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Mendoza - Argentina and the Springboks have played to a scrappy 16-all draw in their Rugby Championship Test here on Saturday.
Argentina, who had lost their previous 14 matches against South Africa, ran up a 13-3 half-time lead after a try by centre Santiago Fernandez which was converted by fullback Martin Rodriguez.
But Argentina will be left to rue the kick out of defence by Fernandez that was charged down by his opposite number Frans Steyn, who chased the ball and scored the Springboks' sole try 15 minutes from time.
Rodriguez and South African flyhalf Morné Steyn kicked three penalties and one conversion apiece.
Argentina drew first blood after 12 minutes with Rodriguez's first penalty.
The Pumas' try followed soon after when several phases of attacks ended when they broke through the middle of the Springboks' defence.
Prop Juan Figallo handed the final telling pass to Fernandez who ran in under the posts with Rodriguez converting.
Warming to their task, Argentina had already scored more points in the first quarter than they did in their 27-6 defeat by South Africa on their tournament debut in Cape Town a week earlier.
South Africa forced their way back into the game and pushed the Pumas back downfield but crashed into stern Argentine defending.
A series of attacks were held up short of the 22 but the visitors won two penalties in quick succesion with flyhalf Steyn converting the second for their first points.
A second successful penalty by Rodriguez sent the Pumas in at half-time 13-3 ahead.
After an exchange of three penalties, one for Rodriguez and two more for Steyn, South Africa scored their try.
Morné Steyn had a chance to win the match for South Africa, which would have meant an undeserved defeat for Argentina, but his penalty from the right went wide of the left upright five minutes from time.
Scorers:
Argentina:
Try: Santiago Fernandez.
Conversion: Martin Rodriguez.
Penalties: Rodriguez (3)
South Africa:
Try: Francois Steyn.
Conversion: Morné Steyn.
Penalties: Morné Steyn (3)
Teams:
Argentina:
15 Martin Rodriguez,14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Alvaro Galindo, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Rodrigo Roncero
Substitutes: 16 Bruno Postiglioni, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Leonardo Senatore, 19 Tomás Leonardi, 20 Martín Landajo, 21 Lucas Amorosino, 22 Juan Imhoff
South Africa:
15 Zane Kirchner; 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (captain), 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss), 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Patrick Lambie, 22 JJ Engelbrecht
HAVE YOUR SAY: What did you think of the Springboks’ effort against Argentina on Saturday? Can they achieve long-term success with the game plan they have? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
Argentina, who had lost their previous 14 matches against South Africa, ran up a 13-3 half-time lead after a try by centre Santiago Fernandez which was converted by fullback Martin Rodriguez.
But Argentina will be left to rue the kick out of defence by Fernandez that was charged down by his opposite number Frans Steyn, who chased the ball and scored the Springboks' sole try 15 minutes from time.
Rodriguez and South African flyhalf Morné Steyn kicked three penalties and one conversion apiece.
Argentina drew first blood after 12 minutes with Rodriguez's first penalty.
The Pumas' try followed soon after when several phases of attacks ended when they broke through the middle of the Springboks' defence.
Prop Juan Figallo handed the final telling pass to Fernandez who ran in under the posts with Rodriguez converting.
Warming to their task, Argentina had already scored more points in the first quarter than they did in their 27-6 defeat by South Africa on their tournament debut in Cape Town a week earlier.
South Africa forced their way back into the game and pushed the Pumas back downfield but crashed into stern Argentine defending.
A series of attacks were held up short of the 22 but the visitors won two penalties in quick succesion with flyhalf Steyn converting the second for their first points.
A second successful penalty by Rodriguez sent the Pumas in at half-time 13-3 ahead.
After an exchange of three penalties, one for Rodriguez and two more for Steyn, South Africa scored their try.
Morné Steyn had a chance to win the match for South Africa, which would have meant an undeserved defeat for Argentina, but his penalty from the right went wide of the left upright five minutes from time.
Scorers:
Argentina:
Try: Santiago Fernandez.
Conversion: Martin Rodriguez.
Penalties: Rodriguez (3)
South Africa:
Try: Francois Steyn.
Conversion: Morné Steyn.
Penalties: Morné Steyn (3)
Teams:
Argentina:
15 Martin Rodriguez,14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Alvaro Galindo, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Rodrigo Roncero
Substitutes: 16 Bruno Postiglioni, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Leonardo Senatore, 19 Tomás Leonardi, 20 Martín Landajo, 21 Lucas Amorosino, 22 Juan Imhoff
South Africa:
15 Zane Kirchner; 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (captain), 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss), 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Patrick Lambie, 22 JJ Engelbrecht
HAVE YOUR SAY: What did you think of the Springboks’ effort against Argentina on Saturday? Can they achieve long-term success with the game plan they have? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
