina, sharing six goals from six attempts.
A try to fullback Joquin Tuculet, converted by Sanchez who also kicked two penalties, helped Argentina to a 13-3 lead at halftime.
But the Springboks erased that lead in only four minutes after the restart with a penalty to Jantjies and a try to winger Bryan Habana, converted by Johan Goosen.
Argentina began to dominate at the breakdown through the middle stages of the second half and was rewarded with a 48th minute try to flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon which was converted by Hernandez who made the lead 23-13 with a 53rd-minute penalty.
Hernandez was carried from the field after a head clash with South Africa’s Oupa Mohoje, and the goalkicking duties fell to Iglesias, who showed steely nerves to slot the final goal, delighting 20,000 Argentina fans.
“When we held onto the ball we performed well,” Argentina scrumhalf Martin Landajo said. “But both teams performed well at times and for that reason it was a tight match.”
“We expected a physical match, we expected a tough game,” Springboks captain Adriaan Strauss said. “Well done to Argentina, they played a fantastic game.
“We made a lot of errors, couldn’t build the phases, especially through the first half, played against ourselves, and that cost us on the day.
“We need to go back and have a hard look at ourselves.
We need to start finding our rhythm and start playing towards what we want to be and the team we want to be.”
Argentina next plays New Zealand in Hamilton on September 10, while South Africa plays Australia in Brisbane later that day.
Martin Santurtun
Roar Rookie
Si Carlos soy ese!
CUW
Guest
dude, very soon all ur white players will be selected from europe. with a rubbish currency and a rubbish policy , who in their right mind would want to stay and play in south africa? especially when the shelf life of a rugger player is approx. 10 years at best. only a rare and very lucky few manage an extended career.
Blake
Guest
Maybe if the Springboks could select atleast 1 of the 2 between a good coaching staff or players that deserve to be there,if overseas players are allowed why the heck isn't Bismarck selected. I agree 100% with Biltong South African sports with the governments influence will deteriorate until they almost kill the passion for the sport.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Bien, Martin, tener razón! Sos el Martin de Pueyrredon?
Suzy, Johan Ackermann did not select his SA A team, it was a failed excerzise. Besides, I never said he must be the Springbok coach. You know full well there is no way back for the Springboks. The reasons. Transformation. Poor coaching team (if you are going to tell me Stick deserves to be there then we have nothing to debate) Poor selection from an incompetent panel. Poor preparation. Continued selection of overseas players. Poor culture. Swings and roundabout my back side.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Biltong, ok so you are blaming the coach for everything. Fair enough. But consider this. Name me one Bok player that make a world 15 team? Ok right still thinking. I will tell you zero. We are in for a few lean years when it comes to the Boks why because we don't have the cattle right now. So you think Johan Akkerman is the saviour? Wrong how did he go with the SA A team. 100% loss record. Despite the doom and gloom and you can quote me on this, it's swings and roundabouts. The Bok will rise again. Why because despite the power of the Euro and the Yen, there are 20million kids ( black and white) that dream of wearing the Green jumper. You can't buy that passion. Only one other country in the world has that passion. The are a tiny island of over achievers who wear black.
Bakkies
Guest
Your best coaches are in Limerick and Johannesburg
Nobrain
Guest
I would not fall in Havana so hard, how many times did he score the wining try in the past? imo he was one of the best out there. In Leguizamon try he did the right thing, there where four unmarked Pumas inside and only he and Strauss to cover.
SP, please explain to me how the Boks are going to get back? Have you actually seen the Bok coaching team? They are not there becuse they are the best at what they do.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Instead of bemoaning another poor Bok performance. ( they are becoming more frequent ) we should congratulate the Pumas for a hard fought win. The Boks were only allowed to play as poorly as they did by a well coached Pumas team. Hats off Argentina. Now go and believe in yourselves. You can beat the All Blacks. I am not saying you will but it is possible. Look chances are Boks, Wallas and Pumas will all win their home games against each other and the AB's will cruise thru undefeated, but you never know? I would live to see the Pumas beat the Blacks this year. As for Boks, they will bounce back. Will it be enough against a Wallaby side that is battle hardened after playing the world' stop two teams. Probably not. But if Cheika keeps blaming the refs, anything is possible?
Well the Proteas went from number one in the world to seventh quicker than you could say Transformation. Expect the same for the Springboks. From the demand for transformation, to the ineffectual SARU, to the clearly incompetent coaching staff, poor selections and lack of coaching SA rugby is fast tracked in a downward spiral. But hey, Sport Ministers Mbalula can jump for joy, next elections he can boast transformation is evident through every aspect of South African society. I guess he won't mention the fact that SA sport has become an embarrassment though.
Harry Jones
Expert
SA rugby is suffering from poor leadership. Where is the innovative, consensus-building Doc Craven of 2016? From the Minister of Sport to the national 'coaching brain trust' to the defence coach (C Roux, what is the plan for outside channels and why are we leaking soft long range tried?) to the backline 'attack' coach (EP Sevens clueless man Mr Stick, who has somehow managed to neuter Faf-Elton-DdeA-Mapoe-Habana/Combrinck with weird shapes and depth) to the world's most invisible hooker-captain (in a competition where hookers are key) to our vice captain Habana giving the Pumas a 40 m penalty to win a game we had stolen. Bad culture of mediocrity; tame lameness.
Bakkies
Guest
That's the only way they've been winning lately.
Scrumma
Guest
The boks have found inspiration in the second half to storm home in the last 25minutes and only just came up short, that's got to count for something.
Bondio
Guest
I very exited with Pumas win, but dont rule Wallabies out. It could be hard for you, but the men in black are well above everyone else. You got a very good chance in two weeks, the Pumas not :-s
Cliff (Bishkek)
Guest
Eagle Jack - I hope you do not include the Wallabies in the mix for 2nd place. I believe that we are headed for the wooden spoon. We will be beaten by both the Bok and the Pumas.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Certainly makes the battle for 2nd place very interesting!
superba
Guest
I think they would rather play in Europe for £ or € .And closer to home .
CUW
Guest
Politics or no-politics, the game in south africa will keep going backwards , until they start picking teams on talent rather than skin color. maybe auzzy shud look at getting hold of a few young saffer forwards , who would lov the opportunity to play test rugger , than being in a lottery at home.
Martin Santurtun
Roar Rookie
Delighted by the Puma's win over the Boks!! The Pumas made great improvement to the scrum and line out from last week - great 1st half! and above all kept a cool mind to close the game despite the injuries and with a team that had lost their natural leaders. One last word - we have been always told and it is one of the great things of our sport - The referee is always right!! This said, Mr. Garces and the TMO reviews the late tackle from Ramiro Herrera and sin binned him, Ok he deserves it Now, why the different standards toward the 4 dangerous tackles from Mojohe not including the head on tackle and shoulder hit that injured JM Hernandez or the one made by De Toit, Neither the line refs or the TMO saw this dangerous tackles?? This is something that annoys me! For much less Pumas has been cited, sin binned and even red carded!!