Springboks hold off Argentina in Buenos Aires as bench power swings tight Test
BUENOS AIRES — The Springboks survived a stern, messy Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday, using their bench to grind down Argentina and escape with
BUENOS AIRES — The Springboks survived a stern, messy Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday, using their bench to grind down Argentina and escape with a 17-10 win that stretched their run to 12 straight Test victories.
It was level at 10-10 at halftime, and for long stretches the Pumas looked the sharper side. They went hard at South Africa’s ball carriers and should have been ahead before the break. Then came the “Bomb Squad”.
Bench changes turn the match
The introduction of lock Cobus Wiese, hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels and prop Zach Porthen, among others, gave the world champions the extra heft they needed. South Africa began winning the gainline battle after the interval, and the contest slowly tilted their way.
That mattered. A lot. Handrè Pollard brought calm and experience to the back line, steering the Boks into better field positions as the pack finally got front-foot ball.
Edwill van der Merwe’s try just before halftime had kept South Africa in touch, while Aphelele Fassi supplied the assist for the opening score. But the visitors also leaked handling errors and spent much of the first half under pressure, with Argentina forcing them into an old-fashioned arm wrestle.
A warning before New Zealand
This was not polished. It did not need to be. The Boks had to show grit and character to edge a courageous Argentina side in a game that demanded patience as much as power.
For coach Rassie Erasmus, the timing made the win even more useful. South Africa are two weeks out from the first of four Tests against the All Blacks, and Buenos Aires offered a proper examination rather than a comfortable tune-up.
That is exactly what they got. The Pumas tore into the Bok carriers, the visitors stumbled at times, and yet the champions still found a way. Pollard helped close it out, the bench changed the tone, and the scoreboard told the story at the final whistle.
“In many ways, coach Rassie Erasmus could not have asked for a better challenge.”
