Springboks takeaways: Set-piece power overshadows Ill-discipline, soft moments

South Africa’s golden era under Rassie Erasmus continues to shine brightly after the Springboks clinched a dramatic 29–27 victory over Argentina at Twickenham to secure back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time in their history.

It was a hard-fought win that demanded every ounce of grit, experience and composure from the world champions — who were pushed to the brink by a spirited Pumas outfit.

The triumph marks a full-circle moment for the Boks, who began their campaign with a humbling defeat to the Wallabies at Ellis Park, only to regroup and rebuild with trademark resilience to clinch the crown.

Independent Media looks at five talking points from the Twickenham clash.

Back-to-back Rugby Championship glory

The Springboks’ narrow victory over Argentina sealed a historic back-to-back Rugby Championship title. It’s a remarkable achievement considering the rocky start to the campaign, including the heavy defeat to Australia at Ellis Park.

Rassie Erasmus’ side have shown resilience, adaptability and composure in key moments. The Twickenham triumph underlined their ability to grind out wins under pressure, despite lapses in discipline and execution.

This was arguably the toughest Rugby Championship yet, but the win reinforced the Boks’ standing as the world’s leading rugby nation.

Set-piece power and forward dominance

Once again, the Springboks’ forwards laid the foundation for victory. The scrum and maul were devastating platforms, with the front row of Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit overpowering Argentina’s pack at scrum time in the first half.

Marx, in particular, was immense — scoring twice and leading the charge in the collisions by competing on the ground for the ball. The Boks’ rolling maul has been underused this year, but it showed up at the right time when it really mattered.

Even when momentum swung Argentina’s way late on, the South Africans’ composure at set-piece time helped them reassert control.

Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s growing partnership

Cobus Reinach once again proved why he’s currently one of the most lethal scrumhalves in international rugby around the fringes. His brace of tries in the first half came at a crucial time when the Boks were struggling for rhythm.

Reinach’s sharp instincts around the ruck and his speed in broken play turned defensive pressure into attacking opportunity. His partnership with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has also become a revelation, though it certainly wasn’t on anyone’s 2025 rugby bingo card.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu again showed great touches, but he’ll soon realise that you can’t deliver a 10-out-of-10 performance every weekend. Sometimes a solid 7/10 is fine.

Ill-discipline and soft moments remain a concern

Despite the title triumph, the Springboks will be frustrated by how they allowed Argentina back into the game at Twickenham. Leading 29–13 with 20 minutes to play, a combination of poor discipline, missed tackles and another Cheslin Kolbe brain explosion saw them hang on for dear life at the end. An early yellow card for Canan Moodie was also something that helped Argentina start the match on the front foot.

Erasmus and his coaching team will know that consistency over 80 minutes remains the next step in their evolution — especially with an eye on the November tour clashes against Ireland and France.

Leadership and belief define the champions

But there’s still no better team at getting the job done when the chips are down. Captain Siya Kolisi’s post-match comments summed up the Springbok ethos — belief, unity and an unwavering fight.

Even when the odds were stacked against them early in the campaign, the group’s collective mindset never wavered. Kolisi’s leadership shone through yet again after their Ellis Park capitulation, which came when he went off injured.

Younger players such as Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Moodie, Ethan Hooker and Jan-Hendrik Wessels have fed off that culture, while adding much-needed energy to the team.

The Boks’ ability to evolve tactically while maintaining their emotional edge is what makes them formidable — a team built not only on muscle and skill, but also on mentality.