South Africa Edges Argentina in Rugby Friendly

Argentina's Los Pumas fell 17-10 to a reserve-laden South African Springboks side in a hard-fought friendly international rugby match in Buenos Aires.

The match, held at Estadio José Amalfitani, kicked off the August test match window. While the reigning back-to-back world champions from South Africa ultimately secured the victory, they were made to work for it against a determined Argentine team that held a lead at halftime.

South Africa's points came from two converted tries by Edwill van der Merwe and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, along with a penalty from Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Los Pumas scored a try from Benjamín Grondona, converted by Santiago Carreras, who also added a penalty.

The game also marked the international debut for four Argentine players: Leonel Oviedo, Francisco Moreno, Juan Martín Scelzo, and Juan Penoucos, all representing the Albiceleste.

Looking ahead, Argentina XV, the second-tier Argentine team, will face the United States in Miami. Los Pumas are scheduled for a two-match series against the Australian Wallabies on August 29 and September 5. The Springboks will engage in a four-match series against New Zealand, with games in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Baltimore, before concluding their series against the Wallabies in Perth on September 27.

“

With several players preserved, the reigning world champion African team had to work hard to impose themselves against a South American rival that went into halftime ahead.