Los Pumas player ratings vs Springboks | 2025 Rugby Championship

Los Pumas player ratings: The Pumas returned to the site of their first-ever victory over the Springboks but unlike 2015 they were humbled by the home side in a 67-30 defeat.

The South Americans had no power in their forward pack to fight off the world champions’ well-oiled machine and although they seemed in the game for much of the first half it all came crashing down after the break.

Even though they came out as the less penalised side the Pumas’ inability to get their lineout working or find a way to counteract Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s genius meant a heavy loss and farewell to any Rugby Championship title hopes.

1. Mayco Vivas – 5
Vivas’ discipline was far from perfect, conceding three penalties, one of which could have landed the 31-year-old loosehead a yellow card after he kicked the ball from Reinach’s possession. His carrying was strong, driving forward even when pinned by multiple tacklers, relentlessly working to win the gainline. Good battle with Thomas du Toit at scrum time, clawing back a penalty that allowed Carreras to kick at goal.

2. Julián Montoya – 3
Montoya’s 113th cap wasn’t a memorable one, as the veteran hooker failed to bring efficiency to the lineout, missing his jumper on four of eight throws. His tackling was also below par, missing several efforts, one of which led to Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s third try. His leadership at least guided Argentina to their second try, opting for a 5-metre lineout when he could have taken the points.

Fixture

Rugby Championship

South Africa

67 - 30

Full-time

Argentina

All Stats and Data

3. Joel Sclavi – 5
Less visible than Vivas, Sclavi played a role in securing the breakdown and bailing out teammates. Tried to squeeze Venter in the scrum but couldn’t get the better of the Springbok newcomer.

4. Franco Molina – 4
Aside from his lineout duties, Molina’s day was reduced to ruck cleanouts and ball support, having little impact overall.

5. Lucas Paulos – 5
Like Molina, Paulos was more focused on keeping possession but was consistently caught napping around the ruck. The Bayonne lock was beaten every time in the lineout, with Etzebeth and Snyman quickly unpicking Argentina’s strategy.

6. Pablo Matera – 5
A tough outing for the veteran back row, who made several handling and discipline errors that were out of character. Although he broke a few tackles he never made a meaningful impact, looking out of breath as the Springboks backline spread the game. Matera was involved in two Springbok tries, with passive tackling opening the door for runners.

7. Marcos Kremer – 7
The Pumas’ prime enforcer didn’t disappoint, especially in chasing down Reinach and narrowing the Springboks’ attack. His effort at times lifted Argentina back into contention. While he didn’t carry much, Kremer’s defensive work was outstanding, finishing with 18 tackles.

8. Joaquín Oviedo – 6
Oviedo was by some margin Argentina’s strongest carrier, making metres after contact and beating ten defenders in his 18th Test. But his influence dropped after the break and he couldn’t spark his teammates.

9. Gonzalo García – 4
A lacklustre showing from the Zebre scrum-half, García struggled to tidy the breakdown or move the ball quickly. Two unforced handling errors and a disjointed passing game summed up his evening before he left late with a neck injury.

10. Santiago Carreras – 7
Despite the heavy defeat, Carreras was one of the few to emerge creditably, landing five from six off the tee and adding spark to the backline. Argentina’s second try came from his short punt, which unsettled the Springbok defence.

11. Mateo Carreras – 4
Carreras was a bystander for most of the match with little ball to work with. Debate remains whether Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s first try stemmed from his positional lapse, but his defence was definitely shaky.

12. Santiago Chocobares – 5
The centre scored one of the strangest tries of recent memory, pouncing after Kolbe’s failed in-goal drop-out. Opportunistic and sharp, it gave Argentina fleeting hope.

13. Lucio Cinti – 5
Cinti faced a tough task marking Moodie, with the Bok winger in form. He was outmatched in most defensive exchanges, slipping tackles and making positional errors.

14. Rodrigo Isgró – 3
Saw little of the ball but his missed tackle gifted Marx a try. Looked rattled throughout.

15. Juan Cruz Mallía – 4
Confident under the high ball early on, Mallía won several aerial duels and sparked some of Argentina’s best moments. But his game unravelled, as defensive lapses from the backline proved costly. The Springboks shut him down with ball in hand, leaving little attacking influence.

Replacements

16. Ignacio Ruiz – 4 – Fifteen minutes with little to change.

17. Boris Wenger – 5 – The Harlequins signing brought energy, tackled well and made a case for more minutes.

18. Francisco Coria Marchetti – 4

19. Guido Petti – 3 – Brought on for more aggression but ended up a liability, missing three tackles and even colliding with a teammate late on.

20. Pedro Rubiolo – 4

21. Juan Martín González – 5

22. Simón Benítez Cruz – N/A

23. Tomás Albornoz – 4