Pleasure vs pain
COMBRINCK OUT, JANTJIES DOUBTFUL, OUPA CITED BlunderBoks at sixes and sevens ahead of trip Down Under.
With Springbok rugby already in a spot of bother, the national team were rocked even further by a triple blow after their 26-24 defeat to Argentina in Salta on Saturday.
Wing Ruan Combrinck was ruled out of action for up to six weeks after he sustained a fractured leg against the feisty Pumas, which rules him out of the rest of the Rugby Championship.
Battling flyhalf Elton Jantjies sustained a groin injury, while flank Oupa Mohoje was cited for a dangerous tackle which put them both in doubt for their tough trip to Australasia with the touring squad to be named tomorrow.
With drastic changes being urged, the Boks return today and won’t have much time to lick their wounds before leaving on Thursday for their clash against the Wallabies next weekend in Brisbane, followed by their match against the high-flying All Blacks in Christchurch a week later.
Coach Allister Coetzee admitted the loss hurt the squad, with their struggles at the breakdown and poor defence the biggest concerns.
“The defeat is hurting and the Springboks will never be satisfied with a loss,” said Coetzee, who has now lost two of his first Tests in charge of the Boks.
“We will regroup and work hard to improve as a team so that we can be ready for the next Test against Australia in Brisbane.”
Coetzee said he would look at the positives after their first-ever defeat on Argentine soil.
“Although we lost Ruan and Elton because of injuries, we managed to come back in the second half,” said Coetzee.
“However, I am disappointed by the many individual mistakes we committed.”
While the Boks missed four attempts at goal between Jantjies and replacement flyhalf Morne Steyn, Argentina were in control for the biggest part and converted their half-time lead of 13-3, with substitute Santiago Gonzales clinching the game for the Pumas with a last-gasp penalty.
“As a team, we made some crucial mistakes and they made better use of their opportunities than we did, and I want to congratulate Argentina for their win,” said Coetzee.