South Africa 30<\/p>\n
Argentina 23<\/p>\n
A LAST-GASP Warren Whiteley try gave South Africa a dramatic 30-23 victory over Argentina Saturday in a Rugby Championship first-round thriller in Nelspruit.<\/p>\n
Trailing by 10 points with 10 minutes left, the Springboks fought back to score two tries and avenge a stunning home loss to the Pumas in the corresponding fixture last season.<\/p>\n
Springboks captain Adriaan Strauss [file photo]. Source: Joe Giddens<\/p>\n
Recalled full-back Johan Goosen triggered the fightback with a try created by scrum-half and man of the match Faf de Klerk.<\/p>\n
And with less than one minute left, No. 8 Whiteley dived over in the corner to give the hosts a winning start over brave opponents who secured a losing bonus point.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In the opening match of the Championship earlier Saturday, world champions New Zealand thrashed Australia 42-8 in Sydney.<\/p>\n
South Africa had the first scoring chance on a pitch made slippery by pre-match rain, but fly-half Elton Jantjies pulled his kick wide of the right post.<\/p>\n
However, from the drop-out the Springboks took the lead with Jantjies bursting past two defenders and Goosen sent right wing Ruan Combrinck over in the corner.<\/p>\n
Jantjies atoned for his penalty miss by converting from the touchline to give the home side a seven-point lead as they sought revenge for a 37-25 loss in Durban last year.<\/p>\n
Rival fly-halves Nicolas Sanchez and Jantjies traded penalties and South Africa led 10-3 midway through the opening half.<\/p>\n
Giant Argentine left wing Manuel Montero was sin-binned on 22 minutes for lifting South African centre Damian de Allende and then flinging him to the ground.<\/p>\n
But it did not prove to be a setback as the South Americans scored 10 unanswered points when reduced to 14 players.<\/p>\n
Sanchez slotted a penalty and then superb handling between backs and forwards culminated in centre Matias Orlando diving over for a try Sanchez converted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Nicolas Sanchez was at 10 for the Pumas [file photo]. Source: PA Archive\/Press Association Images<\/p>\n
South Africa fluffed chances to score again before half-time in front of a 27,500 crowd.<\/p>\n