Written by: Floyd Nkanyane
Boks Prove Their Mettle in Hard-Fought Victory Over Argentina
In the grey London skies above Twickenham, South African hearts soared with pride as the Springboks etched their names in rugby history once more. With a hard-fought 29-27 victory over Argentina, our beloved Boks secured their first-ever back-to-back Rugby Championship titles, cementing their status as the world’s premier rugby nation.
A Legacy of Champions
This wasn’t just another trophy, no. It was a testament to the indomitable spirit that defines South African rugby. Under the inspirational leadership of captain Siya Kolisi, who hoisted the Rugby Championship trophy alongside his jubilant teammates, the Springboks have built a dynasty that will be remembered for generations.
The numbers tell the story of unprecedented success: three Rugby Championship titles (2019, 2024, 2025), two World Cups (2019, 2023), a British & Irish Lions series victory (2021), plus Freedom Cups and Mandela Plates. In just six years, this team has become serial winners, proving that South African rugby stands tall on the world stage.
Victory Through Adversity
It may not have been the prettiest performance – even described as “workmanlike” – but it embodied everything great about Springbok rugby: resilience, determination, and an unshakeable will to win.
The Boks faced early adversity when centre Canan Moodie was yellow-carded in just the second minute for a high tackle. Down a man, they watched as Argentina’s Bautista Delguy scored after the Pumas stretched their defence through multiple impressive phases. The world champions found themselves trailing 13-3, but champions never panic.
The Fighting Spirit
True to their nature, the Springboks stuck to their task. Their powerful scrum – a cornerstone of South African rugby – provided the foundation for their comeback. Through a series of dominant scrums and penalties near the Pumas’ line, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach crashed over just before halftime. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s conversion meant the Boks were only three points down at the break.
The second half saw the Green and Gold assert their dominance. Hooker Malcolm Marx, whose work at the breakdown alongside Kwagga Smith was outstanding all match, scored from a rolling maul five minutes after the restart. The Boks’ set-piece superiority was undeniable, especially at scrum time, where they dominated throughout.
Reinach’s second try – a magnificent team effort spanning five phases from a lineout near the Pumas’ line – showcased the best of South African rugby. When Marx powered over for his second try on the hour mark, the Boks led 29-13 with twenty minutes remaining. The title seemed secure.
Champions Know How to Close
The final quarter tested the Springboks’ championship mettle. An intercept try by Delguy off Cheslin Kolbe’s pass and a late score from Rodrigo Isgró made the scoreline closer than the performance suggested. When Santiago Carreras lined up a 75th-minute penalty that could have shifted momentum decisively, tension gripped every South African watching.
The ball struck the post. Crisis averted. Title secured.
This is what champions do – they find a way to win, even when not at their brilliant best. After demolishing the All Blacks 43-10 in Wellington in round four and producing the tournament’s most emphatic result, the Boks knew they just needed four log points against Argentina. They delivered.
The Road to Glory
Going into the final match, New Zealand had beaten Australia earlier in the day with a bonus point, leaving them on 19 log points to South Africa’s 15. But the Boks’ vastly superior points difference meant a victory would secure the championship – and our boys delivered when it mattered most.
Objectively, the Springboks were the strongest team in the tournament. They produced the best moments and the most emphatic performances. While the victory over Argentina was scrappy and error-strewn, it was ultimately effective – four log points earned, title retained, history made.
A Nation’s Pride
The final scoreline read: South Africa 29, Argentina 27. But the real score was written in the record books: back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time in Springbok history.
Tries from Cobus Reinach (2) and Malcolm Marx (2), converted by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who also added a penalty, told the story of a team that refused to be denied. The scrum dominated. The breakdown was won. The defence, though tested, held when it mattered most.
This Springbok team has proven time and again that they know how to win silverware. They are composed under pressure, relentless in pursuit of excellence, and unified in their quest to make South Africa proud.
Looking Ahead
As Siya Kolisi lifted that trophy at Twickenham, with the green and gold surrounding him, every South African could feel the pride swelling in their hearts. This is our team. These are our champions. And they’ve just made history.
The gap between the top rugby nations may be narrow, but when it matters most, the Springboks know how to get the job done. It may not always be pretty, but victory is victory – and in South African rugby, winning is what we do best.
Final Score: South Africa 29-27 Argentina
Scorers:
South Africa – Tries: Cobus Reinach (2), Malcolm Marx (2). Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalty: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Argentina – Tries: Bautista Delguy (2), Rodrigo Isgró. Conversions: Santiago Carreras (3). Penalties: Carreras (2)
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