Summary

  • South Africa win their first Rugby Championship since 2019

  • World champions score four tries in outstanding first-half display at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit

  • Springboks add three tries in second half to seal title in style

  • Two-try Pieter-Steph du Toit wins man-of-match award

  • Tributes to lock Eben Etzebeth after he wins 128th cap to become most-capped South African of all time

  • Argentina's Pablo Matera receives 20-minute red card for reckless tackle as Pumas finish third in standings

  • 2023 champions New Zealand beat Australia 33-13 earlier to take second place

  1. South Africa win Rugby Championshippublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 28 September

    You can take a look at Alastair Telfer's report on today's action, but that is it for this live text.

    Some mouthwatering internationals to follow in the autumn but more immediately there are lots of WXV games to get stuck into as well.

    Thanks for looking in.

    South Africa celebrateImage source, Reuters
    South Africa celebrateImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'We weren't good enough'published at 18:25 British Summer Time 28 September

    FT: South Africa 48-7 Argentina

    Pumas captain Julian Montoya doesn't pull any punches about his side's performance, telling Sky Sports:

    "Credit to South Africa, we were not good enough they were the better team today. Of course I am pleased with what we have done, but you are only as good as your last game, and we were not good enough today. We have to get better."

  3. 'The Boks are the ultimate'published at 18:21 British Summer Time 28 September

    FT: South Africa 48-7 Argentina

    Record-breaking lock Eben Etzebeth tells of his pride at playing for South Africa after paying tribute to his team-mates and his family.

    "Rugby is like a religion in our country, to play for the Boks is the ultimate. You cannot go any better than that and I don't want to, it's the best team.

    "Hopefully I stay fit and the coaches keep picking me. I will will try my best."

  4. Matfield hails Etzebeth recordpublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 28 September

    FT: South Africa 48-7 Argentina

    Victor Matfield gives Eben Etzebeth a special cap to mark the lock going past his record for Springbok appearances. How wonderfully gracious of him, that's a great moment.

  5. 'I am so proud to be your friend'published at 18:15 British Summer Time 28 September

    South Africa 48-7 Argentina

    SIya Kolisi praises Argentina's Rugby Championship campaign and then thanks the South African fans for their passionate support, before paying an emotional tribute to his friend Eben Etzebeth after the lock became most-capped Springbok of all time.

    "I want to say to my best friend Eben that I am so grateful to be on this journey with you," he said on Sky Sports.

    "We have been together since we were 18 and you've been a true friend and you have led us in so many ways the way you play the game.

    "I am so proud of you and pleased to be your friend. I can't wait to tell my grandkids I played with Eben Etzebeth. Cheers, my friend, I love you!"

  6. 'How we stood up says it all'published at 18:12 British Summer Time 28 September

    South Africa 48-7 Argentina

    Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi on Sky Sports: "I am lost for words but it has been a journey and a half, after last week the way we stood up today says a lot about our team.

    "Argentina are a side you cannot look over, how hard they work and what they did to us last week - they are a proud nation, similar to South Africa, the way they use the ball like we do. They will only get better and better."

  7. Springboks win Rugby Championshippublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 28 September

    South Africa 48-7 Argentina

    They thoroughly deserve it, don't they?

    The autumn internationals in Europe will be fascinating, the Boks face Scotland, England and Wales.

  8. Full-time - Springboks win Rugby Championshippublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 28 September
    Breaking

    South Africa 48-7 Argentina

    After a bit of shilly-shallying between the two teams, the referee calms things down but then blows for the end of the match.

    South Africa are winners of the Rugby Championship!

  9. Postpublished at 82 mins

    South Africa 48-7 Argentina

    Fassi has been superb today and he so nearly finished it off in style - he nearly grabbed an intercept by his own line but he would have been away and clear had he held on.

  10. try

    Try - South Africa 48-7 Argentinapublished at 75 mins

    Jesse Kriel (con: Pollard)

    The Boks are running riot against the 13 men of Argentina.

    The centre is sharp enough to latch onto a kick through and flop down over the line after a little juggle. Pollard kicks the extra points from close to the sticks.

  11. converted try

    Converted try - South Africa 41-7 Argentinapublished at 72 mins

    Pieter-Steph du Toit (con: Pollard)

    The powerhouse flanker finishes off a fine move near the corner, and Handre Pollard makes a difficult conversion look ridiculously easy.

  12. Disallowed trypublished at 71 mins

    South Africa 34-7 Argentina

    "There's no clear press" says the referee, and the try, given onfield, is overturned.

  13. Try reviewpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 28 September

    South Africa 34-7 Argentina

    Has Kurt-Lee Arendse touched a long kick to the corner down? They are going upstairs...

  14. converted try

    Converted try - South Africa 34-7 Argentinapublished at 17:43 British Summer Time 28 September

    Malcolm Marx (con: Pollard)

    File under 'inevitable'.

    The replacement hooker rumbles over nice and low onto the line for his fourth try versus the Pumas, and Handre Pollard knocks over the conversion.

  15. Sin-binpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 28 September

    South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    Lukhanyo Am's pass towards du Toit is palmed away by Santiago Carreras close to the try line, and the full back is sent to the sin bin.

    Argentina down to 13 men against a rampant South Africa.

  16. Postpublished at 65 mins

    South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    There's been no score since the break, and Argentina need four converted tries without reply to win the Rugby Championship... and they're down to 14.

  17. Matera gets 20-minute red cardpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 28 September

    South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    Pablo Matera's yellow has been upgraded to a 20-minute red, Argentina will not be able to replace him until 72 minutes.

  18. Postpublished at 59 mins

    South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    That's better from the visitors, a rolling kick goes to the corner just ahead of Juan Cruz Mallia. Yet again the home line-out is good and the Boks push Argentina back,

  19. Postpublished at 58 mins

    South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    A massive hit from Eben Etzebeth pushes an Argentine attack back on halfway. There are knock-ons galore now, it's a bit messy.

  20. Sin-binpublished at 55 mins

    South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    It's yellow - Pablo Matera trots off, and Argentina are down to 14 again, just as they were threatening.