Boks survive ultimate Argentina examination, scramble to victory in Test for ages

In easily the biggest test they have had this year, the Springboks emerged 17-10 winners against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

It was an absolute war.

From the first whistle until the last, the hosts were up for this, playing with incredible speed, intensity and physicality.

They had a chance to score a potentially equalising try with the final play of the game, 14 phases in, but it was not to be as the Boks held on with all they had.

Argentina’s defence and aerial ability were particularly impressive and the Boks found little joy in any departments – other than the scrum in the final 20 minutes – as they were pushed to their absolute limits.

Everything the Boks threw at them, Argentina had an answer for.

The scores were locked at 10-10 at half time, and the Boks’ second-half try was the only score in those 40 minutes.

It was a Test for the ages, and nobody will feel worse than Argentina substitute Matias Moroni, who knocked the ball on with the try line in front of him with time up.

For the Boks, there will be real concern over captain Siya Kolisi, who limped off midway through the first half with an injury that immediately looked serious.

Scorers:

Argentina 10 (10)

Try: Benjamin Grondona

Conversion: Santiago Carreras

Penalty: Carreras

South Africa 17 (10)

Tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Cameron Hanekom

Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handre Pollard

Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu