Argentina were courageous but were ultimately unable to keep up with the pace of the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Pumas played with the heart and passion expected from them in their historic Rugby Championship opener and although they weren’t as competitive as they would have liked, they blazed the trail for future Argentine teams to take it to the mighty Springboks.
Quintin van Jaarsveld rates the Pumas players.
15 Lucas Amorosino
One of the key players who didn’t come to the party. Poor unforced knock-on five metres from his own try-line and a missed tackle moments later that saw opposite number Zane Kirchner score the opening try of the match.
4/10
14 Gonzalo Camacho
Excellent workrate and a headache for the Springboks on attack. Had the edge over direct opponent Lwazi Mvovo.
6.5/10
13 Marcelo Bosch
Contained the Bok skipper well and answered back with a couple of strong runs of his own.
6/10
12 Santiago Fernández
A standout in the Argentine backline. Good early turnover on Jean de Villiers and another on Kirchner that resulted in the newcomers’ first points.
7/10
11 Horacio Agulla
Overshadowed by the other wings on the field. Needs to get more involved.
5/10
10 Juan Martín Hernández
The veteran flyhalf’s showing summed up the Pumas’ performance as a whole. He started well and his tactical kicking was pinpoint accurate before things went pear-shaped in the second half. His back-to-back missed kicks at goal were a hammer blow to the visitors’ morale.
6.5/10
9 Nicolas Vergallo
A slow start but found his rhythm once the nerves settled.
6/10
8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
Proved himself as a world-class player. He was everywhere – carrying the ball, fielding high balls and featuring prominently in the line-outs.
7/10
7 Álvaro Galindo
Often overzealous at the breakdown but certainly didn’t lack intensity.
5/10
6 Julio Cabello
Couldn’t restrain from taking Mvovo out of the air. A solid showing overall though.
6/10
5 Patricio Albacete
A seasoned campaigner who forms a key cog in the Pumas’ composition but he struggled against the towering Andries Bekker. Good turnover five metres from his own try-line.
5.5/10
4 Manuel Carizza
Hit the rucks with force and played a vital role in the driving mauls.
5/10
3 Juan Figallo
The front row was the one area where the Pumas were thought to give the Springboks a run for their money. They didn’t come through on the day.
5/10
2 Eusebio Guiñazu
Struggled to find his jumpers against the tall Springbok second rowers.
5/10
1 Rodrigo Roncero
An inspired 60-minute effort by the veteran.
5.5/10
Replacements:
16 Bruno Postiglioni
Not used.
17 Marcos Ayerza (on for Roncero, 60th minute)
Did little to alter the course of proceedings up front.
5/10
18 Juan Pablo Orlandi (on for Figallo, 60th minute)
Will only grow from the experience.
5/10
19 Tomás Leonardi (on for Galindo, 42nd minute)
A breath of fresh air from the bench.
5.5/10
20 Leonardo Senatore (on for Julio Cabello, 69th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
21 Martín Landajo (on for Vergallo, 65th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Martín Rodríguez (on for Santiago Fernández, 69th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
