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Argentina beat South Africa in Rugby Championship

Argentina got past South Africa on Saturday night to avoid the ignominy of last place in the 2015 Rugby Championship. That dubious honour goes to South Africa who lost all three games in this year's tournament.

Willie Le Roux scored a try for South Africa in their 37-25 loss to Argentina in Durban.
Willie Le Roux scored a try for South Africa in their 37-25 loss to Argentina in Durban. Reuters/Rogan Ward
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The Rugby Championship final table has an unusual look about it at the end of the 2015 tournament.

For the first time since its inception in 2012, New Zealand aren't the champions.

They were usurped by Australia who won all three matches in a competition reduced to three games in order to allow the four teams time to prepare for next month's Rugby World Cup in England and Wales.

There was another surprise at the other end of the table. Argentina didn't finish with 'the wooden spoon'Ā  of last place. That infamy went to South Africa after they lost their third match 37-25 against Argentina at Kings Park Stadium in Durban.

It was Argentina's second victory in the event. Both have been orchestrated by coach Daniel Hourcade, who took over in November 2013.

"When we had to defend we defended, said the 57-year-old Argentine. 'South Africa had to react but we had a big points difference that we were able to maintain." Ā 

"This was deserved, very fair and it gives us a lot of confidence for what's to come.

Argentina, who begin the World Cup campaign with a Pool C match against champions New Zealand at Wembley on 20 September. They play South Africa again in Buenos Aires next Saturday for their final warm-up before the competition.

That will be a key game for the South Africans. They'll go into the test without skipper Jean de Villiers.

The 34-year-old hs been ruled out for four weeks with a fractured jaw following the game in Durban. It's another blow for the defender who played his first test of 2015 against Argentina after recovering from a serious knee injury.

South Africa will also be without flanker Marcell Coetzee, who faces six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury. It means he will miss the early stages of the World Cup if selected in the final 31-man squad.Ā 

Full-back Willie le Roux is another casualty from the loss to the Pumas, having sprained his ankle early in the match.Ā 

He will undergo scans in the coming days to determine the exact nature of the injury.Ā 

Better news forĀ  coach Heyneke Meyer is that the experienced trio of lock Victor Matfield, scrum-half Fourie du Preez and winger JP Pietersen, will be assessed on Monday to see whether they can take part in the test.

Ā 

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