Player ratings: Bedlam in Mendoza
The passionate Pumas came within a hair's breadth of pulling off one of the greatest upsets of all-time in Mendoza on Saturday.
The Argentine ambushed the Springboks and soaked up the carnival atmosphere to give their much-vaunted visitors the scare of their lives.
Quintin van Jaarsveld rates the Pumas players.
15 Martín Rodríguez
Was entrusted with the goal-kicking ahead of Nicolás Sánchez and kicked three from five.
5.5/10
14 Gonzalo Camacho
A contrasting outing to the workmanlike performance of last weekend.
5.5/10
13 Marcelo Bosch
A very quiet outing and missed a tackle.
5/10
12 Santiago Fernández
Followed up his impressive performance in Cape Town with another strong showing and was rewarded with a famous five-pointer that he’ll cherish.
7/10
11 Horacio Agulla
A rare line-break was the highlight of his performance.
6/10
10 Nicolás Sánchez
Offered some variation and manned his channel well on defence.
6/10
9 Nicolas Vergallo
The nuggetty number nine was a livewire around the fringes.
6/10
8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
Captain fantastic was the catalyst for the hosts. He outplayed the towering Andries Bekker at his on game, marshalled the driving maul and got stuck in in open play.
8/10
7 Álvaro Galindo
Was left in the shadows of his fellow loose forwards.
6/10
6 Julio Cabello
An all-action display by the industrious Cabello, who chopped down the Springboks and led the tackling stats.
7/10
5 Patricio Albacete
Played a starring role. Joint second in the tackling stakes with his skipper, made a crucial turnover close to his try-line and made a nuisance of himself in the line-outs.
7.5/10
4 Manuel Carizza
Good in the set-piece.
6/10
3 Juan Figallo
Added extra grunt in the tight loose.
6/10
2 Eusebio Guiñazu
A poor overthrow on a five-metre attacking line-out marred an otherwise good performance in which he created his team’s only try.
6/10
1 Rodrigo Roncero
A legendary performance by the 35-year-old. Spearheaded the Pumas scrum and tackled like a Trojan.
7.5/10
Replacements:
16 Bruno Postiglioni
Not used.
17 Marcos Ayerza (on for Roncero, 56th minute)
Couldn’t drive home the ascendency Roncero established.
5/10
18 Leonardo Senatore (on for Carizza, 76th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
19 Tomás Leonardi (on for Galindo, 36th minute)
Prominent on defence.
6/10
20 Martín Landajo (on for Vergallo, 56th minute)
Was just as dangerous as the man he replaced.
6/10
21 Lucas Amorosino (on for Sanchez, 54th minute)
Would have gained confidence following his shocker last weekend.
22 Juan Imhoff
Not used.
