BOKS LEAVE IT LATE
Unconvincing start to Rugby Championship campaign as they pull one out of the fire
RATHER CLOSE YOUR EYES: Johan Goosen of South Africa and Joaquin Tuculet of Argentina jump for the ball at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, yesterday and their game was devoid of the continuity needed to chip away at the visitors' resolve.
Turnovers were the order of the day and the second half was developing into farce before Bok coach Allister Coetzee turned to his bench. Pieter-Steph du Toit was inspiring.
Before he departed the scene Lood de Jager’s defence was robust, while Oupa Mohoje’s interventions proved timely.
Johan Goosen made some sprightly incursions into the line in the first half and again late in the game.
Whiteley as usual was in perpetual motion, while Eben Etzebeth made a potentially match-saving tackle on goalline-bound winger Manuel Montera.
De Klerk was a livewire when he needed to be, but the Bok back division has yet to click.
Coetzee was pleased with the result, but not the 20 minutes either side of the break. “For 40 to 45 minutes I wasn’t happy but I was happy with the last 15. There is a resolve in the team you cannot coach. We have things to sort out and we want to get it right.”