Smashed: The Boks got a taste of their own medicine
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South Africa needed a charge-down try to snatch a 16-all draw against Argentina at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza on Saturday.
The outcome is the Pumas' best result in 15 Tests with the Springboks, but the hosts will nevertheless be bitterly disappointed after leading the match until the 65th minute.
Argentina held a deserved 13-3 lead at half-time as the limitations of South Africa's predictable game plan were exposed. Unable to dominate their opponents physically or at the set piece, the Boks no had alternative solution to get past the resolute Argentine defence.
Intensity is sometimes an overused word in rugby columns but the Pumas were positively breathing fire! It's a rare sight to witness the Springboks outmuscled at the breakdown area but they were coming off second best as the hosts threw numbers into the contact area, especially in the first hour.
Poor decision making and an inexcusable number of missed tackles left Heyneke Meyer's men staring defeat in the face until Frans Steyn saved their blushes with an opportunistic try.
The verdict from Boks fans will be clear: Simply not good enough.
Argentina were first on the scoreboard when Martín Rodríguez landed a penalty with his second attempt at goal.
The Pumas showed a refreshing commitment to keep the ball alive and were rewarded with a try via Route One at the end of an eight-phase charge. Centre Santiago Fernández collected the ball after a strong run form prop Juan Figallo to ghost into a gap and score under the sticks. Rodríguez added the easy extras.
The full-back missed another opportunity to extend the lead but visiting pivot Morné Steyn was also off target with his first penalty attempt, leaving the scores at 10-0 on the half-hour mark.
South Africa's fly-half landed his next shot though to become the Springboks' highest all-time points scorer, but Rodríguez replied in kind just before the interval to maintain the ten-point gap as the teams swapped ends.
Steyn and Rodríguez traded penalties early in the second period but referee Steve Walsh was starting to tire of Argentina's infringements on the deck and the South African fly-half could reduce the deficit to seven points.
Fernández narrowly missed a drop goal as the hosts tried to run down the clock, but the Pumas were getting ahead of themselves. The game was far from over.
The boisterous crowd was finally subdued when Frans Steyn charged down Marcelo Bosch and jogged in for a match-changing try. His namesake's conversion levelled matters and the scorers were not troubled again.
Man of the match: Veteran prop Rodrigo Roncero had a storming game but we can't look past Pumas skipper Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe who was brilliant at the breakdown, outstanding on defence and made life very difficult for the Boks in the line-outs.
Moment of the match: You've never heard a roar from a rugby crowd like the one after Santiago Fernández's try. It was a great moment for Argentine rugby not only because it put the Pumas ten points ahead but because of the way the hosts threw themselves into contact to set it up. 'Commitment' does not even begin to describe it.
Villain of the match: Heyneke Meyer. Not even the Bulls play old-school Bulls rugby anymore. Something needs to change. Fast.
The scorers:
For Argentina:
Try: Fernández
Con: Rodríguez
Pens: Rodríguez 3
For South Africa:
Try: F. Steyn
Con: M. Steyn
Pens: M. Steyn 3
Argentina: 15 Martín Rodríguez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernández, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Nicolás Vergallo, 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c), 7 Álvaro Galindo, 6 Julio Farías Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guiñazú, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements:16 Bruno Postiglioni, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Leonardo Senatore, 19 Tomás Leonardi, 20 Martín Landajo, 21 Lucas González Amorosino, 22 Juan Imhoff.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Pat Lambie, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.
Venue: Estadio Malvinas Argentinas
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces (France), John Lacey (Ireland)
By Ross Hastie
Comments
tremulo says...
hola... we are here..!. c'mon pumas almost winning and NOT losing their second ever game with the "big boys" at championship level..! two points: one, that the pumas have been already a pretty good side, with more than just heart, but with good players, a very old league, a wonderful rugby-educated following (how did you like the atmosphere for a game in the winter cold next to the andes...?) and two, that yes, they have much to improve and they will. slowing the game down, and sometimes overusing the pack and the kick are facets of their game that are going to evolve with confidence, and confident they will get when results like this stop being considered anomalies by friends and foes... and with another great team and rugby nation competing at top level, all of rugby wins... i am sorry to have almost tasted a win, but if the team continues to improve, we will look back at this game as a brilliant page in puma history. vamos!
Posted 05:11 26th August 2012
three6three6 says...
Ah, "fat man rugby".... the Bokke have usually been masters playing this particular type of rugby. The Bokke failed to adapt their game on the pitch and continued to ply 'biff & bosh' rugby and failed to win the match as a result.
The introduction of a team like Argentina to what had become a cosy trinations competition will have many benefits. The Wallabies will certainly struggle to meet their physical style of play. The Bokke will need to adapt their game from the one dimensional 'biff & bosh' that they continue to play and meanwhile the All Blacks will continue to evolve winning strategies...
The Bokke have the raw talent to win any competition in the SH. However, the crucial element is lacking - "Rugby Union is a running, passing and thinking game" - and much more thought is necessary....
By the way, I do like the name of the stadium - Estadio Malvinas Argentinas - where of course "Islas Malvinas" is also the Spanish name of the Falkland Islands. What a great name for a stadium!
Posted 04:28 26th August 2012
ManWarrior says...
@Mace, however unlikely it may seem, I pray the Springboks make you eat your words! You're a chop (and in SA slang that's not a good thing).
Posted 03:45 26th August 2012
ClaudioPaz says...
I really hope that Argentine rugby fans understand that this is a long road to success. Today's draw makes all of us happy but there will be ups and downs with an always growing trend. And the end of the road is to become used to win and loose with our fellow South.hemisphere neighbours. When we get used to expect a win against any of the big three, that is the beginning of a better rugby life for our Country. In the meantime all we fans have to do is bring support and comfort to our players. No matter what.
Posted 02:52 26th August 2012
kiwilad says...
The Bokke will play boring kick and chase rugby as long as Morne Steyn is at 10.
Isnt it time to pick a new 10, one who is capable of running the ball, you have plenty available, the Bulls/Morne Steyn style has not worked for how many years now?
Is it that the Bokke coaching panel is afraid to change incase they fail??
Keep this up and fail is all you will do.
Big ups to the Argies though, they have always been tough at home.
Posted 02:40 26th August 2012
Trader2 says...
I bet FISH is really estatic this week?
Posted 02:01 26th August 2012
SACanuck says...
Geez, and I thought the Assies were bad today. That was pathetic from the Boks. The past 3 years have been useless. You would think that someone would wake up and figure out that the way the Boks are playing at the mommet is not going to win many games. Tough being a Bok supporter these days.
Well played Los Pumas you actually deserved to win this one.
Posted 02:01 26th August 2012
mumbojumbo says...
Jislaaik after recovering from De Villiers it looks the big boks have even bigger problems to deal with. Desire and fight is there but where is the innovation?. Fact is Springbok rugby is very conservative and they need a new approach.Muscle and brawn also needs cunning and flair.
Posted 01:51 26th August 2012
hellovanite says...
I'm a dye in the wool New Zealander who's played rugby most of his life. I friggen can't stand these fwit kiwis that come onto this site and start spouting on about how the ABs are going to do this and that, like they've been all night out on the piss. Please show some humility lest it comes back to bite you. Oh well at least if that happens it will cull some of the rah rah we will destroy everyone" idiots. Well played Argentina you will be a gard team to beat at home. Do all the kiwis on here not remember the WC quarter final? well let me remind you that for 40 mins we were locked at 9-7.
Posted 01:21 26th August 2012
rugbyphile says...
There are so many quick players in SA rugby---and they have to put up with Jean de Villiers waddling around the field--he is a proven loser and when the crunch comes will always take the wrong decision as shown in RWC--Heyneke Meyer's selection of Bulls also- plays and his total lack of understanding of the supporting/passing game will commit SA rugby to the doldrums for years--well played Pumas
Posted 01:10 26th August 2012
scrumpoacher says...
How is it we won the competition last year and now some of you lot are saying we are wooden spooners? Doesnt make sense even with the injuries we have...
Posted 00:46 26th August 2012
scrumdog says...
Pumas deserved to edge by, but that's they way it goes and it was a fair result. Steve Walsh has come on a long way and refereed the game very well indeed.
Posted 00:42 26th August 2012
fattysock says...
@hayj05
This is my comment on Cobus' column.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
fattysock says...
"Although it will not be that critical against Argentina this coming weekend"
"I would have hoped that they would have used these two Test matches to prepare for the challenge ahead."
"Once again this will not be critical this weekend"
I really hope the Pumas win this weekend...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While they couldn't quite get the win, I'm very much looking forward to the Visage column this week to see how he reacts given his arrogant and dismissive comments about Argentina in the last one!!
Posted 00:42 26th August 2012
hayj05 says...
@Mace - Geeeez... Don't get too ahead of yourself. I'm an AB's fan as well & yes it looks promising but there's still a loooooooong way to go in this championship.
The thing is, the Boks were poor & they'll be disappointed. They're only going to go one way & that is up.
Btw the AB's play Argentina in Wellington in 2 weeks time & then the following week they're playing the Boks in Dunedin. Then they head over to Argentina & South Africa for the last 2 games.
Cya in Welly Argie fans.
Posted 00:41 26th August 2012
kiwilad says...
History shows that the Pumas are difficult at home.
Australia will drop a game in Argentina, as I have said for weeks, the question now is will Australia be carrying a large wooden spoon come tournaments end??
Posted 00:27 26th August 2012
porridge_time says...
Saving grace for the Bok is that Argentina will beat Oz. ABs have nothing to fear from Boks, they have no game plan and are really struggling at the breakdown.
Posted 23:55 25th August 2012
Voice says...
Big up to the Pumas firstly, they beat the boks at their own game. I think the boks showed the immaturity that comes with 5 senior players leaving or retiring (bakkies, smit, matfield, du preez & foure) those 5 players nearly 400 test caps. The Pumas sucked us into the off the ball stuff and all we wanted to do was target the player instead of the ball. They spoilt the breakdown well and the boks were simply terrible but they will learn - I hope!
Potgieter, Coetzee & Alberts simply dont pass and are one dimensional and easy to defend against - where to from there? If you look at Messam, McCaw & Reid they have variations on their game but once again we have 3 rookies so hopefully with time we will improve.
Good to have Los Pumas in the competition!!
Posted 23:48 25th August 2012
carpelone says...
Well done Los Pumas. You should have won this.
There are so many problems in the Boks that I dont jnow from where to start.
Management seems the most urgent area, we are far from NZ in that. There is no apparent plan to develop players and no idea of what the final Boks squad would be.
Posted 23:29 25th August 2012
hayj05 says...
PR posters that competely wrote the Pumas off reveal yourselves... that includes you Cobus.
Congrats Argentina, you may not of got the win but you've certainly announced yourselves in the championship earlier than most people expected. A best ever result against the Boks in just your 2nd game with the big boys is a proud achievement.
Posted 22:55 25th August 2012
Mace says...
Well im really excited now, our All Blacks machine will put two hidings on the Pumas and by then we will be ready to smash the Boks out of this compitition too. Esp if they play like they did today, I have seen schoolboy teams that could have beaten this pathetic Bok and Wallabies team. Ahh life is good in the Land of the Long White Cloud hahaha... ALL BLACKS FOREVER!!!!!
Posted 22:50 25th August 2012