Argentina vs. South Africa: Winners and Losers in 2015 International Match
A trip to Buenos Aires on Saturday saw South Africa defeat Argentina 26-12 to claim revenge over the side that handed them an embarrassing loss in Durban just one week prior.
Bryan Habana and Lwazi Mvovo scored to give Heyneke Meyer's team some relief in their World Cup preparations, while the Pumas were prevented from clinching historic back-to-back wins over the Springboks.
The power balance in the southern hemisphere took another turn in Argentina, with the biggest winners and losers from Saturday's clash discussed in further detail ahead.
Winner: (Partially) Redeemed Springboks
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Finishing the Rugby Championship without a single win to their name was a substantial low for Meyer's side this year, a realisation that maybe they no longer sit among the sport's true hierarchy.
But after dealing with so many injury issues in recent weeks, Saturday's triumph served as a much-needed boost for the Boks, who will take no small comfort in the amount of new faces who impressed en route to the win.
Only seven players remained from the starting XV that lost to Daniel Hourcade's side in Durban last Saturday, representing a big transition in Meyer's tactics that may yet bode well for the World Cup.
Loser: Pumas' Set Piece
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Seldom has there been a more almighty collapse of a team's strength turning into an apparent weakness than Argentina's set piece, which crumbled in Buenos Aires after standing up so well in South Africa.
Hourcade's men won just three of their eight scrum feeds in total and gave up possession in four of their 10 lineout throws, while the Springboks lost just one scrum and one lineout in comparison.
Captain Agustin Creevy will have been scratching his head as to what went wrong, or perhaps it was merely the introductions of props Marcel van der Merwe and Trevor Nyakane that had its effect for the visitors.
The return of Victor Matfield also had its impact for the South African line, and Eben Etzebeth did his share of pinching possession, but Hourcade will be taking his entire setup back to the drawing board following such disappointment.
Winner: Pat Lambie
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Handre Pollard was one of the more consistent fly-halves at the Rugby Championship this year, but even he hardly matched optimum standards to possibly open up some competition at No. 10.
Enter, Pat Lambie.
The Sharks utility is renowned as a versatile weapon for club and country, able to do his duty anywhere across the line apart from on the wing, and a strong showing in Buenos Aires did nothing to hurt his case.
Doing his part from the tee, Lambie added the extras to keep South Africa's scoreboard ticking over and even notched a confident drop goal to collect 16 points in total—a crucial component in the victory.
SuperSport's Brenden Nel tipped the playmaker as a Man of the Match contender after Saturday's display, and Lambie's place at the World Cup looks secure, perhaps even looking for starting honours.
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Loser: Santiago Cordero
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On a day where just about anything that could have gone wrong for Argentina, Santiago Cordero was unable to stop the torrent of pressure that descended upon his wing, giving way to the onslaught.
The 21-year-old has been tipped for a bright Pumas future, but his youth stood all too clearly on Saturday as he attempted five tackles, missing the mark with four.
Of course, Cordero isn't solely to blame for the loss, and there were plenty of other Pumas who looked off the boil defensively, not least of whom was veteran Juan Manuel Leguizamon.
However, a tackling percentage of 20 percent stands out as not just subpar, but frankly worrying coming into a World Cup, with Hourcade facing a dilemma as to whether his emerging starlet can yet be trusted.
Winner: Spread of Play
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Perhaps Cordero's troubles can be understood, though, when Habana was showing the kind of form South Africa fans haven't been able to enjoy for what seems like the longest time.
The Toulon talisman opened the scoring on Saturday just three minutes before fellow winger Mvovo crossed over for a try of his own as the Springboks wings enjoyed some vintage form in South America.
Perhaps it's the emergence of Jesse Kriel at outside centre that's helped in speeding up South Africa's fluency in getting the ball wide, with Meyer's side once again capable of utilising their speed demons out wide.
Saturday was the second time in succession that Habana has scored against the Pumas, grabbing his first try in the southern hemisphere since meeting Argentina in La Plata last August.
All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.
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