Aphelele Fassi scored two tries as the Springboks rampaged to a comfortable victory over Argentina in Nelspruit on Saturday to claim the Rugby Championship title.
A brace from Fassi, who also set up Cheslin Kolbe’s first-half try, and Pieter-Steph du Toit guided the Springboks to a bonus-point 48-7 win as the world champions won the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019.
It also marked Eben Etzebeth’s record-breaking 128th Test cap with a sensational performance.
Burning from a defeat in Santiago del Estero, the Springboks raced out of the blocks at a sold-out Mbombela Stadium, with Fassi and Du Toit dotting down in the opening 15 minutes, taking full advantage of a dominant scrum platform provided by Ox Nche and Frans Malherbe.
Freed from the kicking responsibilities by scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, who kicked two conversions and a penalty, Manie Libbok also enjoyed a sensational match, carving Argentina with his trademark crossfield kicks.
Cheslin Kolbe has covered every blade of grass in the first 50 minutes 😤⭐
📺 Stream #TRC2024 on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/FCHkqooTCs
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 28, 2024
The Springboks took a 27-7 lead into the break, after Kolbe sidestepped his way over the tryline just before half-time, but it took until Malcolm Marx scored from a driving maul in the final 15 minutes to add to the lead in a scrappy second half that saw Los Pumas lose Pablo Matera to a red card for a dangerous clean out.
Next up for the Boks will be a month’s break, before the November tour of the UK, with fixtures against Scotland (10 November), England (16 November) and Wales (23 November).