The Springboks were nearly embarrassed by Argentina for a second time, but coach Allister Coetzee feels his team’s late comeback showed a “never-give-up attitude”.
Los Pumas almost repeated their victory from the corresponding match a year ago in Durban, when they won 37-25, as they led 23-13 with 10 minutes to go in the Rugby Championship clash at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday night.
But the Boks responded with tries by fullback Johan Goosen and a penalty by Elton Jantjies to level the scores at 23-23, before No 8 Warren Whiteley forced his way over in the left corner to clinch a vital victory.
The South Africans, though, were up against it for most of the match as Argentina were more abrasive in contact and urgent with ball-in-hand, and had a number of other try-scoring chances that were wasted.
“I am relieved, to be honest. One should really value a win in every Test match. And I know it’s been really scratchy for the first 65, but the last 15… that is actually what we want to see for longer periods,” Coetzee told SuperSport in the post-match TV interview.
“Basic mistakes, the fundamentals again – we have to look at that and get it right. It actually started with the decisions, when to kick and when to run again! It’s not really there yet. The guys actually make sometimes good decisions, then the execution is not right. But it’s work in progress.
“I also just want to mention that the Argentinians are a good side. They are not an improving side in rugby – they are a force that beat us last year. This team lost the first Test against Ireland, tonight we got the result.”
But there are a number of issues that Coetzee and the rest of the Bok management have to address if they hope to be on the winning side in the return game against Argentina in Salta next Saturday.
Jantjies missed two three-pointers that he should’ve slotted, and the Boks would also be better served by kicking long-range penalties into touch than expect Goosen to knock them over from ridiculous distances.
Goosen also looked lost at times at fullback, and his lack of experience in the position showed. A specialist No 15 – not another utility in Jesse Kriel either – has to be brought in, with the most suitable options being Gio Aplon and Cheslin Kolbe.
The energy that Jaco Kriel brought in the last few minutes is needed from the start, while Pieter-Steph du Toit also makes a much greater contribution around the field compared to Lood de Jager.
One of the few shining lights was blindside flank Oupa Mohoje, who got stuck in physically and carried the ball strongly, and was also an effective lineout option.
His work-rate was higher than what it has been for the Cheetahs this season, and he was unfortunate to lose out on the Man-of-the-Match award to scrumhalf Faf de Klerk.
“That’s (the comeback) something you can’t coach. It shows that… it’s testimony to a good culture in the team and a never-give-up attitude. The idea was really for the bench to bring that impact and take the game completely away from Argentina, and here they had to come and win the game for us,” Coetzee said.
“But I’m really proud of the impact that the bench made, and still, it is important to win Test matches at home. It’s going to be a massive test. It’s a short turnaround also in the sense that we’ve got to travel, so we’re missing out on one day’s training. It will be tough out there, and we just have to hang in and make sure we select the right side, and cut down on our mistakes.
“So, there’s actually something to start with and to base your foundation on – on a win. Rectify those mistakes and work harder this week. It’s going to be tough in Salta, but (there) must be a much bigger improvement.”
The one definite injury worry is tighthead prop Julian Redelinghuys, who went off in the first half with a hamstring problem. He is unlikely to travel to Argentina, which should see Vincent Koch start next week, with Lourens Adriaanse coming on to the bench.
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