Springboks clinch back‑to‑back Rugby Championship in nail‑biting 29‑27 win over Argentina

In a drama‑packed finale at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on October 4, 2025, the South Africa Rugby Union side – better known as the Springboks – edged out Argentina Rugby Union 29‑27 to retain the Rugby Championship crown for the first time in history. 70,360 fans watched a match that swung on a single yellow card, two brilliant braces and a points‑difference tiebreak that left the All Blacks staring at a plus‑8 margin while South Africa boasted a staggering +57.

Background to the 2025 Rugby Championship

The 2025 edition of the Rugby ChampionshipSouthern Hemisphere began in early July, featuring the usual quartet – South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. After a shaky start to their season, highlighted by a 26‑12 loss to the Wallabies at Ellis Park in June, the Springboks rallied under Rassie Erasmus's guidance. Their resurgence saw them win six of eight pool games, finishing the round‑robin with 19 log points, exactly the same total as the All Blacks.

What made this year historic was the introduction of points‑difference as the final tiebreaker. Both South Africa and New Zealand entered the last round level on points, but the Boks' +57 differential – accumulated through big wins over Australia and the Pumas – eclipsed New Zealand's modest +8, delivering South Africa’s sixth title in the competition’s 30‑year history.

Match Summary: South Africa vs Argentina

Refereed by Italy’s Andrea Piardi, the game kicked off under a crisp London sky. A disastrous start for the Springboks saw Canan Moodie earn a yellow card in the second minute for a dangerous tackle, leaving the Boks a man down for 10 minutes.

Argentina pounced. In the fourth minute, winger Bautista Delguy dove over for the opening try, with full‑back Santiago Carreras slotting the conversion. Carreras added penalties at the 18‑ and 27‑minute marks, giving the Pumas a 13‑10 lead at the break.

South Africa’s first points came from a penalty by kicker Feinberg‑Mngomezulu in the 10th minute, but the scoreboard stayed tight. The turning point arrived in the 38th minute when scrum‑half Cobus Reinach—who would finish as Man of the Match—sliced through the defense for his first try. He added a second in the 52nd minute, each time followed by flawless conversions from Feinberg‑Mngomezulu.

Hooker Malcolm Marx mirrored Reinach’s haul, striking twice in the 44th and 58th minutes. By the 60th minute the Boks held a 29‑13 cushion. Argentina, however, refused to surrender: Delguy crossed again in the 66th minute and Carreras nailed the conversion, while a cross‑field kick saw Rodrigo Isgró dive home in injury time, with Carreras converting at 80+3. The final whistle blew with the scoreboard reading 29‑27.

Key Performances and Turning Points

The statistical picture tells the story. South Africa out‑gained the Pumas in the set‑piece by a 58‑22 scrum count, while their line‑out success rate sat at 85 % compared with Argentina’s 70 %. The Boks posted five tries, two of which came from Reinach and two from Marx – a rare brace for a front‑row player.

“Not the most perfect game we’ve played, but it’s the fight we show each week,” said Siya Kolisi, captaining the side. “We found that second gear when it mattered most.” Kolisi also reflected on the early‑season slump: “After the shocking loss to the Wallabies at Ellis Park, no one believed we’d be here. The belief comes from the mindset Rassie Erasmus has built since 2018.”

Argentina’s coach, after the defeat, praised the Pumas: “We fought till the last minute. A two‑point loss in London shows the squad’s heart, even if the wooden spoon awaits us for the first time since 2022.”

Implications for the Springboks and Global Rugby

Retaining the championship cements South Africa’s position at the top of the World Rugby Rankings, reinforcing their status as world number one. The points‑difference rule, used for the first time, sparked debate among administrators – some argue it rewards offensive firepower, while others fear it may penalize defensively‑oriented teams.

For New Zealand, the narrow miss highlights a need to tighten defence; their +8 differential points to several costly lapses against Australia (28‑14) earlier on October 4. Meanwhile, Argentina’s relocation of the “home” match to Twickenham – a move driven by ticket revenue – sparked discussion about the fairness of venue switches in a competition traditionally held in the Southern Hemisphere.

Looking Ahead: Future Fixtures and Rankings

With the championship sealed, the Springboks now turn to the November internationals, where they will face England and Wales on home soil. Coach Rassie Erasmus hinted at squad rotation: “We’ll keep the core that won this title, but give younger talent a chance to taste the pressure.”

Argentina, meanwhile, must regroup before the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, aiming to avoid another wooden spoon finish. Their early‑season form suggests they can still produce moments of brilliance, but consistency remains the missing piece.