The Springboks have ended their five-year wait to win the Rugby Championship following a convincing 48-7 victory against Argentina on Saturday in Nelspruit.

The Springboks scored seven tries as they thumped the Los Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium following yet another dominant performance in the scrum, while their discipline was superb.

The fullback Aphelele Fassi and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit scored a brace of tries as the World Champions returned to winning following their shock defeat in Argentina last week.

Fassi opened and Du Toit got in on the action as the Springboks raced to a 14-0 lead before Argentina’s only points came via a 20th-minute Tomas Albornoz try which he also converted.

Cheslin Kolbe. Photo: SA Rugby

Cheslin Kolbe scored the Boks third try while Fassi completed his brace to see the Springboks leading 27-7 at half-time.

The scoring in the second half was opened in the 69th minute of the Test when the replacement hooker, Malcolm Marx, scored a try from a lineout maul.

This opened the floodgates somewhat, as Du Toit completed his brace before the in-form centre, Jesse Kriel, managed to dot down.

This was the Springbok fifth win in the Rugby Championship, however, they won the time before half-time when Fassi scored the bonus point try to half the World Champions the title.

Aphelele Fassi. Photo: SA Rugby

It’s the first time since 2019 that the back-to-back World Champions have managed to win the Rugby Championship.

Following their 33-13 against the Wallabies in Wellington earlier on Saturday, the All Blacks managed to finish second in the Championship.

The Springboks next Test will be on 10 November when they face Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh in their first game of the End of Year Tour.

Scorers:

Springboks: Tries – Aphelele Fassi 2, Pieter-Steph du Toit 2, Cheslin Kolbe, Malcolm Marx, Jesse Kriel Conv. – Jaden Hendrikse 2, Handré Pollard 3 Pen. – Hendrikse

Argentina: Try - Tomas Albornoz Conv. - Albornoz

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh