Boks won't change attacking mindset; Planet Rugb

Springbok assistant coach Johan van Graan has vowed his team will take a positive mindset into Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Durban.

Fixtures with the Pumas in recent years have seen South Africa being drawn into an arm wrestle, only to narrowly escape and maintain their unbeaten record against the South Americans.

The Boks have failed to score more than one try in three of their last five games against Argentina but Van Graan insists Saturday's hosts will look to attack, adding that defeats in the dying minutes to Australia and New Zealand have not dampened their conviction that they have the correct game plan. 

"We have played two fantastic test matches where we've played with a great attacking mindset. Some of the rugby we played against New Zealand was some of the best from the last four years," said Van Graan.

"The approach has been fantastic, and we've created a lot of opportunities, which is pleasing. What we just have to do now is start converting those opportunities into points.

"We have discussed where we went wrong and we have had a great video session where we went back over the first two matches and everyone responded well to what is required to be done.

"What is important is that we won't change our basic approach against the Pumas. We'll persist with our attacking plan and try and turn it into an attacking plan that is also a winning plan."

The Springboks are out of the running in terms of claiming the Rugby Championship title, but their previous two games have offered encouraging signs. 

"We are not happy with the results, losing in the Bok jersey is never good enough, and we know we need to finish opportunities," explained Van Graan.

"We have looked back over the two games and realised that we should have closed both of them out by the 60th minute. Our opponents played well in the last minutes of both games, and there were injury factors, but we should have put those teams away. It’s all about taking the right options at the right time.

"We don't want to be seen to be making excuses, but the reality is that had two close TMO calls gone our way, we would now be playing for the Championship."

1. (13:20) - N8 draws in S12 to pull him out of his channel. S12 engages and tackles N8 off the ball as N15 is through S12s channel. Stats say 1 successful tackle, footage says successful attack. 
2. (32:36) - N5 burrows into S12 for quick recycle, New Zealand win penalty in Bok 22. Stats say successful good tackle. Footage says successful attack by NZ with points put on the board! 
3. (40:04) - S12 grapples N8 at restart for second half, no effect whatsoever. Stats say good successful tackle, footage says nothing achieved but body contact. 
4. (48:18) - NZ scrum, N15 runs at S12 but just as N15 is about to make full contact S8 rips him from behind and dumps him to ground for a loss of ground. Stats say S12 touching N15 was a successful awesome super duper tackle, footage says nothing much happened but body contract. 
5. (70:21) - N11 nearly gases S13 on the outside but S12 and himself managed to reign him in, both are dragged a very long way back in tackle attempt. Stats say wonderful successful tackle with outstanding stopping power, footage says successful attack by NZ who not only managed to beat the edge of the Bok defence but they have a quick recycle deep in Bok territory!

Ah so when it suits this twat.....he tells us NZ never applied much pressure on DA

What a fucking useless rugby observer you are......so when DA's defensive stats are good against the best side in the game....your excuse is that they never applied pressure on him.

Listen to yourself you stupid clown....could you sound more desperate or pathetic in your attempt to discredit the best centre in the game right now.

You are an embarrassment