MENDOZA, Argentina — Argentina stood on the brink of a remarkable first victory over South Africa in their second Rugby Championship match on Saturday before the Springboks rallied to snatch a 16-16 draw.
The match had looked like ending in a perfect home debut for the Pumas, famously tough opponents on Argentine soil long before their entry into their first annual major tournament.
Argentina dominated a first half in which the Springboks, who had beaten them 27-6 at home last weekend, were given little chance to display the running strengths they have honed in Super 15 rugby.
The factor which made the match all the more frustrating for South Africa was Argentina’s marked improvement on their tournament debut in Cape Town.
“We talked all week about improving how we got out of our half and for a big part of the match we did that well,” Pumas captain Juan Fernandez Lobbe said.
“The key was our attitude, confidence and giving our all.
“We’ve progressed from last week and now we face the biggest challenges we’ll have as players,” he said in a reference to the forthcoming away matches against the All Blacks and the Wallabies.
The Pumas, who had lost their previous 14 matches against South Africa, ran up a 13-3 halftime lead after an early try by centre Santiago Fernandez.
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Several phases of attack ended when they broke through the middle of the Springboks defence and prop Juan Figallo handed the final pass to Fernandez who ran in under the posts.
Fullback Martin Rodriguez converted and finished with a tally of 11 points including three penalties, exactly the same as fly-half Steyn.
Argentina, though, were 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’ try 15 minutes from time.
The error would have cost Argentina more dearly had Steyn slotted over a late penalty from out on the right wing.
