Was Twickenham the 16th Man for the Springboks?

In their successful quest for the Rugby Championship title, did South Africa benefit from an unofficial 16th man in the form of a partisan Twickenham crowd? The decision to host Argentina’s “home” game in London created a surreal atmosphere that heavily favored the Springboks and played a crucial role in the outcome.
Instead of the hostile cauldron of a stadium in Argentina, the Pumas were faced with a sea of green in the stands. The roars that greeted every big Springbok scrum and tackle were a stark contrast to the relative silence that met their own positive plays. It was a complete reversal of the typical home and away dynamic.
This environmental advantage cannot be overstated. It allowed the Springboks to settle into a rhythm and play their power game without the intense psychological pressure that a true away crowd generates. Coach Rassie Erasmus was quick to acknowledge this, admitting his team was “fortunate” with the venue.
For Argentina, the experience must have been demoralizing. To have to generate their own energy and emotion without the backing of their passionate fans, while their opponents were being spurred on, was an immense handicap in a match of this magnitude.
While South Africa’s on-field performance, particularly their scrum, was the primary reason for their victory, the influence of the pro-Bok Twickenham crowd was undeniable. It was a factor that tilted the scales and helped them secure a historic title on foreign soil.