Home » Red Hot Springboks Beat Argentina, 5th Test Win in a Row

Red Hot Springboks Beat Argentina, 5th Test Win in a Row

The Springboks pulled off their fifth Test win in a row, in Argentina on Saturday… and scored their most points in 2017 so far with a 41-23 bonus point victory over the Pumas in Salta. It’s Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s first win away from home. Coetzee praised the team’s planning and the players’ conditioning. Siya […]

By SAPeople
27-08-17 11:04
in Fab South African Stuff

The Springboks pulled off their fifth Test win in a row, in Argentina on Saturday… and scored their most points in 2017 so far with a 41-23 bonus point victory over the Pumas in Salta.

It’s Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s first win away from home. Coetzee praised the team’s planning and the players’ conditioning.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 24: Siya Kholisi of the Springboks and Elton Jantjies of the Springboks during the 3rd Castle Lager Incoming Series Test match between South Africa and France at Emirates Airline Park on June 24, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

Siya Kolisi (2), Elton Jantjies and Jean-Luc du Preez scored tries for the visitors, while the Springboks were also awarded a second half penalty try.

South Africa defeated the Pumas by 37-15 in Port Elizabeth last weekend and have nine points from their first two Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches.

The Springboks played in red jerseys to celebrate 25 years of rugby unity in South Africa and their away win over Argentina was their fifth successive victory from as many Tests this season.

Speaking to the media after the match in Salta, Coetzee was full of praise for the team’s preparation plan for the difficult away match in Salta, where the Boks lost last year.

“We changed our travel plan to Salta this year, preparing for two days in South Africa before flying to Argentina on the Wednesday, which is also our off day,” said Coetzee.

“Then I must add that the players looked after themselves in terms of their conditioning and recovery, and here our medical and conditioning staff deserve a good mention. We want to play with a high intensity and our players have a very high work rate.”

The Springbok forwards once more did a sterling job, delivering solid performances in scrums and lineouts, while the maul was one of the Boks’ main attacking weapons in the second half.

“Our plan was definitely to use the maul against them,” explained Coetzee.

Apart from the careful planning and good preparation, Coetzee also lauded the leadership of the team: “I think the key for winning today was leadership, the way our players showed calmness and character under pressure. There is a strong leadership group around our captain Eben Etzebeth.”

Flanker Kolisi, who is also the vice-captain, was awarded the Man of the Match award for his impressive performance in the No 6 jersey.

The home team also had to play parts of the match with only 14 men after lock Tomas Lavanini was shown a second yellow card, and resultant red, for a deliberate knock-down.

The Springboks return to South Africa on Tuesday morning and will have a couple of days to recover before getting together on Friday for their two away matches against the Wallabies and All Blacks.

Source: SARugby.co.za