Rassie Erasmus Explains Springboks' 'Leg-Weary' Display in Argentina Win
- Springboks edged Argentina 17-10 in Buenos Aires on Saturday, with Cameron Hanekom's try proving the difference in the fourth quarter
- Rassie Erasmus acknowledged the Boks looked leg-weary and disjointed, with several players returning from injury and limited game time
- Captain Siya Kolisi left the field with a hamstring injury in the first half but admitted the Boks could easily have lost the match
- Briefly News spoke exclusively to a rugby analyst who shared his views on the Springboks display
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The Springboks survived a stern test in Argentina, holding on for a 17-10 victory on Saturday despite a performance that head coach Rassie Erasmus described as far from their best.
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The two sides went into the break level at 10-10 before centre Cameron Hanekom crossed for a try in the fourth quarter to break the deadlock. Argentina pressed hard in the closing stages but could not find a way through, allowing South Africa to maintain their unbeaten run in 2026.
Erasmus points to injury returns for Boks' rust
Erasmus admitted that the Springboks' performance was affected by a lack of match fitness, with several players having spent the previous six to seven weeks sidelined through injury. He said the team looked tired in the early stages, conceded too much territory and made errors that were understandable given the limited game time of seven or eight players.
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The coach added that he had expected the Boks to look somewhat disjointed, particularly after leaving 15 players in South Africa.
Rassie Erasmus speaks on the defensive performance
Despite the attacking shortcomings, Erasmus was encouraged by the team's defensive effort and discipline. He explained that getting returning players through the full 80 minutes was always likely to affect the team's attacking fluency. Still, he felt it was important that they completed the match without further setbacks.
Erasmus also praised Argentina for making the Test such a demanding contest. He described the hosts as a proud and passionate rugby nation that fought to the final whistle. For him, one of the biggest positives was that South Africa had managed to win the physical battle.
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Speaking to Briefly News, rugby analyst Thabang Mokoena said the Springboks' victory was a positive result, but the performance showed exactly why Rassie Erasmus was concerned about their lack of game time.
‘You could see that this was not the sharpest Springboks side we have seen. There were players coming back from injury who had not played much rugby, and that affected their timing, decision-making and attacking rhythm. But what will please Erasmus is that they found a way to win despite those limitations, especially against an Argentina side that kept asking questions until the final whistle.’
Mokoena added that the Boks' ability to withstand Argentina's late pressure could prove more important than the lack of attacking fluency.
Rassie Erasmus gives Siya Kolisi injury update
Briefly News previously reported that Springbok captain Siya Kolisi left the field after only 24 minutes of Saturday's Test against Argentina with a hamstring injury
Kolisi had only recently returned from a separate hamstring problem that kept him out of the Nations Championship
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Source: Briefly News
