Report Card: Argentina – The Pumas go home empty handed

Published 30/10/2015 at 23:02 GMT

Argentina have lit up the tournament but ultimately go home empty-handed. How did they fare against South Africa in the third-place play-off?

Argentina's Juan Pablo Orlandi and teammates look dejected after the game

Image credit: Reuters

MATCH GRADE: C-

It was always going to be a tough game, and it got even tougher when Tomas Cubelli got himself sent to the sin-bin in the first few minutes. The rowdy Pumas fans and the neutrals backing the underdog were roaring them on, though, and Juan Pablo Orlandi’s injury-time try gave them a touch of consolation.

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1 – Nicolas Sanchez. A great tournament, and another excellent display of kicking at the Olympic Stadium to surely secure his place as the top points scorer of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

2 – Juan Pablo Orlandi. Came on as a replacement and scored a try with the last play of the game - good way to sign off.

3 – Matias Moroni. Never stopped trying or looking for a way through that wall of unforgiving Springboks.

BAD DAY

Tomas Cubelli. So influential throughout the tournament, his early yellow card gave South Africa the chance to capitalise on their numerical advantage, and Argentina could not get back in it.

KEY STATS

South Africa recorded their second Bronze Final win in the Rugby World Cup, taking them level with New Zealand for most third place finishes in the tournament.
South Africa have won 20 of their 22 Tests against the Pumas (D1 L1), including their two Rugby World Cup games against Argentina.
Nicolas Sanchez scored eight points in this game taking his tally to 97 points for the tournament; he is the top scorer at Rugby World Cup 2015.
JP Pietersen scored his ninth World Cup try in this game, only Bryan Habana (15) has scored more in the Rugby World Cup for the Springboks (Jaque Fourie also 9).
Schalk Burger played his 20th Rugby World Cup game, only Jason Leonard (22) and Richie McCaw (21) have played more games in the tournament (George Gregan also 20).

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