Nelspruit has often proven to be a tough venue for the Springboks when hosting visiting teams at the Mbombela Stadium.
It was no different on Saturday when the Boks faced Argentina in their opening match of the Rugby Championship.
Argentina came with the aim of getting their campaign off to a winning start‚ targeting two Rugby Championship victories‚ with the Boks being the first scalp on their to-do list.
It was almost mission accomplished for Los Pumas‚ who were in the lead until the 73rd minute when the Boks levelled the scores.
With only two minutes remaining on the clock‚ No8 Warren Whiteley brought a sigh of relief to the stadium when he scored the winning try for the Boks to secure a 30-23 victory.
The Boks had the better start while a nervy Argentina side tried to compose themselves.
Following a missed penalty by Elton Jantjies in the sixth minute‚ the home side earned the lead in the seventh minute through a try from winger Ruan Combrinck‚ who dotted down for his second try in three tests.
The only other first-half points for the Boks came through a penalty from Jantjies.
After trailing‚ Los Pumas earned the lead for the first time in the 25th minute when centre Matias Orlando scored the opening try for the visitors.
Argentina enjoyed a 10-13 lead at the break‚ despite the visitors having played for 10 minutes with one man down after winger Manuel Montero was given a yellow card for a tip-tackle on Damian de Allende.
Instead it was the Boks who were off-colour even with their one-man advantage. The home side conceded 10 points and allowed the Argentines to take the lead while Montero sat in the sin-bin.
The Boks began the second half with Bryan Habana being sent to the sin-bin‚ while Argentina built up a lead which‚ at one stage‚ saw them being 13-23 ahead.
Just like the courage they showed against Ireland in the second test during the mid-year series‚ the home team forged a remarkable comeback to clinch the victory.
Coach Allister Coetzee will have some concerns with some of the team’s decision-making as the side heads to Argentina next week‚ where they will square up for the return-leg in Salta.
Scorers
SA
Tries: Ruan Combrinck‚ Johan Goosen‚ Warren Whiteley
Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3)
Penalties: Jantjies (3)
Argentina
Tries: Matias Orlando‚ Santiago Cordero
Conversions: Nicolas Sanchez (2)
Penalties: Sanchez (3)
Tiso Black Star Group Digital/Tiso Black Star Group Sport
Boks come from behind to beat Los Pumas
It was no different on Saturday when the Boks faced Argentina in their opening match of the Rugby Championship.
Argentina came with the aim of getting their campaign off to a winning start‚ targeting two Rugby Championship victories‚ with the Boks being the first scalp on their to-do list.
It was almost mission accomplished for Los Pumas‚ who were in the lead until the 73rd minute when the Boks levelled the scores.
With only two minutes remaining on the clock‚ No8 Warren Whiteley brought a sigh of relief to the stadium when he scored the winning try for the Boks to secure a 30-23 victory.
The Boks had the better start while a nervy Argentina side tried to compose themselves.
Following a missed penalty by Elton Jantjies in the sixth minute‚ the home side earned the lead in the seventh minute through a try from winger Ruan Combrinck‚ who dotted down for his second try in three tests.
The only other first-half points for the Boks came through a penalty from Jantjies.
After trailing‚ Los Pumas earned the lead for the first time in the 25th minute when centre Matias Orlando scored the opening try for the visitors.
Argentina enjoyed a 10-13 lead at the break‚ despite the visitors having played for 10 minutes with one man down after winger Manuel Montero was given a yellow card for a tip-tackle on Damian de Allende.
Instead it was the Boks who were off-colour even with their one-man advantage. The home side conceded 10 points and allowed the Argentines to take the lead while Montero sat in the sin-bin.
The Boks began the second half with Bryan Habana being sent to the sin-bin‚ while Argentina built up a lead which‚ at one stage‚ saw them being 13-23 ahead.
Just like the courage they showed against Ireland in the second test during the mid-year series‚ the home team forged a remarkable comeback to clinch the victory.
Coach Allister Coetzee will have some concerns with some of the team’s decision-making as the side heads to Argentina next week‚ where they will square up for the return-leg in Salta.
Scorers
SA
Tries: Ruan Combrinck‚ Johan Goosen‚ Warren Whiteley
Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3)
Penalties: Jantjies (3)
Argentina
Tries: Matias Orlando‚ Santiago Cordero
Conversions: Nicolas Sanchez (2)
Penalties: Sanchez (3)
Tiso Black Star Group Digital/Tiso Black Star Group Sport
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