PLAYER RATINGS: Argentina 10-29 South Africa

PLAYER RATINGS: Argentina 10-29 South Africa

South Africa are now unbeaten for five consecutive Rugby Championship matches for the first time since 2009 following Saturday's 29-10 defeat of Argentina.

A first half dictated by the boot of Handre Pollard and too many cheap Pumas penalties allowed South Africa a more carefree second 40 minutes, with Makazole Mapimpi and Malcolm Marx scoring their two tries in a straightforward victory.

Pollard's penalty opened the scoring after some good early Pumas possession, before Trevor Nyakane was forced off with injury inside a quarter of an hour. Argentina gave up eight penalties inside 25 minutes, with Pollard stretching the lead to 9-0 before Domingo Miotti kicked his side onto the scoresheet.

Pollard made it four from four as the Springboks continued to draw ill-discipline from their opponents. Referee Karl Dickson had soon had enough, sending Rodrigo Buni to the sin bin for offside, with Pollard again making no mistake with his fifth penalty before half-time. 

Miotti missed his mark either side of the interval before South Africa got the first try of the contest, Mapimpi racing in down the left after a good Willie Le Roux pass at the end of a quick move. The power of the Springbok pack was simply too much and Marx went over after another maul, Pollard adding the extras to keep up his spotless record.


With South Africa chasing a bonus point and Argentina desperate to reduce the deficit, the contest went beyond 84 minutes before Pablo Matera battled his way over the line and Nicolas Sanchez converted.

PLAYER RATINGS: 


 
ARGENTINA
 
 
15 Juan Cruz Mallía - 7
14 Ignacio Mendy - 6
13 Santiago Chocobares - 7
12 Jerónimo de la Fuente - 6
11 Santiago Carreras - 5
10 Domingo Miotti - 5
9 Gonzalo Bertranou - 6
8 Rodrigo Bruni - 5
7 Guido Petti - 5 
6 Pablo Matera - 8
5 Tomás Lavanini - 6.5
4 Matías Alemanno - 5
3 Francisco Gómez Kodela - 6
2 Julián Montoya - 6.5
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro - 5

Substitutes: 
16 Facundo Bosch -6 
17 Facundo Gigena - 6.5
18 Santiago Medrano - 6.5
19 Marcos Kremer - 6
20 Juan Martín González - n/a
21 Felipe Ezcurra - n/a
22 Nicolás Sánchez - 6.5
23 Lucio Cinti - 5
 
 
 
 
 
SOUTH AFRICA
 
 
15. Willie le Roux - 8
14. Cheslin Kolbe - 7.5
13. Lukhanyo Am - 8
12. Damian de Allende - 7.5 
11. Makazole Mapimpi - 7.5
10. Handre Pollard - 6
9. Cobus Reinach - 6
8. Jasper Wiese - 6.5
7. Franco Mostert - 7.5
6. Siya Kolisi - 7
5. Lood de Jager - 8.5
4. Marvin Orie - 6
3. Thomas du Toit - 7.5
2. Malcolm Marx - 7
1. Trevor Nyakane - n/a

Substitutes: 
16 Bongi Mbonambi - 5
17 Steven Kitshoff - 8
18 Frans Malherbe - 7
19 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg - 7.5
20 Kwagga Smith - 7
21 Dan du Preez - 6.5
22 Jaden Hendrikse - n/a
23 Damian Willemse - n/a
 
 

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