Pumas hold bumbling Boks
25 Aug 2012
RYAN VREDE reports on a 16-16 draw in which Argentina soared while the Springboks stunk.
The Springboks’ journey under Heyneke Meyer will be marked by many transformative lessons. However long that journey is, they should never forget the one dealt out to them this evening in Mendoza. It was primarily a lesson in pressure application and negotiation. Never before has this group been tested in the manner they were this evening – and they failed dismally on both counts.
Their response under this stern examination was worrying. Their lifeline was gained through a charged down try. There was absolutely nothing inspiring about them. Certainly they are still seeking synergy, but, on the evidence of this performance, that process is happening much slower than expected.
The result also reinforces the threat the Pumas pose at home. They’ve claimed big scalps on Argentinian soil in the past and for some time it appeared that the Springboks would become the biggest of their appreciable collection. Their showing reinforces their value to the competition. The Springboks were the unappreciative recipients of their punishing hospitality tonight, but they may benefit from when New Zealand and Australia have to make the long-haul trip to Argentina then back home to face Meyer’s men a week later.
The Pumas can boast that their game was characterised by the key elements the Springboks would want to pride themselves in – brutal and accurate impact in the collisions on attack and defence, efficient set phase work, accurate tactical kicking, slick ball-in-hand attack and composure under pressure. The outstanding feature of their play was, however, a rabid breakdown contest (facilitated by a belligerent effort in the tackle). The Springboks were seldom allowed to get any momentum in their game and were made to look like rank amateurs at times. They never adapted and paid the price.
The Pumas stunned the Springboks in the first quarter – opening up a 10-point lead through a converted Santiago Fernández try and Martín Rodríguez penalty. But where their effort dropped off after 20 minutes at Newlands, the Pumas, fuelled by the support of their passionate fans, sustained their effort throughout.
Morne Steyn managed a penalty, but Martín Rodríguez kicked his third three pointer to give his side a 13-3 half-time lead. The Springboks attempted to vary their play, spinning the ball wide more often than they have to under Meyer. But they lacked precision and imagination and were routinely isolated in the wide channels. Furthermore, their tactical kicking game was poor, compounding their attacking struggles.
There was a observable shift to a tighter game after the break, but their strike runners were met with defiance at the gainline and they had to rely on Morne Steyn’s contributions with the boot to stay alive.
Then Frans Steyn gave them hope of what would have been an undeserved victory, charging down an attempted clearance and collecting to score. Morne Steyn added the extras. The flyhalf had a chance to take the lead with seven minutes to play, but he hooked his attempt. There was a laboured effort to steal victory in the dying stages but the Springboks never looked capable of unhinging the Pumas.
This was a defeat for the Springboks in every way but in the scoreline. How they address their catalogue of problems in the coming fortnight prior to the Perth Test against Australia will be decisive to their campaign.
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86 Comments
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26 Aug 2012, 00:07 am
@Blitzbok-47: What could you show us? As long as it’s not YOUR puny maggot ****…..
26 Aug 2012, 00:10 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-51: dream on you faggott schlonging wankk spatter
26 Aug 2012, 00:11 am
@blitzbok-47: i’m sure you were.. now we need that attitude, running into a gap . verstaan ? Not running into the opposition .
26 Aug 2012, 00:12 am
@TheTorcuatense-42: dont thank them they thought u guys were going to be easy meat and it meant a fairer travel schedule for the all blacks and wallabies.
but u guys were better tonite and deservrd to win
26 Aug 2012, 00:14 am
@blitzbok-52: Tourette’s was once considered a rare and bizarre syndrome, most often associated with the exclamation of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks .. visit your GP
26 Aug 2012, 00:15 am
@TheTorcuatense-42: You can be very proud of your team.
26 Aug 2012, 00:19 am
@goforthegap00-55: jajajajajajajajajaja go fk yourself with spear
26 Aug 2012, 00:30 am
Davy hilarious summation of where SA regrettably finds itself. Lack of imagination and lack of leadership. If SA fans think the AB’s will meet a similar fate, then think again. Our coaching staff and players are far to creative to get sucked into playing one dimensional boring rugby. Love the posts. SA fans giving it to each other. Better than reading the Sunday papers.
26 Aug 2012, 00:53 am
@TheTorcuatense-42: you boys need to get Bustos Moyano on the field
26 Aug 2012, 01:16 am
Adding Arg into the Tri Nations has certainly spiced thing sup this year. After 2 rounds we really don’t know much other than that the AB’s look like the team to beat, but you still can’t be sure.
So far, Arg at home look as tough as we hoped they might be (not convinced they will travel well though), SA look like they are still rebuilding as you would expect (or are they just going to be poor this year), Aus are still struggling with the AB hoodoo and look a bit off the pace (or are the AB’s just supreme at the mo?), and the AB’s look like they might surprise by being the first WC winners to carry on with a champion season after winning the WC (or were Ire and Aus just poorer than expected?)
Expect to see the AB’s demolish the Argies at home because the Pumas haven’t yet faced a seriously threatening attack, but tighter return contest in Arg. Still pick AB’s to win both. I also feel that the AB’s might go 2 for 2 over the Boks this year, but the challenge will be AB attack vs Bok defense. Both very strong. I can’t see the Boks beating the AB’s with tries in 2012, so the test will be whether the Boks can turn the games into a kicking war of attrition through the strong defense they have been showing. Meyers game plan is probably the only chance that I give this Bok team in 2012 as he won’t be able to develop a running game to match the AB’s in only a few weeks. Boks may sneak a home win, but not convinced.
The most intriguing contest is the Boks vs Wallabies. The Wallabies haven’t got their attack working as slick as prev years yet, so this might give the Boks a sniff at both games. Not sure when O’Conner comes back, but Aus with Cooper, O’Conner, Beale, and Genia all on the field look much more threatening against a structured defense than they have shown against the AB’s so far. I am picking a game each at home, with Aus maybe to win both, but the Boks unlikely to win in Aus if they can field a full team.
26 Aug 2012, 01:47 am
Thanks for the words guys.
@Big Hit-59:
Moyano is a great kicker.
But the worst decision was taked in the past.
The past RWC, France have the best % to send the ball to the H, with the fcking gilbert made specially for the torurnament.
Who was the kick trainer? Gonzalo “Speedy” Quesada, top Scorer of Whales 99.
Gonzalo Quesada said ” I could go to the pumas, to help in any thing, if they need water, I could do that, for me train the pumas is like a dream.
The monday, come to help to kick the ball Federico “Ninja” Todeschini. Better late than never.
The coach undesrtand that we loss with England in RWC by 4 points (and we miss 5 factible penalties) the past monday.
If we have a decent coach, I don´t know what could happens.
We will see and thank to all for the support.
26 Aug 2012, 01:50 am
@aliboy-60: the all kaks aer utter ***** and you know it arsestralia are not even half the team they were six years ago and ireland are a bunch of cowards against new zealand and not very good at all. a little perspective there for you. as i SAy before in a straight fight new zealand are p!ss average but it aint ever gonna be a fair fight, new zealand will win the comp because of bias again.
it doesnt matter who australia bruing back their attavk is garbage they have been garbage ball in hand for many years since eddie got booted into touch. no reason why boks shouldnt beat new zealand in kiwi land and aussies will be lucky to get one against the boks and should lose away against argies maybe home too if the argies are fit enough.
26 Aug 2012, 01:52 am
@aliboy-60: and yeah new zealand got lucky with more ref calls against argies in the last world cup remember that? of course not. argies bettered new zealand and were robbed. fkin scumbag kiwis.
26 Aug 2012, 02:48 am
@Blitzbok-62:
You are a dreamer.
This Ozzie team that hasnt been good for what 6 years you say, have beaten you 6 out of 7 times in the last few years. This Ozzie team got into the semis in the RWC, something you didnt do. And of laste they have won the 3 nations.
The AB team that you think is useless are the bench mark in rugby. Everyone in the world want to beat us. You ask ireland, Scotland and Wales who they would want to beat the most…..*** ask even ask yourselves, what team do you all want to beat. Its because we are the best in the world.
And bloggers like you make even more appealing.
26 Aug 2012, 02:51 am
@Blitzbok-63:
And out comes the ref calls…. if you ask me the Boks got away with a few today as well.
Only scumbag here is you, filth that needs to be put out of his fukn misery.
Hear me clown.
26 Aug 2012, 03:29 am
Hey the world know the Kiwis are the worst crooks in the game, just look at the last WC, what a farse.
But reality is reality, what are the chances the ABs are going to in a similar position as the Springboks…. no chance.
Springbok rugby has seldomly had brains to begin with. What nation in the world treats a hero like Smit( argubably the best catain ever in rugby) and a coach like Jake White, like SA rugby have?
No nation would do that…zero. Only good old South Africa.
the ABs have brains, they will note the fotage and work accordingly. They might have been poor today only geting one try, but will come out on top.
It appears like Meyer and theb players have to different ideas what being No1 in the world mean.
26 Aug 2012, 07:41 am
@Greenies-66:
The last RWC was won by a team that had a percentage of over 80% winning ratio. It was fitting for a team with that sort of record.As everyone said in the 2007 RWC, the ref was good and you can only beat who was in front of you now stop moaning.
Thats your reality right there.
Smit the best captain ever???? See this is where you post has gone down the tubes.
What is Smits win percentage as captain?
How about your hero JW, what his win percentage before he was saved by an Ozzie coach ?
26 Aug 2012, 07:57 am
Blitzbok
you think your pissed now
Its gonna be real sweet
checking your reaction when
this so called **** Aussie team
rip your Bokkes a new one in Perth
26 Aug 2012, 08:04 am
@spartan-68:
Oh boy this site would go off if they lose in Perth.
It will be the ABs fault though.
26 Aug 2012, 08:27 am
@Hurricane-69:
Dead right
they draw 16 -16 with the Argies
so the All blacks are cheats ,the refs cheat Aus are useless etc,etc,etc
Amateurs
26 Aug 2012, 09:37 am
heineke meyer – what an *******
26 Aug 2012, 09:38 am
I meam major azzzzzzzzzzhole
26 Aug 2012, 10:06 am
@aliboy-60:
Agree with their comments – but for me Argies v Wallabies is going to be the most interesting, and in a way, so was yesterday’s game, even though we got a pounding.
Amidst all the Bok bashing what we rarely hear on this blog is in fact just how good the Argie forwards were; they have a magnificent history of forward play and have for more than a decade now got the top scrummaging technique on the planet. And yesterday they were magnificent and physical as heck.
Sadly, in giving it all, in Mendoza, they will be a little shot and short of the same level of play when they go against the AB’s next week and the conclusions of Bok ineptitude will persist without due acknowledgement of how brave and colossal that Puma pack is (in Menddoza particularly, where they have still never lost).
I watched in awe and am most pleased that they have justified their inclusion in the ‘Tri-Nations’, or whatever it is called now. The Wallabies forwards would have got massacred, the All Blacks would have been in one of the toughest games they have ever played.
God forbid we give credit where it is due.
26 Aug 2012, 10:54 am
At least our cricket team is #1 and Gary is the best coach in the world! Go Proteas !!!
26 Aug 2012, 11:46 am
JB if the black machine gives you a pounding will you also be generous in your praise or resort to the ref/cheating call?
26 Aug 2012, 12:49 pm
@NZINCHINA-75:
Listen mate – AB forward play has always been state-of-the-art, always will – in terms of technique they have always exceeded the Boks and for that matter any other side, with the next closest the French – but never understimate Bok physicality, passion and heart on a good day which more than makes up for it and that’s where we compete.
As for the reffing … don’t go there, you’re on a hiding to nothing and everybody knows it, including you deep down if you’re honest about it.
26 Aug 2012, 15:00 pm
@J.B. Cowper-76: all blacks are sloppy fkin d!ck slappers they drop into the ruck from any direction they mess with defenders well offside and off the ball they always fk around in the mauls… in fact they coked up a aussie try wen their cok-wipe kiwi lock was offside and brought down the maul in nz 22. they are ***** sloppy twat-fillets and if you dont know that then you need to fkin open your fkin eyes for fk sake!!!! new zealand rank 9th at best for forward play technique and accuracy real bunch of sad fks. after handing mccaw his 7th final warning the sick bastardd just laughs at the ref a fking joke. go jump off a bridge or p!ss off to mudd-slide island.
26 Aug 2012, 15:08 pm
@NZINCHINA-75: if those useless fukz continue to cheat then why should anyone praise them? you skunk-***** weasels are so deep in your own holes you dont need anyone to praise your fanny-wank team anyways so fk you!! you cant admit nz get away with murder so you can go fk yourself into a fkin coma and good ***** riddance to you scum tard
26 Aug 2012, 15:11 pm
@J.B. Cowper-73: yeppo the all blacks nearly got beat by these so called little boys from argie land more than a couple of times now and got a real let off in their world cup game last year but fk that just bash the boks just fkin go brain dead and ignore that maybe our opponent can actually play a bit of fkin rugby. you cant roll over teams with a stron pack and strong defence you just cant fkin do it no matter how much you try. the boks woulda been fking slaughtered if they tried but hey just listen to these fat fukkers here who p!ss their money and lives away on booze coz they are in the fkin know about rugby jjajajajajajaajjaajjaajaja!!!!
26 Aug 2012, 17:43 pm
I think these two results are as good as it gets for the Springboks in the current year’s 4 Nations ‘Championship.’ I see only losses in their next four games. Certainly the Australasian tour is a write-off.
26 Aug 2012, 19:10 pm
@Blitzbok-77:
You make some good points – in fairness, you can’t blame their players for enjoying the free lunch and separate set of rules; who wouldn’t if they could?
27 Aug 2012, 00:06 am
@Blitzbok-77:
What? McCaw was handed his 7th warning?
Now you have to lie to get points across, thats lame really.
Did you notice that Genias yellow card was die to blatant cheating, he actually stopped a good chance of a try, but like many on here these sorts of things get overlooked if it was not a kiwi doing it.
What i see from you is alot of anger.
You do now their is help out there for people with issues like yours.
@J.B. Cowper-81:
So you as well understood that mess of abuse and anger?
27 Aug 2012, 07:37 am
Does anybody besides me think that its stupid to have the biggest boot on the field (F Steyn) in a position where he cannot use it to keep the opposition pinned back in his own half? He is so clearly suited to 15, with pace, an attacking edge, and a huge boot. Yes his defence is good too, but a 12 needs more than that. He is not a playmaker and does not make space on his outside for his line. He does not have the acceleration required for a 12. Frankly, neither does JdV.
Morne does not have the acceleration required of a 10 either.
27 Aug 2012, 09:52 am
@SjamBok-83:
Thank you Sjambok – I’ve been saying the same thing ever since Frans Steyn blitized into the fullback position on the End of Year Tour when he was only 19 – in no other country but dumbkop South Africa would he playing in any other position bu FB – where he has ALL the attributes for greatness, not least of all that boot for 60-yd punt clearances and drop goals of the same distance. On top of it all he can tackle and take a high ball, join the line and he displays uncanny anticipational skills (as evidenced by his try against the Argies) – his positional play at FB is a thing to behold – agree with you entirely (but even though he is underused at centre he is still bloody good in that position).
27 Aug 2012, 10:07 am
@SjamBok-83:
Damn it, i knew someone would notice that FS is way out of position.
Its the fools that keep saying he is the best midfielder in the world that keep him there lol.
27 Aug 2012, 15:56 pm
@Hurricane-85:
Fully agree mate – it wouldn’t happen in any other country; in SA they’d have Daniel Carter in every single position except flyhalf … you can’t even begin to imagine what Bok rugby players have to go through from coaches, managers, rugby bureacrats, polticians and their unforgiving highly-demanding public, 99% of whom have never played rugby at a serious level: it’s a modern wonder of the world that they do as they well as they do.
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