SA
No.Name
15Johan Goosen, FB
T
14Ruan Combrinck, W
T
13Lionel Mapoe, C
12Damian de Allende, C
11Bryan Habana, W
10Elton Jantjies, FH
3
3
9Faf de Klerk, SH
1Tendai Mtawarira, P
2Adriaan Strauss, H
3Julian Redelinghuys, P
4Eben Etzebeth, L
5Lood de Jager, L
6Francois Louw, FL
7Oupa Mohoje, FL
8Warren Whiteley, N8
T
Replacements
16Bongi Mbonambi, R
17Steven Kitshoff, R
18Vincent Koch, R
19Pieter-Steph du Toit, R
20Jaco Kriel, R
21Rudy Paige, R
22Juan de Jongh, R
23Jesse Kriel, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Mbombela Stadium
4:05 PM, August 20, 2016
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'30-23 End of second half
80'Try hero Whitely almost turned villain as his attempted clearance spooned off his boot and into the South African 22. He managed to regather and get the ball off the park eventually, though, to claim the victory.

Argentina will wonder how exactly they conspired to lose this match.
80'Jantjies adds an impressive conversion and South Africa have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Just.
80'Substitute on - Enrique Pieretto , Argentina
80'Player substituted - Ramiro Herrera , Argentina
80'30-23 Conversion - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
79'28-23 Try - Warren Whiteley , South Africa
78'TRY!! South Africa have done it! Warren Whiteley dives over in the left corner after the Springboks had punched holes in the tired Argentine defence.

Eben Etzebeth and Habana crucial to that move.
77'Penalty to the Springboks. Combrinck is sauntering over and will fire down towards the Pumas try line.
76'Goosen attempts a very long-range penalty, but it has neither the legs nor the direction.
75'Argentina will wonder how they let their 10-point lead slip so quickly, and there has been a distinct lack of composure. Coincidence that Creevy has departed?
73'23-23 Penalty goal - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
73'Substitute on - Juan de Jongh , South Africa
73'Player substituted - Damian de Allende , South Africa
72'Penalty South Africa. A comedy of errors from both sides ends with Jantjies being given the chance to level the scores thanks to an excellent ankle tap from Pieter-Steph du Toit on Hernandez.

Jantjies makes no mistake and we're level again with seven minutes left.
72'De Klerk ended up in a heap on the floor, but Sanchez appeared to make a genuine attempt to tackle rather than flip the South African

The officials agree and Jantjies is allowed to bring the hosts within three points again.
72'Player substituted - Lionel Mapoe , South Africa
72'Substitute on - Jesse Kriel , South Africa
72'20-23 Conversion - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
71'TRY!! De Klerk does brilliantly again, picking up from the scrum before sucking the Argentine defence in and switching play to Goosen who scampers over.

Sanchez could be in trouble for his tackle on the scrum-half too...
71'18-23 Try - Johan Goosen , South Africa
69'This game is far from over, though. De Klerk forces Tomas Cubelli into a mistake and the Springboks have possession in the Pumas half.
69'Substitute on - Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias , Argentina
69'Player substituted - Matias Orlando , Argentina
68'Sanchez converts and South Africa find themselves 10 points down with little under 12 minutes left.
68'13-23 Conversion - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
67'TRY!! Tuculet almost loses the ball, but holds on and turns defence into attack before some lovely hands release Montero

As the ball is recycled Sanchez put a chip over the Springbok defence and Cordero gleefully flops on the ball to score.
67'13-21 Try - Santiago Cordero , Argentina
65'Yes. Yes, he can. The fly-half calmly sends the ball through the posts and the Pumas lead by three once more.
65'13-16 Penalty goal - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
64'The home fans think Lood de Jager has forced a turnover but the hosts have conceded a penalty, due to hands in the ruck.

Can Sanchez do any better this time?
64'Player substituted - Juan Manuel Leguizamon , Argentina
64'Substitute on - Javier Ortega Desio , Argentina
63'Penalty Argentina!

Sanchez fires the ball wide. This is getting tense.
63'Player substituted - Agustin Creevy , Argentina
63'Substitute on - Julian Montoya , Argentina
61'Another powerful shove from the Springboks and although Isa can pick up, they have turned the ball over. But they cannot keep possession and the Pumas will have a lineout throw on halfway.
60'The atmosphere is starting to ratchet up in Nelspruit. Argentina have a scrum in South African territory...
58'De Klerk so focused on tackling Juan Manuel Leguizamon that he knocks the ball on. This has been a bruising game.
56'And he sends it through the uprights. We're level.
56'Substitute on - Guido Petti , Argentina
56'Player substituted - Matias Alemanno , Argentina
56'Substitute on - Tomas Cubelli , Argentina
56'Player substituted - Martin Landajo , Argentina
56'13-13 Penalty goal - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
55'South Africa enjoying a period of possession on halfway but cannot find a way through and Jantjies' attempted chip forward is blocked.

They have a penalty coming though and the fly-half has a chance to level the scores.
54'Substitute on - Pieter-Steph du Toit , South Africa
54'Player substituted - Lood de Jager , South Africa
54'Player substituted - Francois Louw , South Africa
54'Substitute on - Jaco Kriel , South Africa
54'Player substituted - Tendai Mtawarira , South Africa
54'Substitute on - Steven Kitshoff , South Africa
53'Argentina withstand an almighty shove on their own 22 but manage to get the ball out of the scrum and launch an attack. This game is extremely open at the moment.
50'South Africa into the Pumas 22. Having an extra man does not appear to be an advantage in Nelspruit.
49'Suddenly Damian De Hollande and Mapoe find some space and South Africa turn defence into attack. The ball is kicked forward and Combrinck cannot quite win the foot race to it.
48'Isa picks up again at the base of the scrum but is stopped just short and South Africa turn the ball over.
47'Argentina find gaps in the Springbok defence immediately but Isa cannot quite get through. As the Springboks scramble, Jantjies attempts to clear but his kick hits Adriaan Strauss flush in the face. Pumas scrum...
46'Jackson didn't seem to be quite convinced himself when he gave Habana that yellow card...
46'Ouch. De Klerk hoists a box kick looking for the run of Habana, but the winger appears to slip and catches Cordero in the air as the Argentine attempts to gather the ball.

We're going to the TMO...
46'Yellow card - Bryan Habana , South Africa
45'De Klerk spots a gap and takes a quick tap, that is what he's in the side to do. Suddenly it is Argentina who are under pressure as Landajo fields his opposite number's chip ahead.
44'Facuna Isa peels off the base of the Pumas scrum but it is his turn to knock on and Jantjies clears.
42'That said, it was a ferocious chase, as ever, from the Argentinians that has provided them with an encouraging attacking platform.
42'The Springboks butcher good field position as Jantjies fumbles and Landajo boots forward. Goosen then makes a meal of mopping up the danger downfield.
41'10-13 End of first half
40'South Africa win the free kick, though, and de Klerk kicks the ball out. Half time.

A bright start from the hosts, but the Pumas came back into it as the half wore on. Ironically their best rugby was reserved for the period in which they went down to 14 men. That combined with a resolute defence has given them a slender lead. Can the Springboks find an answer in the second half?

Find out in a few minutes.
40'Hernandez fails to find touch with his penalty and the Springboks can launch one last counter.

Jantjies kicks long, but it's too long and the ball bobbles over the dead ball line. Argentina get the scrum, and a chance to launch an attack of their own before the break...
40'10-13 Start of second half
39'Jantjies has the chance to level up the scores...

He hits the right-hand upright, but his luck is out and it bounces clear. Small margins.
37'Argentina able to release some of the pressure as they win a penalty and kick downfield to touch.

But their lineout is far from tidy and they struggle to clear. Montero is then way, way offside as he begins to canter clear. Penalty to South Africa...
35'How costly will that knock-on prove?
34'Jantjies kicks to the corner as South Africa look for maximum reward.

The Pumas initially withstand the Springbok drive from the lineout but de Klerk injects pace and combines with Habana to release Mapo but the centre knocks on as he attempts to ground the ball. No try.
33'Penalty to South Africa!

The Springboks get a drive on at the scrum, and Argentina cannot cope.
32'Julian Redelinghuys looks like he's pulled a muscle. That could well be his game over.
32'Substitute on - Vincent Koch , South Africa
32'Player substituted - Julian Redelinghuys , South Africa
31'South Africa come again though and some quick hands puts Habana away on the left. He cannot quite outrun the Pumas defence though.
30'Wonderful play from Juan Martin Hernandez as he gathers a grubber under the pressure of three chasing Springboks and wriggles out of trouble.
29'The ball had the lega, but falls just the wrong side of the left-hand upright.
29'Goosen has taken his head gear off and will have a kick at goal from just inside the Argentina half.
28'Penalty to South Africa. Martin Landajo plays Habana without the ball.
27'Argentina's play with ball in hand is a joy to watch at times, and has clicked into gear since they went down to 14 men. Creevy finds Pablo Matera before Santiago Cordero is bundled into touch.
27'Sanchez nails the conversion and the Pumas lead by three.
27'10-13 Conversion - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
25'TRY!! Who is it that has the extra man..?

Fullback Joaquin Tuculet leads a breakaway that stretches the Springbok defence this way then that, before Matias Orlando dives over in the corner.
25'10-11 Try - Matias Orlando , Argentina
24'MY WORD! Not sure I have ever seen that before... Sanchez's effort strikes the right-hand post, drops onto the crossbar and then flops over.

Pumas within four.
24'10-6 Penalty goal - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
23'South Africa immediately look to put pace on the ball to force an overlap, but they run into a stout defence.

Argentina eventually win a penalty as Lionel Mapoe is caught offside.
22'Argentina down to 14 men for 10 minutes as Jackson shows Montero a yellow card.

To say that was unnecessary would be an understatement.
22'Yellow card - Manuel Montero , Argentina
21'Penalty to Argentina but the TMO is looking at a high tackle on De Klerk and a lifting tackle by Manuel Montero.
20'Excellent cover from De Klerk to snuff out another testing kick from the Springboks.
19'Let off for the Springboks. A really sloppy passage of play gifts Argentina the ball but they cannot quite create the space to score and the hosts survive.

Signs are that the Pumas are growing into this.
18'Again, a much better strike and South Africa lead 10-7.
18'10-3 Penalty goal - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
17'Creevy pinged for not rolling away -- the Pumas captain has not had the best starts to his 50th Test -- and Jantjies has a chance to restore the Springboks' seven point lead.
16'Argentina have some reward for their possession as Sanchez fires a penalty over from right in front of the posts.
16'7-3 Penalty goal - Nicolas Sanchez , Argentina
14'The Pumas win possession but De Klerk and South Africa force a turnover.

The scrum-half is one of the smallest players on the pitch but he is enjoying the physical battle here.
13'De Klerk well offside, and Argentina have another penalty. Sanchez again kicks to touch.
12'Argentina enjoying a spell on front foot, but skipper Creevy loses possession and their momentum is checked.

The Pumas manage to retain the ball though, and eventually win a penalty that is kicked towards the Springbok 22.
9'His found his kicking boots now. Jantjies fires a difficult conversion over and South Africa are seven points to the good.
9'7-0 Conversion - Elton Jantjies , South Africa
7'TRY South Africa!!

That is what the fly-half is in the team for, though! Jantjies glides through the Pumas defence, recycled and Johan Goosen times his pass for Combrinck to power over in the right corner.
7'5-0 Try - Ruan Combrinck , South Africa
6'That is pretty ugly.

Jantjies drags his effort wide of the post. That never really had a chance.
5'Penalty South Africa!

The Springboks put some pace into their attack and scrum-half Faf de Klerk forces a penalty, in a very kickable position.

Pablo Montero well offside as he tried to clear de Klerk out of the way.
4'First attack for the Springboks as they win clean ball from the lineout.

A lovely reverse pass from Jantjies almost frees Ruan Combrinck. South Africa keep ball in hand before Jantjies kicks for Bryan Habana to chase. Another lineout, South Africa.
3'South Africa turn the screw and win the penalty.

Elton Jantjies fires the ball downfield and into touch.
1'Referee Glen Jackson blows his whistle and we are underway. Francois Louw tries to offload in the tackle but loses the ball, and Pumas captain Agustin Creevy knocks on as he attempts to gather.

Scrum to South Africa...
1'The Springboks come into this game under a slight cloud, having struggled in their summer series against Ireland. They have lost several key players since last season, and Argentina will believe they can get a result. The Pumas recorded their first ever victory against South Africa in Durban last August.
1'Hello and welcome to live coverage of South Africa's opening Rugby Championship match against Argentina.

Following New Zealand's dominant win over Australia, both sides will be keen to show they have what it takes to challenge the All Blacks this year.

Ahead of kick off in Nelspruit, read our preview here.
1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby Championship 2016 News