By Adnaan Mohamed
The Blitzboks needed every ounce of heart, hustle and hard-headed defence to cling onto their HSBC SVNS Cape Town title on Sunday with a 21–19 comeback classic victory over Argentina.
In a match that swung like a loose pass in a gale, South Africa and Argentina traded three tries each, but it was one final defensive stand, the kind that rattles ribcages and rewrites scripts, that lifted a heaving DHL Stadium crowd of 31,941 to its feet.
With time up, Argentina launched one last assault. The Blitzboks didn’t blink. They smashed, scrambled and suffocated until the whistle sounded and the hosts became the first team to defend the Cape Town title.
Blitzboks Roar Back to Stun Argentina in the final
Argentina struck first, slicing from a midfield scrum as Luciano Gonzalez dotted down for 7–0. But the Blitzboks hit straight back: Zain Davids intercepted deep inside the South African 22, the ball was whipped wide, and Donavan Don burned the touchline to level at 7–7 after Ricardo Duarttee’s conversion.
Then came the Marcos Moneta show. The Pumas’ speedster pounced from the restart to make it 14–7, and early in the second half he tore away again for a 19–7 lead that quietened the stadium.
South Africa’s reply? Guts, grit, and the kind of chaos rugby that Cape Town loves.
Debutant Nabo Sokoyi dipped, darted and danced from 50 metres out to drag the Blitzboks within five (19–14), before replacements cranked up the tempo. When a turnover popped loose, Christie Grobbelaar streaked under the uprights to give South Africa a 21–19 lead with just 30 seconds left.
The restart went out on the full handing Argentina one last chance. But the Blitzboks’ defensive wall slammed shut with a series of bruising hits before winning the penalty that sealed a famous, unbeaten home weekend.
“We had to dig deep,” said coach Philip Snyman afterwards.
“But this team thrives when their backs are against the wall, and the crowd carried us. Cape Town was unbelievable.”
Semi-Final: Blitzboks Survive French Scare
Their 22–17 semi-final victory over France earlier on Sunday was a rollercoaster of its own. It was a match rich in momentum swings and sprinkled with individual magic.
Shilton van Wyk continued his hot streak with a first-minute try, before Tristan Leyds showed quick wits and quicker feet with a tap-and-go effort for 10–0.
France hit back through Jordan Sepho, but Van Wyk pounced on a fortunate bounce from the restart to sprint 60 metres for his second, Duarttee converting for 17–5.
The French replied through Josselin Bouhier either side of halftime, levelling at 17–17 as he chased down a bouncing ball reminiscent of Van Wyk’s effort.
But Ryan Oosthuizen produced the decisive blow, crashing over after a turnover in the French 22 to seal the Blitzboks’ place in the final.
“We stayed calm and trusted our system,” said Snyman. “The boys showed great composure when it mattered.”
FULL SCORERS
Semi-final: South Africa 22 (17) – France 17 (12)
Blitzboks tries: Shilton van Wyk (2), Tristan Leyds, Ryan Oosthuizen
Conversion: Ricardo Duarttee
France tries: Jordan Sepho, Josselin Bouhier (2)
Conversion: Stephen Parez Edo Martin
Final: South Africa 21 (7) – Argentina 19 (14)
Blitzboks tries: Donavan Don, Nabo Sokoyi, Christie Grobbelaar
Conversions: Ricardo Duarttee (3)
Argentina tries: Luciano Gonzalez, Marcos Moneta (2)
Conversions: Santiago Vera Feld (2)
