It was almost a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for the Springboks as they scraped past Argentina with a nail-biting 29-27 win at Twickenham. Former Bok coach Nick Mallett dissected the match on the Talking Boks podcast, pointing out that while the Boks displayed formidable strength to overturn a 13-3 deficit into a 29-13 lead, their inability to close out the game almost cost them dearly.
Mallett praised the team's resilience, particularly after being down a player due to Canan Moodie's yellow card and an early Argentine try. "We fought back well and scored some typical Springbok tries – two from [Malcolm] Marx, two from [Cobus] Reinach," he noted. However, a risky pass from Cheslin Kolbe handed Argentina seven points, which shifted the momentum of the game. "We were sitting pretty at 29-13, and then Cheslin threw a pass that changed the momentum," Mallett remarked. This lapse in judgment allowed Los Pumas to claw back into the game, culminating in a converted try in the dying moments.
"At 29-13 we’d broken their backs – and instead of hammering the nail in, we played into their hands."
Despite the close shave, Mallett remains optimistic about the Boks' trajectory. "We're in a very strong place because we’re winning championships while still knowing there’s room to improve," he said. Mallett highlighted recent performances, like the second half against the All Blacks in Wellington and a dominant 50-minute period against Argentina in Durban, as evidence of the Boks' potential at their best.
Looking ahead, Mallett is eager for the Springboks' end-of-year tour, with matches against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales on the calendar. He’s particularly keen to see the Boks tackle the challenges of playing in northern hemisphere conditions. "By the time we get to France and Ireland, we’ll face real challenges – and I’d love to see how we handle a wet, tough day up north," he said.
Mallett also expressed excitement about the depth in the South African squad, especially at fly-half. "If Handré Pollard fires, it will only make Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] and Manie [Libbok] better," he stated. With a blend of seasoned warriors and emerging talents, Mallett believes the Springboks are well poised to continue their ascendancy in world rugby.
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It was almost a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for the Springboks as they scraped past Argentina with a nail-biting 29-27 win at Twickenham. Former Bok coach Nick Mallett dissected the match on the Talking Boks podcast, pointing out that while the Boks displayed formidable strength to overturn a 13-3 deficit into a 29-13 lead, their inability to close out the game almost cost them dearly.
Mallett praised the team's resilience, particularly after being down a player due to Canan Moodie's yellow card and an early Argentine try. "We fought back well and scored some typical Springbok tries – two from [Malcolm] Marx, two from [Cobus] Reinach," he noted. However, a risky pass from Cheslin Kolbe handed Argentina seven points, which shifted the momentum of the game. "We were sitting pretty at 29-13, and then Cheslin threw a pass that changed the momentum," Mallett remarked. This lapse in judgment allowed Los Pumas to claw back into the game, culminating in a converted try in the dying moments.
"At 29-13 we’d broken their backs – and instead of hammering the nail in, we played into their hands."
Despite the close shave, Mallett remains optimistic about the Boks' trajectory. "We're in a very strong place because we’re winning championships while still knowing there’s room to improve," he said. Mallett highlighted recent performances, like the second half against the All Blacks in Wellington and a dominant 50-minute period against Argentina in Durban, as evidence of the Boks' potential at their best.
Looking ahead, Mallett is eager for the Springboks' end-of-year tour, with matches against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales on the calendar. He’s particularly keen to see the Boks tackle the challenges of playing in northern hemisphere conditions. "By the time we get to France and Ireland, we’ll face real challenges – and I’d love to see how we handle a wet, tough day up north," he said.
Mallett also expressed excitement about the depth in the South African squad, especially at fly-half. "If Handré Pollard fires, it will only make Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] and Manie [Libbok] better," he stated. With a blend of seasoned warriors and emerging talents, Mallett believes the Springboks are well poised to continue their ascendancy in world rugby.