A beat down in Cape Town, and a good game in La Plata. The All Blacks wrapped up the tournament, but the Pumas still have a shot at third place.

SOUTH AFRICA 28 vs 8 AUSTRALIA
Saturday, September 28, 15:00 GMT, Cape Town

Has there ever been a more pronounced reminder of the difference a scrumhalf can have to a team? The Springboks looked like world beaters in the first half, largely thanks to the tremendous play of Fourie du Preez, man of the match after nearly two years away from the starting jersey. By half time it was 23 points to 3 and the Wallabies might as well have packed it in.

Thankfully Ewen McKenzie saw the blindingly obvious and made a change at scrumhalf, bringing in Will Genia to add impetus, and he obliged his coach, completely reinvigorating Australia’s attack. Among a host of replacements, Ben McCalman made an impact and Chris Feauai-Sautia scored on debut, but the result was never in doubt. The Boks will now finish in second place regardless of the result of the next game, while the Wallabies must at least draw against the Pumas to avoid the bottom of the table.

SCORING
South Africa – M. Steyn 2c 2p, A. Strauss 1t, Z. Kirchner 1t, W. le Roux 1t
Australia – C. Leali’ifano 1p, C. Feauai-Sautia 1t

CARDS
South Africa – F. van der Merwe yellow (39), D. Vermeulen yellow (66)
Australia – M. Hooper yellow (27), S. Timani yellow (75)

SOUTH AFRICA
Z. Kirchner (P. Lambie 75); W. le Roux, J.J. Engelbrecht (J. Serfontein 58), J. de Villiers (capt.), B. Habana; M. Steyn, F. du Preez; T. Mtawarira (G. Steenkamp 53), A. Strauss (B. du Plessis 49), J. du Plessis (C. Oosthuizen 66); E. Etzebeth, F. van der Merwe (J. Kruger 60); F. Louw, W. Alberts (S. Kolisi 60), D. Vermeulen.

AUSTRALIA
I. Folau; A. Ashley-Cooper, T. Kuridrani, C. Leali’ifano (M. To’omua 72), J. Tomane (C. Feauai-Sautia 58); Q. Cooper, N. White (W. Genia HT); J. Slipper (B. Robinson 51), S. Moore (S. Fainga’a 66), B. Alexander (S. Kepu 55); R. Simmons (S. Timani 66), J. Horwill (capt.); S. Fardy (B. McCalman 58), M. Hooper, B. Mowen.

ARGENTINA 15 vs 33 NEW ZEALAND
Saturday, September 28, 22:40 GMT, La Plata

The Pumas came out on fire, and had the momentum before a sliced kick from Nicolas Sanchez ended in a breakaway try for Julian Savea. On another day Kieran Read might have been called offside from the preceding ruck, but the replays showed that it was fair, if only just. Juan Fernandez Lobbe rallied his troops and they stayed on course, down by only two at the break.

The second half was predictable. Though the Argentine forwards made the All Black tight five look rather ordinary, the disparity in class of the backs was well evident. The pace and fitness of New Zealand was never in doubt, and the result was as expected. As Ben Smith crossed for the fourth try, the tournament victory was sealed, with only an undefeated record to play for next week. For the Pumas, a last chance for a victory at home against a badly wounded Wallaby side.

SCORING
Argentina – N. Sanchez 4p, M. Bosch 1p
New Zealand – A. Cruden 3p 1c, B. Barrett 1c, B. Smith 2t, J. Savea 1t, S. Cane 1t

ARGENTINA
J.M. Hernandez; L. Gonzalez Amorosino (H. Agulla 61), M. Bosch, S. Fernandez (F. Contepomi 61), J. Imhoff; N. Sanchez, M. Landajo; M. Ayerza (N. Lobo 70), E. Guinazu (A. Creevy 64), J. Figallo (J.P. Orlandi 64); J. Farias Cabello (M. Carizza 58), P. Albacete; J. Fernandez Lobbe (capt.), P. Matera, J.M. Leguizamon (B. Macome 71).

NEW ZEALAND
I. Dagg; B. Smith, C. Smith, M. Nonu (C. Piutau 70), J. Savea; A. Cruden (B. Barrett 71), A. Smith (T. Kerr-Barlow 68); T. Woodcock (W. Crockett 70), A. Hore (K. Mealamu 53), O. Franks (C. Faumuina HT); B. Retallick (J. Thrush 75), S. Whitelock; L. Messam (S. Luatua 61), S. Cane, K. Read (capt.).