Dibokke hosted Los Pumas in the Lowveld province, Mpumalanga the past weekend. Image: Springboks
(The Post News)- The Rugby Championship final-round match between the Springboks and Argentina took place in Mpumalanga, over the past weekend. In the midst of their ongoing battle for the Championship, the Boks and Los Pumas faced off late on Saturday night in rural Argentina, with the Boks losing by one point.
South Africa has one last chance to win the Rugby Championship this weekend at the Mbombela Stadium, and in the process, give Argentina some payback. This is their first chance to win the title since 2019.
The Springboks are aware that after going a considerable way, they ultimately lost the match. They missed their initial chance to win the Rugby Championship, but they have another chance to win the competition now that they are in the lowveld. With a long-term perspective, Springboks scrum coach Daan Human stated that the players might benefit greatly from their experience in Argentina.
“We were always aware that playing them there would be difficult. It’s not usually the case, but there are a few guys that played there for the first time. They are not present. They are unaware of the pressure in the stadium. It was an experience for them as well, and perhaps in the future,” said Human.
Even though Manie Libbok missed a pivotal kick, the team quickly accepted responsibility for the defeat because they were the ones who put themselves in this situation in the first place.
Bok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse says he still has complete support for Libbok. “I gave Manie my whole support when he was with the Sharks. Coach Tony demonstrated to us that even if he makes a mistake, I will still support him wholeheartedly. We now had a great deal of opportunity in the review. It cannot be said that this was the final kick. In the game, we had numerous chances to win it.”
The Springboks saw firsthand what Australia and New Zealand had already sensed: Argentina is a serious player. Since competing in the Rugby Championship, they have advanced to a new level.
Human responded that they guess that they are all as desperate as Argentina are. They actually had three successful outcomes versus all three opponents, which is the best time they have had since they are in the championship.
After being transported to a remote area of Argentina for the fifth round, the Boks now get the opportunity to repay Los Pumas on the Bushveld.
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