Argentina stun S Africa in 29-28 win to keep title hopes alive

:Flyhalf Tomas Albornoz kicked a penalty 11 minutes from the end to hand Argentina a thrilling 29-28 victory over South Africa and keep their hopes of winning the Rugby Championship alive in a blisteringly hot Santiago del Estero on Saturday.

The world champion Springboks, who had the chance to win the game with a late penalty from flyhalf Manie Libbok that was missed, lead the table with 19 points from second-placed Argentina on 14 points ahead of a final meeting between the sides in Nelspruit next Saturday where the title will be decided.

Argentina scored four tries through wing Mateo Carreras, flanker Pablo Matera, prop Joel Sclavi and Albornoz as they took advantage of a first-half yellow card for visiting wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and turned a 17-0 deficit into a 26-22 halftime lead.

South Africa, who had made 10 changes to their side after resting several regulars, scored tries via fullback Aphelele Fassi, centre Jesse Kriel and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach as they lost for the first time in this year’s championship.

South Africa will have to wait another week to claim a fifth Southern Hemisphere crown and need a point from the meeting in Nelspruit to be sure, though Argentina have shown it is far from a foregone conclusion.

"Congratulations to Argentina, they stuck at it and did not go away," stand-in South Africa captain Salmaan Moerat said. "They put us under a lot of pressure but we played good rugby for much of the game.

"We need to continue applying pressure. There were times in the game when we let go of it. That will be the big work-on for us going into next week."

The Springboks demolished Argentina in the first scrum and from the resulting attacking line-out, a simple backline move opened a hole in the home defence and