Springboks rely on the boot 43 times in hard-fought Argentina victory

The Springboks secured a difficult win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday evening in a match that offered little in the way of spectacle and recalled a more traditional style of Test rugby.

The most striking statistic from the contest was the frequency with which both teams turned to the kicking game. Argentina kicked 38 times, while the Springboks put boot to ball on 43 occasions.

Although using the boot so often formed a significant part of the match, a number of those kicks were poorly executed. That will leave head coach Rassie Erasmus with an obvious area to address before the Springboks meet the All Blacks in the Greatest Rivalry Test series.

The result gave the Springboks a hard-earned victory, but the performance also highlighted how much work remains. The volume of kicking, and especially the quality of several attempts, will be among the aspects for Erasmus and his players to examine as they prepare for their next challenge.

The match statistics also covered several other areas of the contest. Those included entries into the 22-metre area, line breaks, carries and post-contact metres. The figures also recorded the kick-to-pass ratio, tackles made, tackle completion and tackles missed.

Dominant tackles, turnovers won and lineouts were included in the statistical breakdown as well.

Taken together, the numbers underline that there are plenty of areas for the Springboks to improve despite the victory. Their success in Buenos Aires provides the immediate result, but the performance itself leaves room for further refinement before the meeting with the All Blacks.

Erasmus will ensure the team is prepared for that series. The Springboks will now turn their attention to the work required ahead of facing New Zealand, with the kicking game one of the clearest points requiring attention.

The match was not presented as a classic, but it delivered a competitive and hard-fought outcome for the Springboks. The statistics provided a clear indication of the evening’s character, with both sides kicking frequently and many phases shaped by territory rather than expansive attacking rugby.

The figures and analysis came from Rugby Pass.

Further discussion surrounding the Springboks has focused on the key area Erasmus believes must improve before the All Blacks matches. Player ratings from the victory over Los Pumas also highlighted a mixed individual display, with Hanekom described as having “shoots out the lights” while others struggled.