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

Live Reporting

Tim Oscroft

  1. South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    Uh-oh - Pablo Matera went in high on Vincent Koch, and they are checking for foul play. Yellow or red?

  2. South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    This is the best Argentina spell for a long time, they cris-cross the pitch but some superb defence on the touchline forces a mistake.

    Argentina attackGetty Images

  3. South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    A rare Argentina foray into the home half, there's a line-out off the top but the ball is spilled in midfield. They scored from pretty much their only chance earlier, but a 20-point deficit is daunting against this Springboks outfit.

  4. South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    No sign of The Bomb Squad yet, but there are sure to be replacements galore. This is a relentless championship, and there are test in Europe to come soon too.

  5. South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    It's not been quite as slick since the resumption from the hosts, a few passes not going to hand and that missed penalty. They're still 20 points ahead, though, but Argentina could make inroads yet.

    Eben EtzebethGetty Images

  6. Missed penalty - South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    Jayden Hendrikse gets the chance to extend the lead from about 30 metres out just to the right of the posts, but the scrum half fluffs it and pulls the kick wide.

  7. South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    Oh, that's nice!

    Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel exchange passes after a few kicks, and de Allende's no-look effort is sublime.

    The Boks have picked up where they left off.

  8. Kick-off

    South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    Argentina get the second half under way. They need to score early doors, and then again quite soon after that...

  9. South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    The crowd are really getting into things, and of course "Sweet Caroline" gets an airing. Sigh - there are better Neil Diamond songs...believe me.

    FansGetty Images

  10. South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    They are world champions for a reason, aren't they?

    To use a Godfather analogy, they've really gone to the mattresses to all but snuff out Argentina's chances. It's hard to see a comeback, but you never know

    Springboks versus ArgentinaGetty Images

  11. Half-time

    South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    Jayden Hendrikse hoofs the ball to touch to end a ruthless and dominant 40 minutes for the World Cup holders.

  12. try

    Try - South Africa 27-7 Argentina

    Cheslin Kolbe

    The Boks go to the right, Fassi misses out a player with a long pass and Kolbe jinks inside a man to dive over - sublime stuff, a real phone box finish!

    Cheslin KolbeReuters

  13. South Africa 22-7 Argentina

    Argentina are pinned back from the restart, and even an attempted clearance cannot ease the pressure - Bongi Mbonambi charges it down but the ball goes over the dead ball line.

  14. try

    Try - South Africa 22-7 Argentina

    Aphelele Fassi

    The Boks attack down the right, Pieter-Steph du Toit is there to pick uo a loose ball and flip it up to the full back who dives over for his second.

    Jayden Hendrikse's conversion attempt hits the post.

    Aphelele FassiGetty Images

  15. Sin-bin

    South Africa 17-7 Argentina

    Mateo Carreras takes Aphelele Fassi out in mid-air in a reckless moment, and goes to the bin for 10 minutes after a talking-to from the referee. The crowd are baying for red but it wasn't as bad as that.

  16. South Africa 17-7 Argentina

    Cinti is into the action quickly, latching onto a turnover. Argentina are starting to string some attacks together now, it feels like a much closer Test match than earlier on.

  17. South Africa 17-7 Argentina

    Santiago Chocobares limps off, which looked unlikely when he went down, and is replaced by Lucio Cinti.

  18. South Africa 17-7 Argentina

    The Boks race down the left wing into the Argentina half, but some committed tackling denies Pieter-Steph du Toit just at the crucial moment.

    Santiago Chocobares gets hit in the knee as he goes down and he's having treatment, this could be a bad injury by the looks of it.

    Pieter-Steph du ToitGetty Images

  19. Penalty - South Africa 17-7 Argentina

    Jaden Hendrikse

    Santiago Grondosa gives away a silly penalty right in front of the posts, which Jaden Hendrikse knocks over with ease

  20. converted try

    Converted try - South Africa 14-7 Argentina

    Tomas Albornoz (con: Albornoz)

    Er, like I was saying....

    From a short line-out the Pumas break through the Boks line and the fly-half hares in under the posts.