South Africa was fortunate to salvage a 16-16 draw on Saturday in the Rugby Championship, and Argentina was unlucky not to record its first victory against the Springboks after 14 straight losses.
“There were a bunch of small errors that cost us the game,” said Argentina’s Santiago Fernandez, who scored a try for the Pumas in the first half. “They [South Africa] capitalized and we have to learn from this, but this team is together and getting better all the time.”
Argentina applied pressure throughout the match, harassing South Africa’s forwards and spoiling their possession. The Pumas played as a unit, and South Africa could not find a way to break down the organized South Americans.
Only a lucky break near the end saved the Springboks.
“Definitely not good enough,” South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer said. “We let our country down, we let ourselves down and it’s not acceptable.”
“They [South Africa players] showed some sort of character to come back from 13-3,” Meyer added. “There’s no excuses and each player knows that.”
Martin Rodriguez scored three penalties and a conversion for the home side, and Fernandez scored a try for the Pumas in the 16th minute to build the lead to 10-0 en route to a 13-3 lead at halftime.
South Africa got three penalties and a conversion from Morne Steyn, while Frans Steyn added a late try. Morne Steyn missed a penalty in the 74th minute that would have given the Springboks the edge.
South Africa defeated Argentina 27-6 on Aug. 18 in Cape Town in Argentina’s first match in the championship.
This time around the tournament debutants came a lot closer to a victory.
Argentina missed a drop goal in the 64th that would have made it difficult for South Africa to come back.
Two minutes later, Frans Steyn blocked a kick, recovered the loose ball and ran it down for a try with Morne Steyn adding the conversion. The try came as South Africa was struggling to maintain possession.
“They were committed, but we can only blame ourselves for this result,” South Africa captain Jean de Villier said. “We had opportunities, but didn’t capitalize. We need to take a hard look at ourselves.”
South African lock Andries Bekker was asked if the Springboks underestimated Argentina, which is stepping up a notch in joining South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in the new tournament that takes the place of the former Tri-Nations.
“No, I think it was all bad execution on our side. On the day we weren’t good enough,” he said.
The mood at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas was mostly upbeat.
“It was an improvement [from Cape Town], but we are disappointed,” Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe said. “We made a step forward so we are happy.”
“We wanted to win,” he added. “We are disappointed right now, but we are going to remember this day for the rest of our lives, our first game at home in the Rugby Championship.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two