Los Pumas celebrate the win against the Springboks
A hat-trick from Juan Imhoff helped the Argentinian Pumas record their 1st ever win over the Springboks in a 37 / 25 Rugby Championship victory in Durban on Saturday.
It’s taken 20 attempts but the Pumas finally got a positive result against the Springboks after 2 close calls last year. Using their domination at scrum time as a platform, Argentina created the biggest upset in the history of The Rugby Championship on the day that they commemorated 50 years since their 1st tour of South Africa.
The result means the Springboks have now lost 4 consecutive Tests to different countries for the 1st time since 1965.
While the Pumas produced their best game of the year, tackling their hearts out, their disjointed hosts were a pale shadow of the side that troubled the All Blacks 2 weeks prior as they made countless unforced errors and offered very little on attack.
Los Pumas led 27 / 13 at halftime thanks to 3 excellent tries, including 2 for Juan Imhoff, who also helped set up the opening try for Marcelo Bosch.
The Springboks hit back via a try from lock Lood de Jager, but the visitors were well worth their lead against an error-prone Springbok outfit.
Imhoff bagged his hat-trick in controversial circumstances soon after the break and although the Springboks hit back via tries from Willie le Roux and Bryan Habana, they fell well short of saving the result.
Celebrations as the Pumas win a historic victory against the Springboks in Durban
It took los Pumas just 2 minutes to score the opening try and silence the Durban crowd. Imhoff sliced through the Springbok defence from a set-piece move before offloading to Bosch, who cruised home. Juan Martin Hernandez added the easy extras to cap off a perfect start for the visitors.
The scrum tussle between Springbok tighthead prop Vincent Koch and veteran Pumas loosehead Marcos Ayerza had been highlighted as a key battle and it was the Springbok rookie who won the 1st Round, earning a penalty for Handré Pollard to send over.
Ayerza made more than a strong comeback however, winning the next 2 penalties, but Hernandez was off target with both, to leave the scores at 7 / 3 at the end of the 1st quarter.
The Pumas went over for another excellent try to stretch their lead after Willie le Roux handed possession away cheaply with a terrible kick, which led to Tomas Cubelli putting Juan Imhoff away a few phases later. Hernandez added the conversion and at 14 / 3, the Springboks looked rattled.
Strong runs from Handré Pollard and Bismarck du Plessis forced an offside penalty, which the flyhalf slotted, but the Pumas would soon be over for their 3rd try.
A massive scrum laid the platform for Leonardo Senatore to break off, with Tomas Cubelli providing the link for Juan Imhoff to cross on the overlap for his 2nd try. Hernandez’s conversion stretched the lead to 15 points.
The Springboks hit back with a classic drive off the back of a lineout, which saw Lood de Jager stretch out an arm for the hosts’ 1st try.
Handré Pollard landed the conversion but Hernandez was able to reply immediately when Beast Mtawarira was pinged for obstruction.
At this stage Vincent Koch was really suffering at scrum time and another penalty against him allowed Marcelo Bosch to smash over 3 more points from 50m out, to give Los Pumas a 14-point lead at halftime. Marcel van der Merwe replaced Vincent Koch when the 2nd half started, but the flow of penalties was only partially slowed.
The Pumas’ 4th try came in controversial circumstances. With a gaggle of medics on the field – 4 of them – and Jean de Villiers in the middle of a team talk, referee Romain Poite called time back on, Hernandez took a quick tap and Juan Imhoff pounced in the corner, much to the hosts’ bemusement.
Another conversion from Hernandez left South Africa with a 21-point mountain to climb.
Willie le Roux started the move that would lead to his try by plucking a bomb out of the air, before Jean de Villiers and Jesse Kriel combined to put their fullback away for a long sprint home.
Handré Pollard added the conversion but a neat drop goal from Marcelo Bosch kept the Springboks beyond 2 converted tries.
Cobus Reinach was denied a try by the Referee and TMO, but Bryan Habana was able to grab a consolation try as the Springboks used the extra space created by Pablo Matera’s Yellow Card for a high tackle on Schalk Burger.
Man of the match:
There can be only 1 candidate. A hat-trick for Juan Imhoff, seals the gong.
Moment of the match:
The Springboks would have believed they were in with a chance of making a comeback, but Juan Imhoff’s controversial try took the wind of their sails.
Villain of the match:
No punches thrown.
Scorers:
Springboks:
- Tries: Lood de Jager (1), Willie le Roux (1), Bryan Habana (1)
- Conversions: Handré Pollard (2)
- Penalties: Handré Pollard (2)
Los Pumas:
- Tries: Marcelo Bosch (1), Juan Imhoff (3)
- Conversions: Juan Martin Hernandez (4)
- Penalties: Juan Martin Hernandez (1), Marcelo Bosch (1)
- Drop Goals: Marcelo Bosch (1)
Yellow Card:
Pablo Matera
Teams:
Springboks: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Jean de Villiers (Captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
Los Pumas: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy (Captain), 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Matias Diaz, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Lucas Amorosino.
Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle, Marcus Mitrea
TMO: Ben Skeen
The Argies beat the Boks at home!!
Sounds more like a plot for a horror film!
😐
HM is a failure as the Bok coach.
Wat hier volg, is my eie mening waar dinge verkeerd gegaan het vir HM as bokafrigter:
Die storie gaan 4 jaar terug, nee, eintlik 8 jaar terug.
Die regte tyd wat hy bok afrigter moes word, was na sy glorie in die jare 2002-2007, die Bulle wat die eerse superbeker vir SA gewen het, en vele CB waar hy ‘n span van die gutters opgebou het na die mees suksesvolle franchise nog in SA. Almal het dit verwag, maar die politiek van die dag wou dit anders hê, HM se kanse was vir eers verby.
PDV het baie goed gedoen, die 3N en IBL reeks gewen, en die verloor teen Aussies in WB is nie sy skuld nie.
HM het so bietjie oorsee gaan afrig, maar 3 jaar later het hy terugkom en sou die volgende geslag Bulle dinastie help opbou. Dinge het goed gelyk vir die Bulle vir die volgende generasie, maar toe kom die groot versoeking, hy word weer genader vir Bokafrigter in 2010/11, en ja, toe moes alles opgeoffer word vir daardie droom, ook die Bulle se eie planne om die topunie te bly.
Nou ek gun dit vir enige afrigter, ook veral vir HM, maar daar was 2 probleme:
1. Die timing was verkeerd. Die spelers en die wedstrydplan wat gewerk het vir HM en Bulle se sukses was eintlik verby, die 3 superbekers en 5 CB wat deur HM en sy kloon, FL, gewen is met basies dieselfde spelers het sy hoogtepunt bereik in 2009/10. Daarna was dit net afdraande, soos die laaste 4 jaar op Loftus en nou met die Bokke wys. Spelers soos FDP, Vic, Habana en ander is glad nie meer tops nie. Met al die passie en emosie, probeer HM die aura van sy sukses in 2002-2010 herhaal by die Bokke, en dit het nie gewerk nie, ten minste nie tot nou nie.
2. Tweede groot probleem, HM het nie net self die Bulle gedrop nie, maar hy het ook die hart van die Bulle se sukses uitgeruk – die afrigtingspan en veral Ian Schwartz wat die goeie kontraktering gedoen het. Ja, ja, daardie afrigtingspan van hom doen nie goed op bokvlak nie, maar was super suksesvol op superugby vlak. ‘n Mens kan net wonder of daar nie nog supertrofees en CB’s sou wees as HM en sy span gebly het op Loftus nie ?
Ek onthou destyds hoe die bul ondersteuners mekaar amper wou slaan oor die saak, moet HM en sy span laat gaan word of gehou word by die Bulle volgens kontrak ? Ekself was omgekrap oor die manier hoe dit alles plaasgevind het, en het gedink dit gaan alles nie goed uitdraai vir die Bulle of Bokke nie.
Natuurlik het ek wel gehoop, meer as gevolg van al die HM en Bulle haters dat hy wel ‘n groot sukses sou maak, en daar was opflikkerings. Maar mens kan nie teen die statistiek stry nie: geen 3N/RC nie, 1 uit 7 teen AB, 5 uit 7 verloor nou die laaste tyd, 5de op IRB log, verloor teen ARG, wat is volgende, hy beweeg nou na Strauli mode ?
Maar ja, ek gooi nie klippe na HM nie, hom nog baie dankbaar vir die Bulle se sukses. Dink hy het gehoop hy kan glorie bring vir die Bokke en SA, maar sy kans het eintlik verby gegaan in 2008. Ons kan maar net spekuleer, maar as hy in 2008 coach geword het, sou hy baie meer vermag het, dink ek, dalk selfs die WB hierdie jaar verdedig het, dalk ‘n RC of 2 al gewen het ?
Natuurlik het al die politieke inmenging en beserings ook nie sy saak gehelp nie, maar dit kan nie as ‘n groot verskoning dien nie.
Een van HM se sterkpunte is ongelukkig ook sy swakpunt: sterk emosionele lojaliteit. Hoe skitterend spelers soos Vic, FDP en JDV ookal was, legendes, moet die vraag gevra word dat as hy nie so sou aanhou hulle balle blink te vryf nie, sou hul dalk al lankal plek gemaak het vir ander goeie spelers ?
Nou ja, wat HM nou ookal doen, dit gaan nie veel verander aan die statistiek nie. Ek sal hoop dat hy wel dit regkry om die WB te wen, watter spelers hy ookal kies, maar dit is hoogs onwaarskynlik.
Hierin is ook ‘n kosbare lewensles vir ons almal, in besluitneming:
Die gras is nie altyd GROENER aan die anderkant van die draad nie !
😯
3 @ Ben-die-Bul:
Goeie pos ben
Congratulations Los Pumas.
What else can be said.
An historic event for Argentine Rugby.
A momentous day in fact.
As for SA Rugby.
How can you play SO WELL against us (NZ*),
but with such mediocrity against some others.
If you Okes can rid yourselves of the dead wood……………………….(Jean, Victor, Burger and even perhaps Brian).
You can still win the RWC.
No doubt.
* Against Oz and NZ you could/should have won both games.
My remark concerning dead wood also applies to NZ…………………………………………………..Carter, Ritchie and Woodcock.
Paddy Power Odds on the RWC.
NZ…………………….. 6/4…….unbelievably crap odds…….for every dollar you lay out, you get $1.50 back……….Outrageously mean odds………..OUTRGAGEOUS.
Englanders…………4/1……too short………………far too short.
SA……………………..11/2…..best odds going.
Ireland……………….8/1…….not bad for The Nation currently rated number 2 in the World………………………but not good enough to entice me.
Oz……………………..8/1…….worth looking at for sure…………………………a lazy rand or two here, money well invested. (Not that for one moment, I am condoning gambling……………….okay).
Frogs………………..18/1……If you DONT ÇARE too much about getting a return for your hard earned money…….. but would like a GOOD return. This is the Team for YOU. But, not me.
Any other Team………………………………………….Write your own odds…………all at 20/1 or greater.
And might I add………………………………(though it will not comfort any of you mothers.)
This result, was/is, good for Southern Hemisphere Rugby.
And yes, I will not be any more joyful than you lot, when it happens to us.
But happen it will.
cane wrote:
Absolutely agree.
Not only good for SH but for the Rugby world.
I continually moan that there is no development and the status quo needa to
Change.
so let us hope this result lifts the spirits of the also rans, and also shakes SA Rugby out of its slumber.
Clearly the inability to adapt to the on field environment is still there.
Meyer seems hell bent on using damaged goods and merchandise beyond their sell by date, as well as a game plan that world Rugby has worked out.
Are Loubser and van Graan world class coaches????
All in all I need to ask if HM is just naieve of below average iq?
I dont believe that any coach at ANY LEVEL will ever pick a team that HE does not believe is the best for the job, BUT……
Definition of insanity??????
cane wrote:
I’ve always maintained we’re building up the Argies to our own detriment
They’ve always been tough customers at the World Cup, remember when we played them in the Semi in 2007?
Now they’re playing against the top three teams (top two and the Boks after this weekend 🙂 )
I thought they’d be tough at this years WC
I didn’t even think they’d beat us in the Championship.
Yet
cane wrote:
What happened against the Shackledraggers?
I think they’re one of the favorites at the World Cup
Remember they’ve won both of their World Cups in the UK
Ben-die-Bul wrote:
Hy moet die beseerde spelers nou afskryf, as hulle nie wedstrydfiks is, en kan speel in die RC nie is hulle tyd verby, hulle kan nie fiks gespeel word in die WC nie
As vermeulen nie fiks is nie gaan hy nie veel beteken nie en tien teen een seerkry
Dieselfde geld vir Alberts
Ek het al gewonder hoekom hulle nie vir Lood op 8 of 7 speel nie?
Hy is vinning en ‘n goeie baldraer en kan later oorskuif slot toe
Soos Kitch met Andrews gemaak het
14: kom ons hoop maar hy leer uit sy foute, en is bereid om gou aan te pas.
‘n Paar dinge wat ek hoop hy doen:
1. kies die beste span moontlik vir Saterdag, of ten minste die span wat hy dink goed kan doen in die WB, maar dan net hulle wat 100 persent fiks is. En al moet hy buite sy huidige groep gaan (Hougaard, Faf, Jaco Kriel), dan moet hy dit nou doen.
2. Wat die beseerde en half-beseerde spelers betref, stuur hul dadelik na hul provinsies om heeltemal te herstel, en dan CB rugby te speel. As hul daar bewys hul is reg, bring hul weer in die groep in.
3. As HM dink hy kan ‘n paar weke voor die WB sy gekroktes weer op standaard kondisioneer en fiks maak, dan maak hy ‘n nog groter fout. Jy word rugby fiks en kopfiks deur te speel en te wen, gametime !
4. As Pienaar weer in die span is, bo Reinach, Hougaard en Faf, dan het hy werklik glad nie geleer uit sy foute nie. Wat het Pienaar gedoen in 3 games, het hy een gaping gevat, of een drie gemaak? Ons teenstanders verwag absoluut niks van hom as hy speel nie, hulle verdedig nie eers sy kanaal nie. Faf, Hougaard en Reinach bied baie meer, en Hougaard kan nog vleuel ook speel.
Verloor Saterdag, dan deel HM met Jake die rekord van 5 van die slegstes in ‘n ry.
@ Ben-die-Bul:3
boet, no other bok coach was given the privilege of deciding when he could take over the bok team.
you give heyneke far too much credit and leeway – in my view he got lucky with the bulls (top players at the right time in the team).
he was built up by the pretoria faction as the rightful heir to the bok throne who had been held back by, firstly, the bliksemse rooinek, jake white and then, when the blue bull emotion was at it’s peak, by a political appointee, peter de villiers.
ironically, as we all know, pdv went on to become a fairly successful bok coach.
his best moment was when he told the nz public that hamilton was a dump and that the team would stay on oz until the last moment. even the nz prime minister objected – hahahaha.\
eventually, hm got his turn but it was clear from the start that this would be an amateurish period for sa rugby. not only did he largely appoint no-name blue bull assistants, but his game plan fluctuated between low risk kick-and-chase and high risk flip pass style of rugby – depending on public opinion at the time.
the bloke has been found out.
he is not world-class – he is possibly the best local we have – that’s it.
we need a top, no nonsense, non flip-flop tactic-wise hard arse coach.
jake was the last version we had.
time to look outside of sa to save the boks.
16: Charo, ek het nie ‘n probleem dat jy jou redes gee en dink HM is nie ‘n world class bokafrigter nie. Die RUGBY statistiek tot nou toe bevestig dit ongelukkig. Na die WB sal ons hom finaal kan beoordeel.
Hy was wel een van die beste CB en superrugby afrigters nog, en dit is net omdat jy nog dikbek is oor die 2007 finaal wat julle Shaaaaks gechoke het, dat jy nou geen erkenning aan HM wil gee nie ?
😀
My probleem met jou oorspronklike post was dat jy dit ‘n Afrikaner teen die Engelse mentaliteit issue gemaak het, dit is onnodig, veral in die tye wat ons lewe met al die spanning in ons land.
Nie nodig nie, boet.
Bly by die rugby, los die politiek uit die storie.
@ Ben-die-Bul:17
hahaha dikbek…… no boet, pissed off that my boys didn’t kill that game off earlier.
like frans steyn first demanding he take the kick then cocking it up.
sorry that i annoyed you re the afrikaner reference. it is my view that the afrikaner culture is different to the local rooinek in that, historically, they have trusted each other first before other cultures and are often insular. this is understandable given the history of our country.
so, the reference was not meant to be derogatory.
in fact, i agree that, given the current state of affairs, all us witous are under threat economically, politically and in terms of security. in fact, so are our indian and coloured brothers.
nevertheless, i still believe that heyneke is not the right man for the job.
no doubt he is a good man, but not hard enough.
The Pumas and the Wallabies have been knocking on the door for a while now, late last year they should have beaten us and the Argies should have knocked you over at least a couple of times in recent seasons so these results aren’t a big surprise. We can put things right this Saturday by winning well but the WC is now wide open – apparently the Irish are now the second best side in world rugby 🙂
@ Charo:
Yes and your world ranking confirms that.
FOK. Al wat ek kan se is FOK.
Sportsfans
A little birdie tells me that Meyer has ALREADY signed an extension on his contract.
gunther wrote:
I also get that feeling, but SARU would be stupid if they did not include a performance clause till the end of this year.
Good thing for Meyer that he signed it before Saturday’s game.
Next weekend could be more bad news .
gunther wrote:
Maybe that could explain the lackluster performance?
In what way ?
No chance then of a Jake White ambulance job
gunther wrote:
If you look at the Black players complaining to Cosatu, the gees in the team must be crap, there seems to be a general unhappiness in the squad as well.
Appears to be a toxic environment, Meyer seems to have lost his troops.
Go play in the traffic, Tony Ehrenreich.
Merit selection & merit selection only…NOT NEGOTIABLE
“No “abnormal” sport in a “normal” society!!!
http://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/cosatu-tackles-sa-rugby-1.1897775#.VcnKpXGqqko
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