The Rugby Championship final exploded into life in the opening minutes, with a yellow card for South Africa’s Canan Moodie immediately followed by a try for Argentina’s Bautista Delguy. This frantic start set the tone for a dramatic and fiercely contested match at Twickenham.
Moodie was sent to the sin-bin just two minutes into the game for a high tackle, a moment of indiscipline that gave the Pumas an immediate numerical advantage. It was a disastrous start for the Springboks and a golden opportunity for their opponents.
Argentina capitalized ruthlessly. They immediately went on the attack, spreading the ball wide to the right wing where Delguy showed his finishing skills to wriggle over in the corner. The try and subsequent conversion gave the Pumas an early lead and sent a clear message that they were not there to make up the numbers.
This explosive opening period had the Springboks on the back foot and forced them to play catch-up for the rest of the first half. It was a test of their composure and their ability to manage a crisis, a test they would ultimately pass.
While South Africa went on to win the match, the dramatic start served as a reminder of Argentina’s potency. It was a thrilling opening salvo in a final that lived up to its billing as a clash of two of the world’s best teams.