The Springboks were dragged into the gutter before they were able to emerge with a historic victory over Argentina that enabled them to clinch back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time, coach Rassie Erasmus said.
Though the narrow 29-27 win in front of more than 70,000 fans in London was far from perfect, it had enabled the Boks to lay a solid platform for a challenging five-match European tour in November, a relieved Erasmus said.
The Boks had to dig deep before they got over the line and fought back from being 13-3 down in the 25th minute to take a 15-13 lead shortly after halftime at Twickenham.
“I’m satisfied with the result and winning the Championship back-to-back,” Erasmus said.
“This was a massive game for us, and though it was far from a perfect performance, I would prefer to see us learn while we are winning than losing.
“Argentina definitely showed massive fight and that they can really take things to the gutters.
“We are still in a good position for the Rugby World Cup draw, but there is no doubt we have five tough matches ahead, and there is a lot of work ahead for us.
“The reality is that Argentina defeated Australia, New Zealand and the British & Irish Lions, so we’ll celebrate tonight and take that positive from this match.
“We knew it would be tough and at halftime you could see the guys were tired, but at the same time Argentina played well.
“They played a loose game, and we got a yellow card in the first half, while there were also a few close calls that could have changed the game.”
Bok skipper Siya Kolisi said his team had assessed their game plan at the halftime break.
“It was simple, and we all felt the same as the coaches. We needed to play with more unity, make fewer mistakes and concede fewer penalties,” he said.
“But that said, all credit to Argentina. We knew they would come out fighting like that, and we know their mindset, so we knew we had to keep fighting until the end.
“We know how to fight as a team and to dig deep, and that’s all thanks to coach Rassie in the way he made us change the way we think.
“This team have done a lot for the country, and I’m proud of the group and the coaches. They always come up with new ideas and as players we adapt and accept that.
“This Rugby Championship was tough and anyone could have won it, so to be able to lift the trophy for the second time in a row is amazing for us and the country.
“We are very grateful for all the support from all the fans at the stadium and from our people at home.
“I know what we do on the field doesn’t change a lot in our country.
“But I know the feeling that it gives people, that SA is going to walk tall and people who look at us in the places that we come from.
“They look at us and say they know that it’s possible, no matter how tough things are.
“This win is not just for us, but the people of SA.”
Scorers:
Argentina 27: Tries: Bautista Delguy (2), Rodrigo Isgro. Conversions: Santiago Carreras (3). Penalties: Carreras (2).
Springboks 29: Tries: Cobus Reinach (2), Malcolm Marx (2). Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The Herald
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