Driven: Agustín Creevy

Argentina captain Agustín Creevy is targeting revenge against South Africa after his men’s narrow defeat in Pretoria.

A far cry from the 73-13 thrashing suffered by Argentina in 2013, Creevy’s team pushed the Springboks all the way in horrendous conditions at Loftus.

Enjoying the upper hand in the scrum, Creevy underlined the dissatisfaction with the result after coming so close to a first ever win over South Africa.

“We are not happy, because we couldn’t get a try [in the dying minutes] and because we lost,” said Creevy.

“We are a group that works hard and will make the sacrifices we need to the revenge in Salta.”

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“We [the pack] became stronger and the backs also produced a great match, but we are still disappointed – because we wanted to win.”

Creevy revealed how his time vowed not to be beaten in the same manner as 2013 following Ruan Pienaar’s early try.

“When they scored that early try, we got together under the uprights and said to each other we will not capitulate like last year,” added Creevy.

“We managed to get up and gave them good fight.”

“We demonstrated that we are on their level and it was a nice game, but we wanted to win and we were not going to sit back now.”

“We know that they will come better prepared for the rematch in Salta, but we’ll have our people supporting us and hope to make a better contest and perhaps get the win.”

Speaking after their narrow 6-13 loss to the Springboks at a drenched Loftus Versfeld at the weekend, Pumas flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez said teams are now beginning to respect the South Americans.

Argentina are still looking for their first win, now into their third season of the Southern Hemisphere championship, but they know they squandered a chance to break that duck.

The Pumas, who were third at the World Cup in 2007, have lost 12 of their 13 Rugby Championship clashes since joining the expanded competition in 2012.

They drew at home with South Africa in Mendoza two years ago.

“We have a feeling we are gaining more and more respect with each passing game,” Sanchez told a post-match media scrum in Pretoria.

“We put South Africa under a lot of pressure and could have tied the game in the last minute,” the Pumas pivot said.

“We are really disappointed because I think we were really close to a result and let it escape,” added Sanchez after they squandered three late chances to snatch a try and possibly hold their hosts to a second draw.”

Sanchez paid tribute to his team’s forwards who largely dominated South Africa in the scrums, rucks and mauls.

“The forwards had a great game with both the line-outs and the scrums working well.”

“But we are going to have to double that effort, because we know South Africa will re-double their effort in Salta,” he added referring to next Saturday’s return game in the northern Argentine city.