‘It just wasn’t good enough,’ said Springbok captain Salmaan Moerat after the loss to Argentina. Photo: AFP
Springbok captain Salmaan Moerat is disappointed that his team failed to capitalise on a strong 17-0 lead after 15 minutes to fade away to a 29-28 loss to Argentina in the Rugby Championship on Saturday night.
The Boks were dominating in the first quarter in Santiago del Estero, but conceded 26 points before half-time and battled to regain the ascendancy in front of a hostile crowd in hot and humid conditions.
Now the world champions will hope to secure the title in Saturday’s clash against the Los Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium (5pm kick-off).
Moerat said: “There were large parts of the game where we did really well and we put them under pressure, and then obviously we got the yellow card and we took our foot off the pedal.
“It just wasn’t good enough. A lot of credit needs to go to Argentina. They are a quality side, and if we are not going to be on our game, they will punish us.
“Well done to them. We’ll have a hard look at ourselves and we’ll do everything we can to fix it.”
Moerat was referring to the harsh yellow card given to wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, who tackled Pumas speedster Mateo Carreras at chest level, only for his chin to bounce up into a head-to-head contact.
English referee Christophe Ridley ruled that it was worthy of a yellow card and assessment for a possible red.
The Pumas, roared on by an passionate home crowd, scored 14 points while Arendse was in the bin.
Moerat and fellow starting lock at the weekend, Ruan Nortjé, will be under pressure for their positions later in the year because of the news that World Cup winners RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn are on the mend.
Franco Mostert is also making good progress after having had two operations since his severe leg injury sustained against Ireland in June.
Kleyn, who had a cheekbone fracture, made his comeback at the weekend win in Munster’s defeat of Connacht.
Eben Etzebeth, who equalled Victor Matfield’s Bok Test record of 127 caps in Argentina, is sure to don the No 4 jersey in Mbombela in place of Moerat, and set a new national mark.
Coach Rassie Erasmus hopes that the Mpumalanga crowd can lift his team to clinch the title.
One round left to go in the Rugby Championship 🍿
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 22, 2024
Argentina's 1-point win means the trophy will be decided this weekend.
Nelspruit is the place to be 📌 pic.twitter.com/yp7Eh8D2Ai
“That is a positive spin on it, definitely, but we will have to get over tonight,” he said.
“It hurts a lot, I must be honest with you, and I’m sure the South African people feel the same.
“We have to point the fingers at ourselves ... I’m not just talking players, I’m talking coaches as well, and the whole management.
“Next week, we have a chance to redeem (ourselves) and try to finish it, and win the Rugby Championship.
“But it doesn’t make tonight easier. There is something going on here with Argentinian rugby, with (coach Felipe) Contepomi and his team have rebuilt.
“They are really coming here without even having a competition. Apart from the Rugby Championship, they don’t have a club competition where they play, and he’s picking his players from all over the world and he’s getting all that input from French rugby, Irish rugby, English rugby.
“He’s a really smart coach, so compliments to them. Next week will be big and will be great, but we must get over tonight first.”
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