Rugby: South Africa beat Wales, Argentina annihilate Scotland

South Africa and Argentina win the last two tests of the international summer window and conquer success in their respective series: in Cape Town, the reigning world champions Springboks beat Wales 30-14, while in Santiago del Estero the Pumas beat Scotland 34-31 in comeback. Results that determine the absolute draw in the whole of the four series that pitted Rugby Championship and Six Nations (France played in Japan): after the 4-0 for the southern hemisphere in the first week and the 0-4 in the following week , on this last Saturday the victories of South Africa and Argentina were offset by the successes of Ireland (on the All Blacks) and England (on Australia).

In Cape Town

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South Africa goes very close to the goal twice in the first 8 minutes, but in both cases, first with Makazole Mapimpi stepping on the sideline before crushing, and then with Damian de Allende, coming within an inch of the line, it is the Tmo not to validate. At least a Handre Pollard placed in the middle. Then, after a series of assaults always irregularly stopped close to the goal line, the Springboks refuse to place and insist, until they find the right opening at 14 ‘with Pollard, who receives on 5 meters, slips between Ryan Elias and Dan Lydiate and crush (and then transform). At 19 ‘, however, Wales finally reacts and immediately hits the center: action built with patience and precision, with a valuable break by George North to break up the South African defensive line, up to free with the offload on the ground by Liam Williams the race in goal by flanker Tommy Reffell. At 33 ‘referee Matthew Carley punishes what seems to have become a new (and questionable) fashion to protect the scrum half before a kick from the box: in addition to the two or three players who form the train at the base of the ruck (it will be legitimate , but also ridiculous) to put more space between the foot of the 9 and the arms of the guards, a player stands still on the side of the football, only in this case Pieter-Steph du Toit thinks well to move away Alun Wyn Jones (recently taken over from the injured Lydiate) who tried to push back. The position is also very inviting (central at 22 meters) and so the stupidity of the South African flanker is very expensive, since Dan Biggar (who had missed the transformation before) can easily put the poles. But at 38 ‘from a penaltouche on 5 meters South Africa organizes an unstoppable maul, finalized by the hooker Bongi Mbonambi, with the transformation of Pollard for 17-8 on which it goes to rest. Biggar puts in two places at the start of the second half for -3, in the middle a try by Lukhanyo Am is canceled for the forward pass of Jaden Hendrikse. At 53 ‘an exhausting South African attack, started from a touch 5 meters to the right, finds a worthy conclusion with the central breakthrough of captain Siya Kolisi, who benefits from the work of his teammates to bring the last push to a defensive now tired (Pollard transforms ). Wales have two flares to try to reopen it, but first throw away a deep touch in the 22, then Mapimpi is good and stop Josh Adams’ escape on the left out. And the curtain falls with the two placed on the other side that Pollard slips on at 77 ‘and 80’.

In Santiago

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Argentina then takes the field with the weight of having to avoid the defeat of the whole southern hemisphere and with a monstrous kick from over 50 meters by Emiliano Boffelli in the 11th minute unlocks the result in Santiago del Estero. Scotland’s response is immediate: a very long attack with the very deep backs, then the ball kept alive in the center that arrives in the hands of Blair Kinghorn, who slipping into the space between two Argentines opens a corridor for Duhan van der Merwe, who sows the rest. of the opponents until the sprint in goal (which Kinghorn transforms). However, Argentina immediately took advantage of the first Scottish error: ball lost by Kinghorn just beyond the halfway point, collected by the Argentines, with Boffelli who on the tackle manages to free Santiago Carreras inside, who takes a running line that cuts out the covers and allows him to spin away all alone in goal (Boffelli transforms). At 25 ‘Argentine infraction near 22, Kinghorn goes into touch, a perfect maul that opens the way to the dive beyond the line of hooker Ewan Ashman (Kinghorn transforms), the first cap as a starter. Boffelli misses a shot from midfield at 30 ‘, then slips a less impossible one at 35’ for -1. Scotland would have two placeable, but always choose the touche: the first is stopped by the Argentine foul, the second is stolen the ball in the air. So with time expired, on yet another Argentine offside, Kinghorn decides to go for the posts (just beyond the halfway point), but takes the crossbar. It is much better for the guests at the beginning of the second half: playing on the advantage they enter the 22, Ali Price quickly opens on Kinghorn who goes directly wide to find Ashman, who breaks the tackle of Carreras, resists that of the extreme Juan Cruz Mallia and signs the brace . And at 48 ‘even van der Merwe scores a brace: meter after meter, the forwards advance the ball in hand, then when they are in front of the posts they leave it to the winger to break through (Kinghorn transforms them both). At 51 ‘, however, the pylon that took over Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro immediately reopens it, who collects the oval and stretches just enough to solve the ruck a few steps from the line (with Boffelli’s transformation). In the 65th minute a Kinghorn placed is worth +11, but a minute passes and on the furious Argentine attack Gonzalo Bertranou (who took over from Lautaro Bazan in the median) finalizes from a few steps by picking up the oval kept alive by Matias Moroni, tackled a breath away from the goal line: Boffelli transforms and returns to -4. The Pumas at this point unleash all their offensive violence and after two attacks thwarted by the mistakes of Pablo Matera (first infraction in breakdown, then missing a control), just at the end they have a scrum in favor on 5 meters, they cart back the Scots and then in advance they open wide until they find Boffelli on the left sideline, who avoids the last Scottish defender by returning and then crushes signing the sensational victory and then also the transformation.