Argentina vs Springboks takes: Hanekom better than Wiese, Boks' big names flopped

The Springboks came away with a 17-10 win in a tense defensive showdown that featured plenty of kicking from both sides.

After falling behind 10-3, the Boks struck on half-time to level proceedings heading into the sheds.

A big lift from South Africa’s bench proved to be a difference maker to secure a go-ahead try that they were able to defend for 18 minutes.

Here are four takeaways from the Test in Buenos Aires.

Different Los Pumas showed up

Argentina came with defensive resolve not seen for a while in Buenos Aires, contributing to what was a gripping contest and incredibly physical Test match.

South Africa also relied on their defence which was for the most part flawless in the front line. They were only broken up the middle once on the second chance offload try early, with Pumas players unable to break one-on-one match ups for the 80 minutes.

The Bok defence stood firm to close the game out well past 80 minutes, defending for double digit phases on the last play to force an error out of the home side.

Van Staden, who came on early for Kolisi, Hanekom, and South Africa’s tight five routinely pushed Los Pumas back behind the gain line with a fast rush and bruising two-man tackles.

Where Argentina found success was in the kicking game, with short stabs in behind and cross-field kicks proving a successful tactic to create half chances.

Unfortunately for the home side, they coughed up nearly every chance in the open field with frantic play.

Bottom line was the Pumas came to play and looked a lot better than they did last month in July.

Boks’ big names off the pace

The Springboks had a number of their big name players successfully return to injury in this game, but they will leave it with more concerns over Kolisi (hamstring), Esterhuizen (HIA) and the outstanding Hanekom who left late with three minutes to go.

Locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager were below par with their handling and accuracy with ball-in-hand, despite anchoring the lineout & defence well.

Both made multiple errors at key stages, Etzebeth knocking on from the five and conceding a penalty by trying to leap the defence before getting isolated and pinged. De Jager through an intercept which luckily avoided costing points when Carreras penalty attempt hit the post.

André Esterhuizen was sloppy to start with multiple turnovers, but found some rhythm late in the half including creating the line break that led to the Van der Merwe try. The No.12 will now have to pass return to play protocols after leaving with a knock.

The biggest name to return, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, was not his normal game-breaking self. He showed flashes on attack when they took on the line, but his game management was poor, and the Pumas made extra effort to take away his time and space.

South Africa obviously locked away their plans for New Zealand, using a game plan straight out of 2019, but their stars didn’t really shine in limited roles.

They look undercooked and out of form, with players like Hanekom, Van Staden and even Paul de Villiers from July looking better than the veterans.

Hanekom better than Wiese

One man who set the pace was Bulls ace Cameron Hanekom, he was the best on field in Buenos Aires by some margin.

He has been one of the best in the URC when healthy but injury has robbed the No.8 of featuring more for the Boks.

When the Boks were under pressure early, he delivered in defence, pounding Pumas’ ball carriers backward for dominant tackles. Every carry powered through multiple defenders.

Argentina were well on top at 10-3 when Hanekom delivered at the breakdown, winning a penalty to relieve pressure in the 29th minute.

He finished with the second-most running metres with 82, delivered on 13 carries, which is exceptional for a loose forward. Those are numbers that outside backs put up with cheap metres from kick returns.

Finishing with double digit carries and double digit tackles, Hanekom was accurate on a day when errors flowed. A reliable force, the Boks leaned on him.

The 24-year-old seems better than Jasper Wiese, who is a wrecking ball in the carry game, but Hanekom seems to offer more around the park.

Jasper was left home to rest and watched Hanekom do his job better.

Boks aerial game disarmed

The effectiveness of the Springboks’ contestable kicking game in Buenos Aires was low which would have put a smile on the face of Dave Rennie.

South Africa kicked an astounding 43 times against Argentina. They weren’t able to come away with any cheap tries from high balls and for the most part, failed to challenge the catch in the air.

Los Pumas used the same retreating catcher tactic that the All Blacks have adopted with success. Many of the aimless high balls either went too long or too short from South Africa’s kickers. The high ball was a huge issue in the 43-10 loss in Wellington in 2025.

The Boks looked very much like the 2019-2023 edition, back then they would capitalise frequently from lost high balls. The change in escorting rules, leading to retreating catchers being employed by teams now, looks like it will nullify this part of the Boks’ game.

Bomb squad made a difference

Although Marco van Staden was called upon early, the rest of the bench forwards and particularly the reserve front row, provided the much-needed lift to get the Boks home in this one.

The Springboks maul showed limited effectiveness in the first half while the scrum was up-and-down, penalties went each way.

Props Gerhard Steenekamp and Zachary Porthen provided the lift they needed, while reserve hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels came on to fuel the scrum that powered over the Pumas allowing Hanekom to score from the back.

The reserve forwards brought power in the carry game and it gave South Africa the ascendency.