Both South Africa and Argentina said goodbye to a number of influential figures tonight as the third-place playoff marked the end of the international road for some of the most recognisable names in rugby.
South Africa 24
Argentina 13
A strong defensive display from South Africa saw them ease Argentina out of the third place playoff at the Rugby World Cup this evening. They produced two tries and the rest of the poitns came from the boot of Handre Pollard, who missed one conversion but still slotted over four penalties and another conversion to ensure that his side saw the game out.
The statistics back that up also, as South Africa made 180 tackles to Argentina's 100, and while the South American side looked to try and create space with some great footwork and offloads, South Africa were up to the task every time of asking.
An early yellow card for Argentina's Tomas Cubelli meant that the Spring Boks were able to get a comfortable lead up without breaking too much of a sweat in the first half, and as the match wore on, it was clear which side had more in the tank and on the bench to draw from.
While they had the one man advantage, South Africa went over for a try through JP Pietersen and Pollard added the conversion as well as a penalty as they raced into a 10-0 lead.
They kept Argentina scoreless until the second half and added a further two penalties themselves to go in 16-0 up at the break.
Habana threatened on a constant basis but never quite got that try that would have seen him overtake Jonah Lomu's record of 15 tries at the World Cup, something that could probably be put down to luck rather than ability, as he was inches away on a number of occasions.
#ARG just about got away with this moment, they look a bit rattled #RSAvARG #RWC2015 https://t.co/mNsKdMphLA pic.twitter.com/PyzZlh1vkj
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) October 30, 2015
Sanchez makes a try saving tackle, Habana denied the record once more #RSAvARG #RWC2015 https://t.co/mNsKdMphLA pic.twitter.com/5nINTogc3C
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) October 30, 2015
It's just not happening for Habana tonight #RSAvARG #RWC2015 https://t.co/mNsKdM7Gn0 pic.twitter.com/EDd3f51aXB
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) October 30, 2015
He did get a fantastic reception when he left the field however, as did Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger, who actually made two exits, much to the amusement of the crowd. For Argentina, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe also departed the field to huge applause.
Argentina came out with renewed vigor in the second half and Nicolas Sanchez, who had a fantastic game where he must have covered almost every blade of grass on the pitch, hit a sweetly struck drop goal between the posts early on.
#ARG finally have a score on the board, lovely drop goal #RSAvARG #RWC2015 https://t.co/mNsKdM7Gn0 pic.twitter.com/bvUGOubwru
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) October 30, 2015
There was some hope at that stage that Argentina could make a game of it, but South Africa struck back immediately through the hugely impressive Eben Etzebeth, who added a try to his defensive display in which he got through 20 tackles.
That put the game beyond Argentina, but to their credit they never stopped fighting as they continued to go in search of a score that would at least end their World Cup campaign on a high
The final moments of the game were greeted by huge cheers from the crowd as Argentina's Juan Pablo Orlandi went over for his first try with the national team, and it was definitely a deserved one, as even South Africa had to admit.
A great moment as #ARG go over for a try and even #RSA can't begrudge them https://t.co/mNsKdMphLA pic.twitter.com/TXnTQHr50a
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) October 30, 2015
They had been going through the phases without much luck, and some very tired running had seen them hammer into the South African denfece on a repeated basis, but they finally got the reward for their commitment to their exciting style of rugby as they got over the line.
Ultimately Argentina simply didn't have enough energy to produce their style of rugby in their final fixture at the tournament, and while a bronze possibly would have meant more to them than it did to South Africa, the defensive display from the Spring Boks was well worth their medal.
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