Springboks win snorefest

Outscoring a very poor Argentina team by 24-13, the Springboks ensured they won 'bronze' at the global showpiece.

However, it was a performance that will not be remembered for very long – an error-riddled game that would have cured most insomniacs.

And legendary wing Bryan Habana was also denied a World Cup record by the overall inept display – as several of South Africa's veteran stars bid farewell to the Test arena.

Habana needed just one try to break the World Cup career record of 15 he shares with retired New Zealand star Jonah Lomu.

But in what is likely to be the 32-year-old wing's final World Cup match, Habana squandered several chances before being taken off in the 67th minute by Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

Habana's fellow wing JP Pietersen and lock Eben Etzebeth, from a Habana pass, did score tries.

Flyhalf Handré Pollard kicked 14 points as South Africa, who started the tournament with a shock defeat by Japan in the biggest World Cup upset of them all, finished on a high to come third as they did in 1999.

Springbok flank Schalk Burger, captain for the day Victor Matfield and then Habana, all World Cup champions in 2007, were replaced in the second half to a standing applause from a crowd of more than 55,000 as they made their farewells.

"Of course we would have loved to play tomorrow [Saturday] for the World Cup, but things didn't go our way last week," said Matfield of their semifinal loss to New Zealand.

"We have got a lot of respect for Argentina, the way they have played all year. Great victory for us, bronze medal is better than fourth place."

It looked like a Nicolas Sanchez drop-goal and penalty would be all Argentina had to show for their efforts. But a converted try in stoppage time from replacement front row Juan Pablo Orlandi gave the Pumas the last word.

Sanchez is likely to finish as this World Cup's leading points scorer with 97 as the only two men left who could overtake him in Saturday's final, New Zealand's Dan Carter, and Australia's Bernard Foley, are still some way behind with 63 and 75 points respectively.

Matfield in his 127th and last Test, led the Springboks in place of Fourie du Preez, injured in the 20-18 defeat by defending champions New Zealand.

The Pumas, looking to equal their best World Cup-placing of third in 2007, made 10, mostly enforced, changes, with skipper Agustin Creevy, wing Juan Imhoff, veteran centre Juan Martin Hernández and prop Marcos Ayerza all missing.

Sanchez captained the side for the first time in Creevy's absence.

Argentina were a man down as early as the fifth minute when Irish referee John Lacey sent scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli to the sin-bin for obstruction.

South Africa kicked the ensuing penalty for a line-out, which they duly won.

The ball was worked right, with Pietersen going over for a try after good hands from Ruan Pienaar and fullback Willie Le Roux.

Pollard landed the difficult conversion and South Africa led 7-0.

Minutes later Habana almost had his record-breaking try but he was beaten to the touchdown by Pumas' fullback Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.

Argentina, who in August achieved their first win over South Africa with a 37-25 success in Durban, fell further behind when Pollard's penalty made it 10-0.

Meanwhile Habana, who knocked on in the 18th minute, missed an even better opportunity for the record on the half hour when, in space and unmarked, he could not hold Pollard's high looping pass.

Either side of two more Pollard penalties, Habana saw another chance go begging.

The Springboks won a turnover and Habana regathered out on the left before chipping in-field.

But his run was halted when Lacey penalised him for pulling on the Amorosino's shirt when he did not have the ball.

Early in the second half, Sanchez, reclaiming his position as the World Cup's leading points scorer after briefly losing it to Pollard, landed a skimming drop-goal to get Argentina on the scoreboard.

Argentina's joy, was short-lived, however.

Habana's pass to Etzebeth – who also made an impressive 20 tackles – gave the lock, sliding in on his knees, just enough space out on the left to score a try.

Pollard missed the conversion, but another penalty stretched the Springboks' lead to 24-3 before Sanchez, surprisingly given the deficit, kicked a penalty.

Man of the match: Tomas Cubelli attempted a few sniping runs,  Santiago Cordero had a few promising moments and Nicolas Sanchez tested the referee's hearing aid. Duane Vermeulen was one of the few players not to harm his reputation, while Eben Etzebeth and Frans Malherbe made a mountain of tackles. However, in a game that was not really worthy of such an accolade, we will award it to Victor Matfield for the many years of great service to his country. He was also one of the few players who actually made an effort.

Moment of the march: There were three poignant moments – when Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe left the field (in the 52nd minute), Schalk Burger (53rd minute)  and Victor Matfield (10 minutes later). We will never see these legends in the Test arena again.

Villain of the match: This one goes to World Rugby, for allowing another sub-standard referee to spoil the game. The same World Rugby that publicly humiliated Craig Joubert for an understandable error, afforded Irishman Johnny Lacey the opportunity to turn the game into a farce at times with his poor officiating. His disgraceful behaviour in congratulating an Argentina player for a try shows what a joke his appointment was.

The scorers:

For South Africa:

Tries: Pietersen, Etzebeth

Con: Pollard

Pens: Pollard 4

For Argentina:

Try: Orlandi

Con: Sánchez

Pen: Sánchez

DG: Sánchez

Yellow card: Tomas Cubelli (Argentina, 4 – professional foul, early tackle)

Teams:

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Lodewyk de Jager, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein.

Argentina: 15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Nicolas Sanchez (captain), 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Javier Ortega Desio, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Juan Figallo.

Replacements: 16 Lucas Noguera, 17 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 18 Santiago Garcia Botta, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Juan Pablo Socino.

Referee: Johnny Lacey (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

TMO: Graham Hughes

Agence France-Presse & @rugby365com