Their second-place finish at HSBC SVNS 2 in Uruguay, matching their result in Kenya last month, confirmed a top-four position in the overall series with one tournament still to play in Brazil. That standing guarantees their qualification for the three-leg World Championship, set to take place in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux in the coming months.
South Africa started the final with intent and intensity, taking the lead almost immediately as Lerato Makua capitalised on a mistake from the kick-off to score and hand her side a 5-0 advantage. Argentina responded quickly with a converted long-range try, but the Bok Women regained control before halftime when Maria Tshiremba pounced on a poor clearance and showed great pace to race down the touchline and score, giving South Africa a 10-7 lead at the break.
However, Argentina took charge in the second half, exploiting space and momentum to run in three tries, including a crucial breakaway after a strong tackle dislodged the ball from captain Nadine Roos, ultimately sealing the victory.
Earlier in the day, the Bok Women showcased their dominance with a commanding 27-0 win over Kenya, recording their third straight clean sheet of the tournament. Tshiremba opened the scoring with a superb finish from a well-executed scrum move, while Byrhandré Dolf crossed twice, including a try just before halftime. Patience Mokone added two more in quick succession during the second half, powering through defenders as South Africa controlled the match from start to finish, with a solid defensive display keeping Kenya scoreless.
While the final result did not go their way, the tournament marked another step forward for coach Cecil Afrika, captain Nadine Roos and their squad. With consistency building and their World Championship place secured, the team will head to Brazil full of confidence, determined to build on their momentum and continue their rise on the international stage.