Player ratings: Great escape
You can use any number of clichés – the great escape, get-out-of-jail free, etc. Take your pick.
The fact is South Africa will know they were fortunate not to have suffered their first-ever loss to Argentina, even more fortunate than when they got away with a 16-all draw two years ago.
However, years from now the record books will not reflect the nature of the game, just that the Springboks beat the Pumas 33-31 in Salta on Saturday.
For almost an hour only one team seemed likely to win.
Then Bok coach Heyneke Meyer cleared his bench and the replacements made a huge impact – saving the day.
Jan de Koning rates the South African players!
15 Willie le Roux:
Looked to create a few things, but his kicking game early on let him down. He still remains South Africa's most potent attacking weapon.
7/10
14 Cornal Hendricks:
Scored a crucial try just on the hour mark as the Boks worked their way back into the game, but missed some crucial tackles.
5/10
13 Damian de Allende:
Had a couple of decent runs and made most of his tackles, but looked out of his depth at times.
5/10
12 Jean de Villiers (captain):
The Springbok captain was a rock on defence and showed guts to opt for a line-out that resulted in Marcel Coetzee's try.
6/10
11 Bryan Habana:
Showed he still has a big appetite for tries and knows how to score them. However, also slipped some crucial tackles.
6/10
10 Handré Pollard:
The young man is going through a tough learning school and while he still has plenty to learn, making nine tackles without slipping any says a lot about his character.
6/10
9 Ruan Pienaar:
His kicking game went from bad to worse as the game wore on, although he had one decent break.
5/10
8 Duane Vermeulen:
His power and cover defence saved the Boks on a number of occasions. His line-out work is also invaluable.
7/10
7 Juan Smith:
Once you removed the emotion of his remarkable comeback, you will realise he had an ordinary day at the office.
5/10
6 Francois Louw:
Was the rock that kept the Boks in the game, producing the highest tackle count in the match – over and above his work at the breakdown.
8/10
5 Lodewyk de Jager:
Nowhere near the standards that saw him get a Bok call-up – very lazy on defence and slipped as many tackles as he made. Won his line-outs though.
4/10
4 Eben Etzebeth:
Early knock-on when the Boks looked to counter and struggled with the ball in hand. Made some decent tackles and stole a couple of line-outs.
5/10
3 Jannie du Plessis:
His scrumming remains a major issue and he also slipped some important tackles.
3/10
2 Bismarck du Plessis:
Conceded a penalty that gifted the Pumas their first points and missed a number of tackles, including a crucial one that resulted in Argentina's second try.
2/10
1 Gurthrö Steenkamp:
It is hard to find a reason for why he started, or is even in the team. Can't scrum anymore and his workrate is poor.
3/10
Replacements:
16 Adriaan Strauss (on for B du Plessis, 51st min):
Got the Boks the go-forward ball they lacks in the first hour and made all his tackles.
7/10
17 Tendai Mtawarira (on for J du Plessis, 45th min):
Carried the ball just once, but stood his ground in the scrums and made is tackles.
6/10
18 Frans Malherbe (on for Steenkamp, 45th min):
Had one big run, made his tackles and despite being penalised in one scrum, the Bok set piece steadied once he took to the field.
6/10
19 Bakkies Botha (on for Etzebeth, 69th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
20 Marcell Coetzee (on for Smith, 51st min):
Scored a crucial try, made a huge impact with ball in hand and made plenty of tackles – without slipping any.
9/10
21 Francois Hougaard (on for Pienaar, 59th min):
His service was better than that of Pienaar and he made all his tackles.
6/10
22 Morné Steyn (on for Pollard, 55th min):
Showed his experience when it mattered most and showed his BMT by slotting the match-winning penalty under enormous pressure.
6/10
23 Lwazi Mvovo:
Not used.
