Connect with us

Default

Rugby Championship: Springbok Forwards Bully Los Pumas

The Springboks scored four tries to Argentina’s two and sealed their opening Rugby Championship match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 19 August. 

Kick-off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, a venue where the Boks have yet to lose a match against Argentina.

Bet now on the latest rugby event

Following a telling performance by New Zealand against the Wallabies one will compare the intensities between the two tests.

Roman Poite was the official referee for the second Rugby Championship match of the day, and as always, dubious calls were expected.

First Half
After a slow start by both teams the Springboks led by 13 – 5 at halftime with tries coming in late in the first half. Argentina was the first to score after Martin Landajo latched on to a grubber to score in the corner after a 80 metre counter attack. But the Boks responded brilliantly when Courtnall Skosan scored his first test try after Serfontein and Jantjies started a set move, that saw Jantjies hand Skosan an inside pass that opened up a hole in the Pumas defence.

Second Half
The second half got underway and Nicolas Sanchez was the first to add points onto the scoreboard after Malcom Marx was penalized, 13 – 8 inside 46 minutes. Jaco Kriel was again superb at the breakdown as the Boks won another penalty that Jantjies kicked over, 16 – 8. The Bok forwards were relentless on defense as Kolisi, Marx, Eztebeth, Beast, and Kriel remained solid and won the Boks numerous penalties throughout the match, in this case, Jantjies opted for touch, and good backline play saw Raymond Rhule run a good line to score.

Argentina shifted momentum after quick hands saw Juan Hernandez and Boffelli link up for the latter to score in the corner, Hernandez with a good conversion, 23 – 15 after the 60th.
Argentina kept giving away illegal scrummaging penalties, and Jantjies opted for touch and a rolling maul was formed, two breakdowns later a series of good handling skills saw a great team try as Siya Kolisi scored under the sticks in front of his home town. 30 – 15.

Final Stages
Peter Steph du Toit followed suite and put the final nail in the coffin as he scored just on the whitewash after some good phase play by the Springboks.

Bosch Gets His Cap
Curwin Bosch came on to a standing ovation for Elton Jantjies late into the match to win his first Springbok cap.

All roads lead to Salta
The match was a great balance of consistent backline and forward play, but the night belonged t the forwards who contributed tremendously on attack and defence and continued on the momentum from the French series.
I would’ve liked to see more of the Los Pumas enterprising running rugby, but today it seemed we saw a somewhat lackluster performance. Not taking anything away from the Bok win, but all things considered the Boks had an easy win in PE, and it will be interesting to see what happens next week in Salta.

Man of the match: Coenie Oosthuizen

Click here to view the upcoming Rugby Championship fixtures:

Writtern by Lungelo Mdladla for Hollywoodbets

Bet now on the latest rugby event

Register now and start betting on Durban July Horse Racing

More in Default