#RWC2015 Boks beat Pumas but Pollard loses to Sanchez

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LONDON - Handre Pollard kicked 14 points to help South Africa to a 24-13 win over Argentina in the bronze medal third-place playoff at the Olympic Stadium on Friday, but fell agonisingly short of becoming the leading points scorer at the Rugby World Cup.

The 21-year-old fly-half, who converted JP Pietersen and Eben Etzebeth's tries, had to give second best though to Argentinian captain and fly-half Nicolas Sanchez.

Pollard booted four penalties and one conversion to take his total points tally for the tournament to 93, but ended four behind Argentine flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez, who replied with a drop goal, a penalty and a last-minute conversion in the match between the two beaten semi-finalists.

 

 

JP Pietersen scored the first in the sixth minute when he dived over in the right corner, then giant lock Eben Etzebeth crashed over out wide early in the second half.

South Africa lead Argentina 16-0 at half-time of World Cup third place play-off.

The Springboks, whose coach Heyneke Meyer had described the third place playoff as akin to kissing your sister, dominated the game from the outset, finishing with two tries.

Australian fly-half Bernard Foley could yet get past Sanchez but he would need to score 23 points in the final with arch-rivals and defending champions New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

All Blacks legend, Dan Carter, would need an unlikely 35.

Argentina, just as they had in their semi-final defeat by Australia, pressed all match without ever really looking dangerous, but their efforts were rewarded with a consolation try after the siren by replacement prop Juan Pablo Orlandi.

(Image: Reuters / Peter Cziborra Livepic)

Bryan Habana, who needed one touchdown to set a new outright record for the most career tries by a player in World Cups, failed to score despite several good opportunities.

 

 

- Reuters

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