2024-09-29 03:01:00
It was not just another game, for either team, and that was clear. For South Africa it was the great revenge and they called it “the battle of Mbombela” during the week because it had a special flavor. It was clear that the blow they received against Los Pumas at the Madre de Ciudades Stadium in Santiago del Estero when they were defeated 29 to 28 and postponing obtaining the title could not remain that way. That’s why everyone took it very seriously: from Rassie Erasmus, who put his best team on the field with 10 changes from the defeat, to his own players, who wanted to avenge the defeat suffered the previous week in any way possible.
The Pumas also understood that it was “the game.” First, because they reached the final date of the tournament with the intact and unique chance of winning the title for the first time – they had to beat with a bonus and by more than seven points against a rival who was no less than the two-time world champion – but they also knew that they had achieved their best start to the cycle with Contepomi and that for the first time they had beaten the three powers of the Southern Hemisphere.
And in that way, both of them took to the field in Nelspruit, at noon in Argentina, with a unique expectation.
South African rule
Libbok leaves, ball received by Isgró and that’s how South Africa began going deep with Los Pumas defending as best they could. In two minutes the locals pressed with everything and Contepomi’s team only resorted to defending, even with penalties, to hold on as long as they could. They went to the scrum and there again The Pumas defended, again and again, a superior team in that aspect; until at 7 minutes came Fassi’s first South African conquest and Jaden Hendrikse’s conversion for the partial 7-0.
South Africa continued the same, being a storm and once again violated the Argentine defense that did what it could, but it was impossible to stop the green tide. Du Toit supported and again Hendrikse converted before the quarter of an hour to make it 14 to 0.
Los Pumas reacted and with a great collective play, Grondona appeared after a line to enable Albornoz from Tucuman who went straight to the discount after circumventing the marks. His own conversion was good and Argentina got closer (14-7). But after that play, referee O’Keefe awarded Grondona a dubious penalty, to separate the closeness of Los Pumas. Jaden Hendrikse made it 17-7 at 21 minutes. And in the next play, Chocobares had to be injured due to an involuntary hit by Fassi, and in the next kick charged by Santiago Carreras, Mateo Carreras arrived just, but with a clear violation. The yellow card for the scorer from Tucumán left Los Pumas with one less under pressure from South Africa who were going to look for a greater difference.
The Erasmus team took advantage of that extra player and despite the tackles of Los Pumas that doubled in defense, a new conquest came from Fassi after a great play to make it 22 to 7. The pressure from South Africa did not stop, the clashes were tremendous. Argentina had to make two new changes, but they could not stop a new South African try on the right wing through Kolbe to close the quarter with a clear advantage for the two-time world champion by 27 to 7.
A fair winner
It was a carbon copy at the start of the first half. South Africa played in the Argentine field and pressed well away from their field in search of expanding the score. The scrum and the line worked perfectly and on the Argentine side, fatigue began to take its toll on the national team, which despite that was banking.
The minutes passed and the 0 to 0 in the second half remained unchanged. A card for Pablo Matera for a late tackle that was first yellow and then ended with expulsion when it was confirmed that there was no mitigating factor left Contepomi’s team with one less until the end. Discipline, something that the Argentine team had improved in this tournament, could not be maintained on this final date.
There were fifteen minutes left and the match was still very tough with South Africa trying to increase the result, while Los Pumas, with one less, defended as best they could. At 28, a new infraction by Argentina left them with one less player – Santiago Carreras – and there South Africa took advantage and with Marx reached the try. Pollard’s conversion made it 34 to 7. Four minutes later the Erasmus team gave their support again; this time with du Toit after moving the ball out. Pollard again hit the woodwork and made it 41-7.
The finishing touch came with Kriel’s try to close the result 48 to 7 after Pollard’s goal to put an end to the match and make it clear why South Africa is the best team in the World and once again champion of the Rugby Championship.
For Los Pumas, the best performance in this tournament will remain, and having beaten the three powers of the Southern Hemisphere. We will have to continue working for what is coming. It is clear that there is plenty of material.
SYNTHESIS
48 SOUTH AFRICA: 1. Ox Nche, 2. Mbonambi, 3. Malherbe, 4. Etzebeth, 5. Nortje, 6. Kolisi, 7 . Steph du Toit, 8. Wiese, 9. Hendrikse, 10. Libbok, 11. Arendse, 12. De Allende, 13. Kriel, 14. Kolbe, 15. Fassi. E: R. Erasmus.
7 THE PUMAS: 1.Gallo, 2. Montoya, 3. Sclavi, 4. Rubiolo, 5. Lavanini, 6. González, 7. Grondona, 8. Oviedo, 9. García, 10. Albornoz, 11. Carreras, 12. Chocobars, 13. Moroni, 14. isgró, 15. Races. E: Felipe Contepomi.
Estadio: Mbombela Stadium (Nelspruit). Arbitrator: Ben O’Keefe (New Zealand).
First time: 7 and 13 minutes, tries by Fassi and du Toit, converted by Hendrikse (S); 19 tries by Albornoz converted by himself (A); 21, Hendrikse penalty (S); 32 and 37 tries from Fassi and Kolbe (S). Changes: 25m Cinti by Chocobares (A); 36m Mallía by Isgró (A). Partial result: South Africa 27 vs Argentina 7. Second half: 28, 32 and 36 minutes, tries by Marx, Du Toit and Kriel converted by Pollard (S). Changes: 3m Matera by Grondona (A); Koch by Malherbe and Marx by Mbonambi (S); 9m Delgado by Sclavi and Molina by Lavanini (A), 12m, Smith by Wiese and Steenekamp by Nche (S); 16m Ruiz by Montoya y Calles by Gallo (A), 17m Am by de Allende y Reinach by Hendrikse (S); 19m Louw by Kolisi (S); 26m Pollard by Libbok (S), and 28m Bazán Vélez by García (A). Expelled: 15m Matera (A).