Match Centre: South Africa 38-21 Argentina

South Africa 38-21 Argentina, Kings Park Stadium

South Africa's win at Kings Park Stadium in Durban against Argentina wasn't enough as New Zealand went on to clinch the Rugby Championship title.

The final round result meant New Zealand finish at the top with 19 points while South Africa finish second with 18 points. Australia and Argentina finish this edition at third and fourth respectively.

The Springboks entered the game needing to win with a bonus point and a point difference of 40 or more but they were kept at bay with Argentina ensuring most of the opening quarter went without a point.

After holding up with firm defence, the Pumas lost Marcos Kremer to sin-bin in the 15th minute for repeated infringements and the Boks immediately made use of the numerical advantage with Jasper Wiese touching down at the back of a powerful scrum. Frans Steyn landed the conversion to make it 7-0.

Just as Argentina returned to full strength, it was South Africa's turn to get reduced to 14 players temporarily with Juan Martin Gonzalez sin-binned for repeated off sides but despite the setback they got their second try through Siya Kolisi, who went over following another powerful lineout maul.

Steyn kicked the conversion and also followed with a penalty goal to make it 17-0 to raise the hope for the Springboks. Just as the break was approaching, Argentina made amends as scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou touched down and Emiliano Boffelli improved to ensure the teams completed the opening half with a 17-7 scoreline.

Michael Cheika's men extended the momentum into the second half as Gonzalez went past Willie le Roux to touchdown and
Boffelli's conversion meant the gap came down to just three points. Nevertheless, the game slipped away from Michael Cheika's men as in the 55th minute Jeronimo de la Fuente was issued a yellow card for an infringement that also resulted in a penalty try for the hosts.

Argentina were presented with an opportunity as Eben Etzebeth was yellow carded in the 60th minute for a dangerous tackle and five minutes later Faf de Klerk was shown yellow for a cynical offence. With South Africa down to 13 players, Matias Moroni reduced the arrears but the indiscipline continued to hamper the Pumas as this time, Joel Sclavi was sin-binned for trying to stop a maul illegally that also resulted in a second penalty try for the Boks making it 31-21.

With a minute left in the game, Kurt-Lee Arendse scored the fifth try for the Boks as they completed a 17-point victory.

Team line up:

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Francois Steyn, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Reserves: 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17 Retshegofaditswe Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Duane Vermeulen, 21 Albertus Smith, 22 Francois de Klerk, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse.

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Reserves: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Bautista Delguy.