Heyneke Meyer, the coach of the team with the most “character” in the world.
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer hailed the character of his team Sunday in the wake of a lucky 33-31 Rugby Championship victory over Argentina in Salta.
Serial match-winner Morne Steyn ignored whistling and booing to slot a penalty three minutes from time and give the Springboks a second win over the Pumas within eight days.
It was the climax of a stirring last-quarter comeback by the visitors as tries from right-wing Cornal Hendricks and flank Marcell Coetzee wiped out a 12-point deficit.
SuperSport
“I do not want to say every weekend that we have shown great character, but we have now won nine of our last 10 away games.
“My guys proved again that they know how to win,” Meyer said of a result that kept South Africa top of the table after two rounds, one point ahead of New Zealand.
“We were down and out at one stage and the team came back. There are a lot of areas to work on, but we are still in this competition.”
Meyer said an ankle injury suffered by replacement tight-head prop Frans Malherbe would rule him out of the other four Championship matches.
Springboks skipper Jean de Villiers believed the energy of the seven substitutes used was a crucial factor in getting out of jail in the heat of north-western Argentina.
“I am not saying those who started did badly, but our bench made a big impact and that is probably where the match was won.
“We see those on the bench as impact players rather than replacements,” said the centre and veteran of 98 Springbok tests.
De Villiers also lauded Argentina, who seemed set for their first Championship victory when leading 28-16 midway through the second half at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena.
“Once again I am saying that they are a much better team than their world ranking of eighth suggests,” he said.
“We were happy to pull through, but the match could have gone either way.”
Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade and skipper Agustin Creevy found it hard to accept losing just a week after a 13-6 defeat in monsoon-like Pretoria conditions.
“We failed to close the game out after playing at a higher level than the Springboks for much of the game,” admitted Hourcade.
“I do not feel good – there is frustration because we did not handle the closing stages well.”
The Pumas scored three tries for the first time in 14 Championship matches since their 2012 debut and this cheered the coach.
“We must attack if we are going to beat South Africa, New Zealand and Australia and I believe we are on the right track.
He also praised his forwards, who gave the heavier Springbok pack a torrid time for an hour, especially in the scrums.
England-based hooker Creevy said: “There is a lot of disappointment within the team because this is a game we could have won.”
South Africa and Argentina head for Australasia early September to play New Zealand and Australia.
How many “get out of jail” cards do we have left?
So, I ask again. Is Pollard just another one in a long line of great hypes that we’ve seen the last few years? He should be sent back to the Bulls. He is not up to it at international level…AT THIS STAGE. Let’s see what he can do in the CC.
De Allende only to be considered at inside centre or left wing. Why doesn’t Herr Heyneke switch De Allende and JdV?
@ superBul:
Nie net hy nie, die hele VASTE VYF!
Gaan sit en kyk weer ‘klinies’ (Stormersboy, hehehe!) na die opname…dis een groot fokappie daar in ons enjinkame, die ou spul val oormekaar in reverse gear, jy sien net Lood se wange dril…
Nee kyk ek dink nie ons manne maak dinge maklik vir HM nie. Of hulle dink ook hulle is te AWESOME om die harde werk te doen. Daar is nie juis meer manne wat 85 minute kan inklim en als gee nie. Dis hierdie 60 minute manne sindroom. Jy moet net genoeg doen en nie beseer raak nie. HM het jou mos klaar belowe jy is sy WB man. Siek man. Die spelers dink hul besit daai trui.
JdeV is wragtag nie naastenby in dieselfde klas as die AB senters van die laaste 10 jaar nie. Maar hy is nou in gesement en HM sal nie sy eie geloofwaardigheid prys gee en erken dat hy ook een posisie op die veld prys gegee het met sy aanwys van n permanente kaptein nie.
@ Nama:
Jisja!
Pollard should go back to Currie Cup until next year, i agree.
Maar nou is die Bulle aan die anderkant ook weer so verkak, hy gaan dalk net versleg daar.
@ Pietman:
Almal, behalwe n paar uber positiewe bloggers, voel dieselfde.
Dis mooi om die vol glas te sien, maar o wee, nie almal kan verkeerd wees nie, of hoe?
Ek gee regtig nie om as ons n wen skraap teen NZ, Aus of Eng nie, ek raak die bliksem in as ons dit moet doen teen Arg of Wallis.
Maar hulle is reg, dis n wen, so al’s is hunky dorey. Dis seker maar op die einde van die dag al wat tel
I’m out, was a long weekend on RT, but a nice one.
Catch you fellows tomorrow in the new week.
Cheers
Ek hoop ook dat HM vir Etzebeth sal vrystel om die naweek vir die WP teen die Bulle te speel. Hy’t die wedstrydoefening nodig.
Ek weet nie wat ons gaan doen met Juan Smith nie, maar hy is duidelik te stadig gewees vir internasionale rugby. Coetzee en Flo in tandem het nie laasweek uitgewerk nie so dis ook nie ‘n opsie vir die beginspan nie.
Wat is Alberts se storie?
@ Pietman:
Pietman, jis ja dit het sleg gelyk. maar ek het al sulke vertonings gesien, net om die volgende week n totaal omekeer te sien. Met regte skrum slotte agter die voorrye kan dinge sommer gou beter lyk.
Daar is absoluut niemand in SA wat domineer in n voorry nie. Dus moet ons net baie goed , al 8 saam skrum.
@ nortierd:
Ja, dankie eers, ek moet ook inkruip.
Tjeers julle ander manne, praat weer…sal sien hoe loop die Bok se ding hierdie week.
@ nortierd:
66
great work, Thanks Nortie
@ nortierd:
Cheers Nortie.
@ Pietman:
Cheers, ek sal ook netnou verdwyn
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