Erasmus praises South Africa’s resolve after Argentina test win

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says South Africa’s ability to withstand sustained late pressure in their 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires showed the character within his squad.

Los Pumas made the brighter start on Saturday evening, moving into a 10-3 lead in the eighth minute. However, Argentina were unable to add to their score for the remaining 72 minutes as the visitors recovered and protected their advantage.

The home side came close to forcing a decisive moment in the closing stages, launching a 17-phase attack as they searched for the try that would have drawn the match level. South Africa held firm under pressure to secure the win.

Erasmus admitted that the Springboks had not produced a performance that satisfied him, with the team appearing short of sharpness. But he was encouraged by the way his players battled through a difficult contest and remained composed when Argentina threatened to equalise.

“We’re not happy with the performance itself, but we’re happy with the character the players showed,” Erasmus said after the match.

“A lot of the group haven’t played in a while, and we had a few younger players in this squad who brought real energy. So, we’re not saying we played well, but we’re very happy with how hard we ground this one out.

The Springboks coach said the match provided an important reminder of how narrow the margins can be in rugby played at the highest level.

“The lesson is that knockout-level rugby is always close. Rugby World Cup pool games can sometimes be a bit more comfortable, but this is exactly the kind of match you learn from.

South Africa’s victory was achieved despite a display Erasmus felt was below the team’s best. He said the pressure created by Argentina, particularly during the final stages, made the experience valuable for his players.

“Even if we had drawn tonight, we would have still learned a lot about grinding out a result with a crowd going wild, and Argentina were strong in those closing minutes. For us to stay calm through that, even without playing our best rugby, tells me we’re handling pressure a little better than before.”

The result means South Africa leave Buenos Aires with a hard-earned win after being forced to defend their lead for much of the second half. Argentina’s early advantage was overturned, but their late attacking spell ensured the match remained in doubt until the final moments.

Erasmus will now turn his attention to the Greatest Rivalry Test series against the All Blacks. The series begins with the first Test in Johannesburg on 22 August, giving the Springboks another demanding challenge after their narrow victory over Los Pumas.