Last-gasp Jantjies drop leads BaaBaas to comeback win

London - Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies dropped a goal late in the match to add the final polish to a remarkable comeback by the Barbarians in beating Argentina 38-35 at Twickenham on Saturday.

The match provided early seasonal pantomime knockabout fare in typically crowd-pleasing Barbarians style.

Their last foray at RFU headquarters had added to England and Eddie Jones's post Six Nations depression when a Chris Ashton hat-trick contributed to a 63-45 humbling.

The Barbarians' invitational team has been playing national sides on a regular basis since 1948.

This time there was a pre-ponderance of South Africans in the line-up - which was coached by Springboks handler Rassie Erasmus - and for a while the Barbarians looked to be heading for heavy defeat.

Tries by Matias Orlando, Ramiro Moyano, captain Pablo Matera and Sebastian Cancelliere saw them open up a 28-7 lead - former Pumas great Juan Manuel Leguizamon touching down for the BaaBaas.

A penalty try and a score from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi reduced the deficit to 28-21.

Julian Montoya scored for Argentina, but tries from South African duo Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager and Jantjies' late kick sealed a thrilling win.

"It's a massive privilege representing this historic club," said man-of-the-match De Jager.

"The guys just went out there and put everything on the line and it's good to get a win.

"One thing that's always guaranteed from a BaaBaas side is team spirit."

For Matera and his players it was a disappointing way to end their Northern hemisphere tour which yielded little in the way of results - they lost to Six Nations champions Ireland, France and Scotland - but fatigue would have played a role coming off the Rugby Championship.

"This is not the way we wanted to end the tour," said Matera, who head coach Mario Ledesma appointed skipper for the tour.

"The result is not what we expected but it was a good year for us if you see it in general (they recorded wins over Australia and South Africa in The Rugby Championship).

"We are growing a lot as a team and we are on a good path," added the 25-year-old backrow forward.

The Barbarians were taking on Argentina for the third time in their 128-year history. 

Los Pumas were beaten 34-22 in Cardiff in 1990 but won the 2015 rematch 49-31.

Scorers:

Barbarians

Tries: Juan Manuel Leguizamon, penalty try, Siya Kolisi, Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager

Conversions: Handre Pollard (3), Elton Jantjies

Drop goal: Jantjies

Argentina

Tries: Matias Orlando, Ramiro Moyano, Pablo Matera, Sebastian Cancelliere, Julian Montoya

Conversions: Joaquin Diaz Bonilla (5)

Teams:

Barbarians  

15 Jack Debreczeni (Chiefs), 14 Tommaso Benvenuti (Benetton & Italy), 13 Tom English (Rebels & Australia), 12 Damian de Allende (Stormers & South Africa), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions & South Africa), 10 Handre Pollard (Bulls & South Africa), 9 Leon Fukofuka (Auckland & Tonga), 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Jaguares & Argentina), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers & South Africa), 6 Siya Kolisi (Stormers & South Africa), 5 Lood de Jager (Bulls & South Africa), 4 Luke Jones (Bordeaux Begles & Australia), 3 Trevor Nyakane (Bulls & South Africa), 2 Schalk Brits (South Africa), 1 Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders & New Zealand, captain)

Substitutes: 16 Steven Kitshoff (Stormers & South Africa), 17 Malcolm Marx (Lions & South Africa), 18 Anton Peikrishvili (Cardiff Blues & Georgia), 19 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers & South Africa), 20 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), 21 Frank Lomani (Rebels & Fiji), 22 Jesse Kriel (Bulls & South Africa), 23 Elton Jantjies (Lions & South Africa)

Argentina

15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Julian Montoya, 1  Juan Pablo Zeiss.

Substitutes: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Tomas Lavanini, 20 Santiago Grondova, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 23 Santiago Carreras

DROP GOAL!

DROP GOAL!

DROP GOAL!@jantjies_elton has done it!

He's only gone & done it with seconds remaining ????????

Hold on boys, hold on!!

38-35 (80) #Baabaas #rugby #rugbyunited #KillikCup ??

— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) December 1, 2018

That. Was. Awesome. ??#Baabaas #rugby #rugbyunited #KillikCup ?? pic.twitter.com/Z41ZwWF8Hl

— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) December 1, 2018