Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus predicted that Saturday night’s friendly with the Pumas in Buenos Aires would be an ugly arm wrestle, and he was spot on.
An out-of-sync Springbok side eventually inched over the line 17-10, but only after having to tackle for their lives in the closing minutes to secure the spoils.
Before Bok fans hit the panic button, however, this was arguably the exact game the world champions needed on the eve of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks. It was a sobering reminder that the Boks are vulnerable when they are not at their best.
The match was primarily about Erasmus bringing several injured players back into the fold, but there was major concern when captain Siya Kolisi limped off after just 15 minutes with what appeared to be a recurrence of the hamstring injury that had kept him out of the Nations Championship.
It was an unfortunate start for the Boks, and Cameron Hanekom in particular.
From the kick-off, Hanekom was penalised for holding a Puma around the neck. He was fortunate to escape a yellow card, but Santiago Carreras punished the mistake by putting three points on the board inside the opening two minutes.
In the sixth minute, Pablo Matera was caught offside, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu levelled the scores, but the Boks’ rustiness continued to show.
From a lineout deep inside the South African 22, Argentina flanker Benjamín Grondona burst through a few phases later to score, and suddenly the Pumas were 10-3 up after only 13 minutes.
The last thing the Boks needed was to allow a passionate home side to gain momentum in front of a fervent Buenos Aires crowd.
In the 15th minute, the Springbok scrum won a penalty, and the visitors camped inside the Pumas’ 22 for what seemed an eternity, only to surrender possession through a lineout error.
To rub salt into the wounds, Kolisi left the field with his head down.
To be candid, the Springboks’ first-half performance was turgid — almost unwatchable at times because of the procession of errors.
But they are world champions for a reason.
On the stroke of half-time, Edwill van der Merwe was worked into space on the right wing and, with almost his first touch of the ball, he raced home for a hugely important try.
The score was created by a slick passage of play in which Canan Moodie released Aphelele Fassi at precisely the right moment, allowing the fullback to put Van der Merwe away.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to make it 10-10 at the break.
Hanekom, the villain of the opening minutes, had by then emerged as the Boks’ best player.
The start of the second half brought little improvement in terms of composure, and the Boks had a sturdy upright to thank when a Carreras penalty struck the post and rebounded into play, eventually allowing the visitors to escape.
The Springboks then moved up a gear, and sustained pressure saw two possible tries referred to the TMO, although neither was awarded.
With three-quarters of the match gone, the sides remained locked at 10-10.
The game changed when Handre Pollard came on.
The veteran flyhalf immediately settled the Boks and brought the structure and control that had been missing. Feinberg-Mngomezulu was struggling to impose himself on the game.
Then came the decisive moment.
Pollard produced an astute kick into the Argentina 22, and from the resulting lineout the Boks worked the ball to Hanekom, who crashed over for the match-clinching try.
Pollard converted to put the Boks 17-10 ahead.
The Pumas threw everything at the visitors in the closing stages, but the Springbok defence held firm under immense pressure to secure a hard-earned victory.
It was hardly a performance for the highlight reel, but perhaps that is precisely why it could prove so valuable.
The Boks were rusty, error-prone and at times uncomfortable, but they found a way to win in a hostile environment. With the All Blacks waiting, they will know they will have to be considerably better.
Scorers
Springboks: Tries — Edwill van der Merwe, Cameron Hanekom. Conversions — Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handre Pollard. Penalty — Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Argentina: Try — Benjamín Grondona. Conversion — Santiago Carreras. Penalty — Santiago Carreras.
