Fullback Aphelele Fassi and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit each scored two tries as South Africa triumphed over Argentina with a decisive 48-7 victory, securing the 2024 Rugby Championship at a vibrant Mbombela Stadium.
In addition to Fassi and Du Toit’s scores, wing Cheslin Kolbe, hooker Malcolm Marx, and center Jesse Kriel also contributed tries, showcasing South Africa’s dominance in both scrum play and backline creativity that has been a highlight this season.
Argentina managed to score only once, with flyhalf Tomas Albornoz crossing the line, but their situation was worsened by yellow cards issued to wing Mateo Carreras and fullback Santiago Carreras, along with a 20-minute red card for flanker Pablo Matera, leading to further disciplinary issues under pressure.
Eben Etzebeth made history by earning his 128th cap, surpassing Victor Matfield as the most-capped Springbok, helping his team finish with 24 points in the league, eight ahead of New Zealand.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi expressed his pride in the team’s resilience after the match. He also paid tribute to Etzebeth for his leadership and support throughout their journey.
Manie Libbok started at flyhalf but passed kicking duties to scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, indicating a strategy focused on running play. Libbok, keen to make an impact after a narrow loss to Argentina the previous week, effectively directed South Africa’s backline, leading to the scoring of seven tries.
South Africa quickly established dominance, scoring two early tries that eased any pre-match anxieties. Fassi was the first to score after a well-executed backline play, followed shortly by Du Toit reaching over a ruck to extend the lead to 14-0 within minutes.
Argentina responded with Albornoz’s try, created by quick passing that exposed the Springboks’ defense. However, the visitors quickly lost a player to a yellow card when Mateo Carreras impeded Fassi in midair.
Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, South Africa saw Fassi add another try before Kolbe scored a spectacular try just before halftime, making the score 27-7.
The second half saw Argentina’s Matera shown a red card for a dangerous clear-out, further tipping the scales as the Springboks capitalized with additional tries from Marx, Du Toit, and Kriel, clinching their first Southern Hemisphere title since 2019 and their fifth overall.
Argentina’s captain, Julian Montoya, acknowledged South Africa’s superior performance, realizing that his team fell short of the necessary standards.