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5 talking points: Springboks v Argentina

Cape Town - Sport24's Herman Mostert highlights FIVE talking points following South Africa's 23-18 win over Argentina at Loftus Versfeld:

1. Nkosi steals the show

Bok winger S'bu Nkosi's two tries proved the difference between the two sides.

The Sharks flyer's second try, in particular, caught the eye where he stepped the first Pumas defender, ran over the second, before evading the third and then leaping over a fourth to score.

Nkosi's performance was so good that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted afterwards he had played himself into the 31-man World Cup squad.

2. Boks aided by obstruction call

The Pumas thought they had taken the lead with three minutes left when debutant Lucas Mensa touched down, but the try was disallowed for earlier obstruction by fellow centre Jeronimo de la Fuente.

Replays showed Bok prop Vincent Koch was obstructed but I'm still pondering whether he would actually have caught the Pumas player...

3. Kolisi passes fitness test

Siya Kolisi made his Test return from a knee injury but was not handed the captain's armband as Erasmus planned on taking him off in the first half.

However, Kolisi ended up playing for 52 minutes, having told the Bok coach at half-time that he was feeling in tip-top shape.

Kolisi is now expected to lead the Boks at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

4. Reinach should still head for Japan

It's fair to say that Bok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach did not cover himself in glory on Saturday.

The interception of his risky, long pass near the halfway line on the stroke half-time, for a Pumas gift try, was a costly error.

Some pundits have suggested that the Boks could go into the World Cup with only two specialist scrumhalves - Faf de Klerk and Herschel Jantjies - with utility back Cheslin Kolbe as a possible back-up.

However, a local weekend newspaper report suggested the Boks will not risk taking only two specialist scrumhalves to the showpiece event which means Reinach should still go.

He was desperately unlucky to be overlooked for Rudy Paige in 2015.

5. Sloppy, but a win nonetheless

It was not the best performance by a make-shift Springbok team but fans should remember the old adage that winning ugly is better than losing.

Both sides made wholesale changes from the previous week and it's therefore no surprise that we saw a sloppy, stop-start encounter at Loftus Versfeld.

But the Boks are creating a winning habit and will take confidence into the World Cup.

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