The Springboks' 12th consecutive victory came with none of the fluency that has marked their recent dominance. In Buenos Aires on a cold, blustery afternoon, the world champions laboured to a 17-10 win over Argentina, relying on defensive grit rather than attacking flair to extend their remarkable run.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu returned to Test rugby after an eight-month absence, one of five players in the starting XV making their first appearance since May. Alongside Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager and the young flyhalf, the Boks showed considerable rust in a first half that ended level at 10-10. The kicking game, so often a weapon in the South African armoury, failed to ignite in the buffeting wind.
The visitors' opening try arrived in the dying moments of the first period, Edwill van der Merwe finishing a sweeping move that began with Andre Esterhuizen's one-handed take just inside the Pumas' half. The centre's fingertip control and subsequent offload to Canan Moodie unlocked the Argentine defence, and Van der Merwe's sixth try in seven Tests brought the scores level at the interval.
Kolisi injury clouds victory
The afternoon's most concerning moment came in the 25th minute when Kolisi limped from the field with what appeared to be another hamstring problem. The skipper's fitness will now dominate selection discussions ahead of the next fixture, with the Boks already managing a lengthy injury list.
Cameron Hanekom's converted try early in the second half proved decisive, the only points of a period in which the Springboks played into the wind yet controlled territory more effectively. Argentina were denied a 22 entry until the final two minutes, when flanker Pablo Mantera's 50-22 kick finally gave the home side field position. The Boks then faced 15 phases in their own 22 after the clock turned red, the defensive stand epitomising a performance built on resilience rather than rhythm.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu's return adds depth to the flyhalf position, though the 22-year-old will need sharper outings to challenge Handré Pollard's standing as first choice. The young playmaker's eight-month absence has coincided with the Boks' winning streak, and his reintegration into the side's attacking patterns will be a subplot of the coming weeks. With Kolisi's availability uncertain and the rust still evident across the returning quintet, the coaching staff face a balancing act between managing workloads and sharpening combinations before the next Test window.