Star Metro - South Africa win after surviving late Argentina surge

Pumas substitute wing Matias Moroni sobbed as the final whistle blew after he knocked on a pass with the tryline at his mercy.

After poor recent form by Argentina, losing at home to Scotland and England in the Nations Championship, they showed vast improvement against the record four-time world champions.

Displaying commitment and physicality, they led 10-3 for most of the first half at a packed Estadio Jose Amalfitani, which ended with the teams level at 10 points each.

The Springboks dominated the second half, but 63 minutes had elapsed before the vital breakthrough came from outstanding No. 8 Cameron Hanekom.

South Africa won a scrum five metres from the Argentine tryline and Hanekom barged over for a try that Handre Pollard converted.

A nervous finish for South Africa saw Argentina force a 50-22 line-out, then a tap-and-go penalty, which ended sadly for Moroni.

Argentina, lacking unavailable captain and hooker Julian Montoya and suspended fly-half Tomas Albornoz, went ahead on three minutes when playmaker Santiago Carreras slotted a penalty.

Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, one of several Springboks making their first appearances of the season after injuries, levelled soon after from a close-range penalty.

Flanker Benjamin Grondona then received the ball after a maul, powered his way to the tryline and Carreras converted.

The world champions levelled on the stroke of half-time when wing Edwill van der Merwe showed superb pace to dart along the touchline then touch down between the posts.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted and South Africa left the field for the break relieved to be level after failing to sparkle in a scrappy first half.

Carreras struck the post from a second-half penalty, then Andre Esterhuizen was held up over the tryline before Hanekom struck.

Both sides were preparing for home series, starting this month. South Africa play four Tests against New Zealand and Argentina two against Australia.

S.Belanger--SMC