LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Bryan Habana of South Africa celebrates with team mates after the 2015 Rugby World Cup Bronze Final match between South Africa and Argentina at the Olympic Stadium on October 30, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

 

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Bryan Habana of South Africa celebrates with team mates after the 2015 Rugby World Cup Bronze Final match between South Africa and Argentina at the Olympic Stadium on October 30, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Bryan Habana of South Africa celebrates with team mates after the 2015 Rugby World Cup Bronze Final match between South Africa and Argentina at the Olympic Stadium on October 30, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Springbok great Bryan Habana was denied a World Cup record as South Africa beat Argentina 24-13 in the third place play-off as several of their veteran stars bid farewell to Test rugby.

Habana needed just one try to break the World Cup career record of 15 he shares with retired New Zealand star Jonah Lomu.

But in what is likely to be the 32-year-old wing’s final World Cup match, Habana squandered several chances before being taken off in the 67th minute by Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

Habana’s fellow wing JP Pietersen and lock Eben Etzebeth, from a Habana pass, did score tries.

Fly-half Handre Pollard kicked 14 points as South Africa, who started the tournament with a shock defeat by Japan in the biggest World Cup upset of them all, finished on a high to come third as they did in 1999.

Springbok flanker Schalk Burger, captain for the day Victor Matfield and then Habana, all world champions in 2007, were replaced in the second half to a standing applause from a crowd of more than 55,000 as they made their farewells.

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