South Africa dominated Argentina (29-10) on Saturday in Port Elizabeth on the second day of the Rugby Championship, more powerful and strategically superior, a week after a comfortable first victory for the Springboks against the Pumas (34-12 ).
With two wins in as many matches, South Africa takes the lead in the Rugby Championship, the outcome of which is uncertain after the announcement of the All Blacks' withdrawal, due to the resurgence of the pandemic in the southern hemisphere .
At the Nelson-Mandela stadium, still behind closed doors because of the health situation in South Africa, the Boks were never worried by the Argentines, who nevertheless deprived them of the offensive bonus by registering a test of pride by Pablo Matera 6 minutes after the siren sounded. “
I am very happy with this victory. Obviously, we wanted the offensive bonus, but [...] they defended well and scored the last try,
"tempered Boks captain Siya Kolisi after the match.
It is first by their supremacy in the zones of rucks, the scrums and the balls carried that the Springboks built their victory.
They obtained five penalties in these areas, all converted by their opener Handré Pollard.
Back in the starting XV, the Montpellier player performed a very masterful score, animating the game wonderfully and ideally occupying the field.
"Extremely unruly" Pumas
Conversely, the Pumas have conceded no less than 21 penalties, almost twice as many as the Boks (11), even playing at 14 the last ten minutes of the first act. "
We were extremely unruly," said Argentinian hooker Julian Montoya. Too many penalties conceded, which led to points. We played too much in our half of the field.
The Springboks increased their domination at the start of the second period, when their winger Makazole Mapimpi, leading scorer at the last World Cup, scored the first try of the match (46th).
The second try, which took place in the 52nd minute, perfectly symbolized the strength of the South Africans: after a scratch from Cheslin Kolbe, Pollard, yet on the middle line, found a touch 5 meters from the Argentine try line, then the Boks set up a carried ball that allowed the untenable Malcolm Marx to score. The only downside: the injury of the young substitute scrum half Jaden Hendrikse (21), who scored a try last week for his first cape.
