Boks get their revenge
What a difference a week makes!
This week's Springbok team played a first half filled with energy and they ended leading it 20-9. The foundation of victory had been solidly laid.
But the second half of three penalty kicks – two to South Africa and one to Argentina – was darb. To have so many chances to score tries and not score one is not great at all.
Perhaps one should also say what a difference a prop makes!
Marcos Ayerza was a late withdrawal from the Pumas' front row because of a hamstring injury and the scrums were a different story this week. Last week in Durban, the Springboks were penalised four times at scrums. No Ayerza and this week the Pumas were penalised four times at scrums.
Mind you, it may not have been all Ayerza, for Victor Matfield said that the Springboks had worked hard on their scrumming all week, under the guidance of Pieter de Villiers, the South African from MalmeSpringboksury who played numerous Tests for France.
The scrums, by the way were a mess. There were 12 scrums, of which only one had the normal sequence of ball-in and ball-out. The scrums produced 12 collapses, seven resets, six penalties and two free kicks. That was not fun. By the end of the match the Springboks were in control of that phase of play. They also had the better of the line-outs.
Having solid first phase possession and protecting their possession far better pout the Springboks on top and they were really on top from the first whistle to the last.
One little gripe – the colours. The Springboks played in white and the Pumas in pale blue and white stripes. It was far too similar and unnecessary when the rainbow has so many colours to choose from.
Patrick Lambie kicked off but the Pumas won a turnover off Zane Kirchner who was up on attack. The Pumas then ran the ball from well inside their own half till Eben Etzebeth produced a miraculous tackle to bundle Juan Imhoff out at the corner flag – which turned out to be the best Puma chance of scoring a try in the match.
Agustín Greevy was [penalised at a tackle and Lambie, amidst whistling, goaled. 3-0 after 6 minutes.
Marcell van der Merwe was penalised for binding on the arm and Nicolás Sánchez goaled. 3-3 after 14 minutes.
Argentina were penalised at a tackle and Lambie goaled. 6-3 after 16 minutes.
The Springboks moved a maul from a line-out but lost the ball into touch. Lambie, as he did three times, tried a diagonal kick for a wing, which failed.
Then the Springboks counterattacked down the left and Ruan Pienaar dived for the line as Juan Manuel Leguizamón dived at him. Leguizamón dislodged the ball which Pienaar spilled forward. The Springboks stayed on the attack and they made two penalties into five-metre lineouts but without success. In the second half they used a five-metre scrum in the same way, also without success.
Then from a five-metre lineout they gave quickly to Heinrich Brussouw who got close to the line. They bashed and then Pienaar threw a long pass to unmarked Brayan Habana on the right wing and he scored the easiest of tries – his 59th try in Tests. Lambie converted from touch. 13-3 after 26 minutes.
Back came the Springboks. They went through phases going wide left, then wide right, then back wide left where Lwazi Mvovo beat three defenders to stretch out and score a try, which Lambie converted. 20-3 after 29 minutes.
Two tries in three minutes carried with it much promise but sadly there were no more tries in the next 50 minutes of the match.
Sánchez kicked a tackle [penalty against Adriaan Strauss and then another tackle penalty against Etzebeth to make the half-time score 20-9.
After the second Sánchez penalty, the Springboks kicked off and Habana caught it brilliantly and a try seemed distinctly possible till the Springboks were penalised.
Both hookers were substituted for the start of the second half. Schalk Brits relished the chance and was prominent throughout the half with his dancing feet. In fact during the half, both sides emptied their benches. That never makes for playing continuity.
Habana started the second half running and Mvovo was edged out on the left when a try seemed likely. The Springboks stayed on the attack and Lambie stood back to kick a searing goal on an afternoon of impeccable goal-kicking. 23-9 after 43 minutes.
The next score was another Sánchez penalty and then a Lambie penalty ended the scoring at 26-9 with 25 minutes to play.
The Springboks had by far the better chances to score try but didn't, not even after lock Tomás Lavanini was sent to the sin bin for diving into a tackle/ruck, shoulder first and hurtfully. On three occasions the Springboks enjoyed bashing at the Puma line, but the Pumas held firm and bran out whenever they could and the match ended with the Springboks attacking.
Man of the Match: Patrick Lambie for his 100% kicking record, his bravery on attack and defence, his poositional play and the chances he gave his team-mates to play.
Moment of the Match: Both tries and the build-up to them
Villain of the Match: Nobody was that bad.
The scorers:
For Argentina:
Pens: Sanchez 4
For South Africa:
Tries: Habana, Mvovo
Cons: Lambie 2
Pens: Lambie 3
DG: Lambie
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Juan Manuel Legiuzamón, 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 6 Tomás Lezana, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Benjamín Macome, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustín Creevy (captain), 1 Lucas Noguera
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Lucas González Amorosino.
South Africa: 15, Zane Kirchner 14, Lwazi Mvovo, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damien de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Jan Serfontein.
NB Habana wore No.11 but played right wing. Mvovo wore No.14 and played left wing.
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
