Durban Delight: Springboks Run Riot with 67-30 Win Over Argentina

The Springboks produced one of their most commanding attacking displays of recent years to defeat Argentina 67–30 at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday, 27 September 2025. In front of more than 45,000 spectators, the South Africans ran in nine tries, including a record-breaking 37-point haul from flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who scored three tries and contributed with the boot in a performance that rewrote the history books.

The emphatic victory propelled the Springboks to the top of the Rugby Championship standings with one round to play, underlining their intent to retain the title. For Argentina, the match was a painful reminder of the fine margins in Test rugby: after staying in touch during an absorbing first half, they were blown away in the final 40 minutes by the relentless power and precision of the home side.

A First Half of Twists and Turns

The Durban crowd witnessed a rollercoaster opening half as both teams traded momentum. South Africa struck first through a long-range penalty from Feinberg-Mngomezulu, but Argentina responded with two accurate strikes from Santiago Carreras.

The Pumas dominated territory early, aided by South Africa’s repeated offside infringements, yet their own malfunctioning lineout prevented them from fully capitalising. When Malcolm Marx powered over from a driving maul for his 25th Test try, the Springboks appeared to settle, but defensive lapses and a costly error gave Argentina hope.

A misjudged goal-line drop-out by Cheslin Kolbe handed Santiago Chocobares a try, while a penalty try from a collapsed maul shifted the visitors into the lead. However, Feinberg-Mngomezulu showed his class with a superbly taken try just before halftime, ensuring the Springboks edged ahead 25–23 at the interval.

Second-Half Brilliance and Total Control

The second half belonged entirely to the Springboks. From the restart, a brilliant aerial contest won by Damian Willemse created the platform for Kolbe to cross for his second try, stretching the lead. Moments later, Feinberg-Mngomezulu produced a moment of individual genius, selling a dummy close to the Argentine try line before finishing clinically for his hat-trick.

Argentina briefly threatened through Tomás Albornoz’s sharp solo effort, reducing the deficit to nine points. But that would be their final contribution to the scoreboard, as the Springboks unleashed a relentless attacking surge. Replacement scrumhalf Morné van den Berg crossed after fluid offloads, Pieter-Steph du Toit added two tries of his own, and Manie Libbok chipped and chased for a try that capped a flowing move.

The final flourish arrived in the closing minutes, when Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted his eighth conversion to bring his personal tally to 37 points, surpassing Percy Montgomery’s long-standing record of 35 points in a Test match set in 2007.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s Record-Breaking Night

At just 22 years old, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu announced himself as a generational talent with a performance that combined tactical maturity, attacking flair, and unerring accuracy from the tee. His 37 points set a new Springbok record for a single Test, eclipsing Percy Montgomery’s milestone and overtaking Handré Pollard’s 31 points against Argentina in 2019.

The young flyhalf’s numbers were staggering:

• 13 ball carries

• 3 tries

• 37 points in total

• 182 metres gained

• 11 defenders beaten

• 1 offload

It was a display that showcased his all-round abilities: running, kicking, decision-making, and leadership. In doing so, Feinberg-Mngomezulu established himself not only as the match-winner but also as a central figure in the Boks’ evolving attacking identity.

Tactical Shifts and Forward Dominance

Beyond individual brilliance, the Springboks’ second-half performance reflected significant tactical evolution. Their scrum remained a weapon, forcing penalties and sapping Argentine resistance. The lineout, steady throughout, provided the launchpad for both direct mauls and expansive plays.

Defensively, South Africa adapted after a shaky start, tightening their spacing and reducing Argentina’s ability to exploit overlaps. With replacements adding fresh energy, the Boks’ tempo only increased as the match wore on, turning a close contest into a rout.

The fluidity of the backline, despite injuries to Kolbe, Willemse, and Ethan Hooker during the game, underlined the squad’s growing versatility. Players seamlessly shifted positions, ensuring momentum never stalled.

Historical and Championship Context

This was South Africa’s highest score in a Rugby Championship match since the tournament’s inception in 2012 and one of the largest margins ever recorded against Argentina. It also marked back-to-back attacking displays of more than 40 points, following the record-breaking win over New Zealand in Wellington earlier in the month.

The bonus-point victory lifted the Springboks to 15 points on the log, one ahead of New Zealand with one round to go. Australia remain in third with 11, while Argentina sit at the foot of the table with nine. With the standings this tight, the final round promises drama, with South Africa aiming to clinch back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time since 2009.

Lasting Impressions

The Durban clash was a tale of two halves: Argentina’s grit and opportunism kept them alive for 40 minutes, but South Africa’s firepower in the second half overwhelmed them. At the heart of it all was Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, whose record-breaking night will be remembered alongside other iconic individual Springbok performances.

Yet beyond the headlines, the collective showed signs of a team in rhythm, set piece dominance, defensive adjustments, and attacking cohesion across starters and replacements. The Boks now carry momentum into the decisive final fixture of the campaign.

Next Fixture

The Rugby Championship concludes next weekend with Argentina hosting South Africa at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, on Saturday, 4 October 2025 (kick-off 15:00 SA time). The encounter will decide the title, with the Springboks leading the standings by a single point.

All image Credits: Springboks

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