South Africa are Rugby Championship title-holders, but their victory over Argentina was a tale of fine margins, where moments of luck and a crucial refereeing decision proved as influential as their scrummaging power. The Springboks’ historic win will be remembered for its intensity, but also for the “what if” moments that went their way.
The most significant of these came in the first half when Canan Moodie, already on a yellow card, slapped down a pass. While many observers believed it warranted a second yellow and therefore a red card, the on-field officials decided against it. A 14-man Springbok side for the majority of the game could have led to a vastly different outcome.
This moment of fortune was compounded by other close calls, including a missed knock-on during the build-up to a key South African try. Head coach Rassie Erasmus did not shy away from this reality, admitting his side “rode their luck” and were fortunate to secure the win.
While luck played its part, the Springboks’ dominance at the scrum was the constant factor that they controlled. This set-piece supremacy provided them with a safety net, allowing them to recover from their slow start and the pressure applied by a vibrant Argentinian attack.
Ultimately, history will record a South African victory and a first-ever back-to-back title. However, the story behind the result is one of fine margins, where a different bounce of the ball or a different refereeing interpretation could have seen the trophy head to Argentina instead.