South Africa clinched back-to-back Rugby Championship titles with a hard-fought 29-27 win over Argentina at Twickenham, marking another historic moment for Rassie Erasmus’s side. It was a victory built on scrum dominance and the power of hooker Malcolm Marx, whose two tries proved decisive as the Springboks confirmed their status as the world’s top rugby nation.
Despite the narrow margin, South Africa were in control for much of the contest, particularly up front, where their pack overpowered the Pumas. Marx’s influence was immense, scoring twice from driving mauls and setting the platform for Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to dictate the pace. It was the fifth straight win for the Boks at Twickenham and their third in as many years at the venue, reinforcing their growing comfort in London.
Argentina, however, showed great resilience. They began brightly, capitalizing on an early yellow card for Canan Moodie to take a 13-3 lead thanks to Bautista Delguy’s opening try and two penalties from Santiago Carreras. Moodie was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card later in the half, and the missed call allowed Reinach to score just before halftime, swinging momentum back to South Africa.
Early in the second half, Mayco Vivas was sin-binned for a high tackle on Eben Etzebeth, and Marx quickly punished Argentina from the resulting lineout. Reinach crossed again soon after, and when Marx added his second, it appeared South Africa were cruising. Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s creative touches and offloads added flair to the Springboks’ forward power.
But Argentina refused to fold. Delguy intercepted for his second try, and Carreras struck the post with a late penalty that could have changed the game’s complexion. Rodrigo Isgró’s late score narrowed the gap, but the Springboks had done enough to secure the title.
Erasmus acknowledged his side’s good fortune, admitting they might not have survived had the game been played in Argentina. Nonetheless, the coach praised his team’s resilience and the intensity of the competition. For the Springboks, this second consecutive championship underlines their continued dominance and adaptability, while for Argentina, it was a reminder of how far they’ve come — and how much further they can go.
With no Rugby Championship scheduled for 2026, the future of the tournament remains uncertain, but South Africa’s triumph ensures their place at the pinnacle of world rugby remains undisputed.
