Fullback Aphelele Fassi and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit each scored two tries as South Africa secured the 2024 Rugby Championship with a convincing 48-7 win over Argentina at a lively Mbombela Stadium.
The Springboks also saw wing Cheslin Kolbe, hooker Malcolm Marx, and center Jesse Kriel cross the try line, showcasing their dominance in the scrum and an exciting backline strategy they have adopted this season.
Argentina’s lone try came from flyhalf Tomas Albornoz, and their challenge was compounded by yellow cards for wing Mateo Carreras and fullback Santiago Carreras, along with a 20-minute red card for flanker Pablo Matera as they struggled to maintain discipline under pressure.
The match was doubly significant as lock Eben Etzebeth made his 128th appearance, becoming the most capped Springbok, surpassing Victor Matfield’s record. The world champions finished the tournament with 24 points, eight ahead of New Zealand.
“I am lost for words, it has been a journey and a half and to bounce back from last week says a lot about our team,” said Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. He also acknowledged his close friend Eben Etzebeth for his leadership and support.
The Springboks opted for Manie Libbok at flyhalf but allowed scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse to handle kicking duties, indicating their focus on an attacking game. Libbok, who missed a late penalty against Argentina last week, played a crucial role in orchestrating the Springboks’ attacks, resulting in seven tries.
South Africa quickly established control with two early tries. Fassi broke through after a set-piece move, and Du Toit added another from a ruck, bringing the score to 14-0 within the first 15 minutes.
Argentina responded by exploiting openings in the Springboks’ defense, leading to a try from Albornoz. However, Mateo Carreras received the tournament’s first yellow card for an aerial infringement against Fassi.
With a man advantage, South Africa maintained possession and saw Fassi score again after some quick ball movement. Kolbe added a fourth try with a dazzling run, bringing the halftime score to 27-7.
Argentina lost Matera to a red card for a dangerous clear-out early in the second half, while Santiago Carreras was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-down.
Taking advantage of their numerical superiority, South Africa added more tries from Marx, Du Toit, and Kriel, claiming their first Southern Hemisphere title since 2019 and a total of five titles.
“Credit to South Africa, they were the better team today,” said Argentina captain Julian Montoya. “We weren’t good enough, we had to be better.”