Boks shine with kick-off
“That is what test match rugby is all about. It is for the pack to dominate at set piece and I think our scrums were outstanding.
“Prop Coenie Oosthuizen has done exceptionally well and the impact from the bench was really great. Compared to last year, our mauling has improved a lot and those are all positives.
“I must say, you must never underestimate the Argentine side. People make out as though it is the Jaguares Super Rugby team. It is not. It took us some time to break them and find spaces and gaps in their defence, where they were exceptional
Springbok captain Eben Etzebeth was also pleased with the performance which has provided his team with a launch pad for bigger things.
“We wanted to play in their half and we managed to keep them down there and punished their mistakes,” Etzebeth said.
“We must try and take some of this momentum into this week’s game. We need to change the mindset that away matches are tough and try to stay positive.”
Towards the end, the Boks were running rampant against a Pumas side who were clearly flagging in the face of the total Bok onslaught.
It was the ideal start to the competition for South Africa who are trying to exorcise the ghosts of 2016 when they could win only four of the 12 matches they played in total.
The victory also meant that the Boks maintained their proud unbeaten record at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium which stretches back to 2011.
South Africa made a bright start and were intent on spreading the ball wide in the opening exchanges of a tight first half. The scorers: South Africa 37: Tries: Courtnall Skosan, Raymond Rhule, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph Du Toit. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (4). Penalties: Elton Jantjies (3 )
Argentina 15: Tries: Martin Landajo, Emiliano Boffelli. Conversion: Juan Hernandez. Penalty: Nicolas Sanchez.