‘Boks just too physical’

DIFFICULT TO KEEP DEFENDING

Nobody in world rugby is as physical as the Springboks, Argentina coach Mario Ledesma (pictured) believes, after his team were handed a 34-21 Rugby Championship defeat at King’s Park on Saturday.

Scoring six tries to three, the Boks overturned a 14-10 half-time deficit to take the game away from the Pumas in the second half.

“They are one of the best teams in the world and they are the most physical team in the world, by far, but we knew what was coming,” Ledesma said.

“We knew they were targeting us in the rucks. They were playing (Siya) Kolisi and (Malcolm) Marx who are really world-class on their own ball, but we couldn’t handle some of that stuff.”

Ledesma said it was difficult to discuss how important it was to be Pumas coach when they had just lost and did not play very well.

“I didn’t count their tries. I stopped counting,” he said.

“The Boks had the momentum and much more quality ball from set-pieces, but it’s difficult against a team like SA to keep defending.

“With 15 minutes left and just down by 27-21 we could have won it, but we kept losing ball and lineouts and rucks.”

At the start of the second half, Ledesma said the Boks started playing quick penalties, quick taps and kept playing direct.

“It’s like a dam. When you keep hammering, all of a sudden the water breaks,” he said.

“We got frustrated because we were starved of quality ball, but we turned it around in the second half and that’s what I hope will happen this weekend. We will work on our set-pieces and rucks.”

Faced with a lack of territory and possession, Pumas captain Agustin Creevy admitted they were fighting a losing battle.

“The Boks capitalised on every opportunity they had and it is really difficult to defend the whole game without quality ball in hand to create something,” the skipper said.

“We simply need to be better this weekend.”