Fullback Aphelele Fassi and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit each scored two tries as South Africa convincingly won the 2024 Rugby Championship, defeating Argentina 48-7 at Mbombela Stadium.
Cheslin Kolbe, hooker Malcolm Marx, and center Jesse Kriel also contributed tries, showcasing South Africa’s strength in the scrum and their dynamic backline play, which was a highlight of their season.
Argentina managed just one try from flyhalf Tomas Albornoz but faced setbacks with yellow cards issued to wings Mateo Carreras and Santiago Carreras, along with a 20-minute red card for flanker Pablo Matera, indicating a loss of discipline under pressure.
A notable milestone was achieved by lock Eben Etzebeth, who made his 128th appearance to become the most capped Springbok, surpassing Victor Matfield. The world champions finished the tournament with 24 points, eight ahead of New Zealand.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi expressed pride in his team, highlighting their resilience and his admiration for teammate Etzebeth.
The Springboks opted for Manie Libbok at flyhalf but assigned kicking duties to scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, indicating a strategy focused on attacking play. Libbok, who had a disappointing kick last week, excelled in directing the Springboks’ backline which resulted in seven tries.
South Africa quickly established dominance, scoring two early tries to quell any nerves. Fassi was first to score with a powerful run, followed by Du Toit, leading to a 14-point lead within minutes. Argentina responded with Albornoz’s try, but South Africa maintained control, with Fassi securing a second try and Kolbe adding another before halftime, making the score 27-7.
The second half saw Argentina’s Matera sent off for a dangerous play, and the Springboks capitalized on their numerical advantage, adding three more tries from Marx, Du Toit, and Kriel to secure their first Southern Hemisphere title since 2019, marking their fifth overall.
Argentina’s captain, Julian Montoya, conceded that South Africa was the superior team in this encounter, stating they needed to improve their performance.