South Africa 26 Argentina 25Outhalf Louis Koen kicked a penalty after the siren had sounded to give South Africa a 26-25 victory over Argentina in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on Saturday.
Argentina were denied their first victory over the Springboks in nine attempts by a flawless kicking display from Koen, who scored 16 points from two conversions and four penalties.
The Pumas had looked set to add another major scalp to their collection following their 2-0 home series win over France as they scored three tries in the middle portion of the match to lead 25-16 with only 11 minutes remaining.
But a Springbok try by replacement wing Brent Russell, converted by Koen, put the Springboks back within one score of saving the game and an increasingly tattered reputation after two indifferent displays against Scotland.
Welsh referee Nigel Williams penalised the Pumas for killing the ball at the ruck, allowing Koen to coolly slot the goal from five metres in from the right-hand touchline and 30 metres out.
South Africa had started brightly with the first try of the match in the 13th minute after a Koen penalty had opened the scoring. Scrumhalf Craig Davidson charged down an attempted kick on the Pumas' 10-metre line and collected the ball to give the scoring pass to hooker Danie Coetzee.
Pumas' outhalf Gonzalo Quesada missed two penalty attempts but two long-range tries in the space of three minutes gave the Pumas a lead they were to only briefly lose before Koen's late winner.
The visitors turned over possession in their own 22 and counter-attacked down the left flank, moving the ball through players before centre Felipe Contepomi finished off the move.
The second came from scrum possession just inside the Springbok half with right wing Jose Maria Nunez Piossek surging clear after more good handling down the flank. Koen kicked penalties either side of half-time to put his side back into the lead for two minutes before Quesada restored the Pumas' advantage.
Argentina had a try by Contepomi disallowed when a touch judge ruled there had been a punching incident in the build-up by lock Rimas Alvarez who had been yellow-carded in the first half for a professional foul.
But shortly afterwards full-back Juan Martin Hernandez streaked clear to score his side's third try and give them a nine-point lead with Quesada converting.
Three minutes from full-time, Russell stepped through a gap to score the Springboks' second try but they were still trailing 25-23 when the final siren went to set up Koen's dramatic winner.
Scorers: South Africa - Tries: Coetzee, Russell. Cons: Koen 2. Pens: Koen 4. Argentina - Tries: Martin Hernandez, Nunez Piossek, F. Contepomi. Cons: Quesada 2. Pens: Quesada 2.
SOUTH AFRICA: J van der Westhuyzen; S Terblanche, M Joubert, G Bobo, P Rossouw (B Russell, 71 Mins); L Koen, C Davidson; R Kempson, D Coetzee, C Visagie (R Bands, 52 mins), Q Davids (S Boome, 57 mins), V Matfield, C Krige (capt), AJ Venter (B Skinstad, 68 mins), P Wannenburg.
ARGENTINA: J Martin Hernandez; J Maria Nunez Piossek (H Senillosa 72 mins), J Orengo, F Contepomi, D Albanese; G Quesada, N Fernandez Miranda; R Grau (F Mendez 72 mins), M Ledesma, M Reggiardo (S Gonzalez Bonorino 40), I Fernandez Lobbe (P Albacete 47 mins), R Alvarez, L Ostiglia (S Phelan 71), R Martin, G Longo (capt).
Referee: N Williams (Wales).
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