Rock bottom for Meyer's Boks
The Springboks' first defeat to Argentina has left coach Heyneke Meyer at the lowest point of his tenure with the World Cup looming.
Meyer made just one unforced change to his team for what was their last home game of the year in a bid to gain momentum ahead of the World Cup, but that backfired as they were completely outplayed by the Pumas who won 37-25 at Kings Park.
Despite the continuity in selection the Boks were horribly disjointed and made far too many basic errors as the Pumas got the better of them in just about every area of the game to hand them their fifth defeat in their last seven Test matches.
This leaves Meyer searching for answers with just one more match before the World Cup, and he admitted that the result came as a huge blow.
"I am not going to make any excuses, we let our country down and it was not good enough, I take responsibility and we will fix it," he said.
The Bok coach said that his team allowed the visitors to dictate terms and play to their strengths in what was a limp and lethargic display.
"We played a game that didn't suit us, it suited them. There was no phases so they didn't have to tackle, slow ball at the breakdown and it was an armwrestle that you shouldn't get into with these guys, especially not at home and not now.
"We just really couldn't get going, every scrum was a penalty and we let ourselves down with getting emotionally involved with decisions going against us, we need to be cool-headed and learn from that," he said.
Despite ending the Rugby Championship winless, Meyer believes that his side can turn things around before the World Cup by putting in enough hard work.
"We just have to keep on working harder, we have worked hard and probably overtrained at times but the only thing that matters is the World Cup and I still believe we can win it. It is so close between sides and we were just not good enough tonight.
"I don't want to make any excuses, our main aim is still the World Cup and we have to put in the hard work," he said.
They have just 80 minutes of Test match rugby before the World Cup when they face the Pumas in Buenos Aires next week, and Meyer said that his approach to that game will be informed by the bigger picture.
"We have to do what is best for the World Cup, it is very difficult for me because I am very proud to be a South African and proud of the team.
"You have to take the emotion out, it is going to be even tougher next week, but the World Cup is still the big thing.
"You want to win every battle, but it is no use winning the small battles and losing the big one.
"It is going to be very difficult but I have to take the emotion out, look at the video and make a call on what is going to be best for the World Cup," he said.
There is concern over flank Marcell Coetzee who hobbled off with a knee injury, but Meyer is hopeful of having the likes of Willem Alberts, Jannie du Plessis, Victor Matfield, Frans Malherbe and Warren Whiteley available next weekend.
"We are really worried about him [Coetzee], it looks like his knee with the ACL.
"We have had a lot of injuries so I hope Marcell will be fine but the Doc is really worried and we are going to take him for scans.
"We have got three big ball-carriers coming back, we have got Jannie [Du Plessis] coming back, we have got Victor [Matfield] coming back. So that is five in the pack out of eight still coming back and we have still got firepower at the back as well," he said.
The positive spin on this result is that it is better for Meyer's team to learn some hard lessons now rather than at the World Cup, but there is no hiding from the fact that they have been exposed with what was a full-strength side.
Their reaction to this defeat will define Meyer's tenure as Springbok coach, and with one match left before the World Cup he has some big decisions to make with one more chance to make changes and look at his options, but an even greater need to gain some confidence.
By Michael de Vries, in Durban
