In a dramatic finish at Twickenham, the Springboks pulled off a gutsy 29-27 victory over Argentina to retain their Rugby Championship title. The win marks the first time South Africa have successfully defended the Championship, and they did so by the narrowest of margins, edging out New Zealand on points difference after both teams finished the tournament on 19 points.
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Boks Rally to Retain Title
The final day was filled with stakes. Earlier, New Zealand had secured a convincing win over Australia, putting the pressure on South Africa to deliver. South Africa came into the match trailing early, Argentina built momentum and led 13-3 in the first half. But the Springboks leaned on their pack, especially their scrum, and shifted the game in the second half with pivotal tries from Malcolm Marx and Cobus Reinach. Reinach ultimately was named Man of the Match for his instrumental contribution.
Argentina mounted a late fightback with tries by Bautista Delguy and Rodrigo Isgro, but were unable to complete the comeback. Despite the drama, the Springboks’ earlier bonus-point wins, particularly the emphatic 67-30 victory over Argentina in Durban, proved decisive in giving them the edge in point differential.
Mentality of Champions
The victory wasn’t just about performance; it was also a mental statement. Captain Siya Kolisi credited coach Rassie Erasmus for instilling in the squad a resilient, winning mindset. Kolisi emphasised that the Springboks often find a “second gear” in tough games, a trait that was on full display in London.
Erasmus himself was both proud and self-critical. While satisfied with the outcome, he acknowledged that the performance was not perfect and expressed clear intent to refine areas of weakness before the next campaign.
