FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby Championship - South Africa v New Zealand - Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa - August 31, 2024 South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus before the match REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo
(Reuters) - South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus refused to blame Manie Libbok for the surprise 29-28 Rugby Championship defeat in Argentina on Saturday after the flyhalf missed a kick from virtually in front of the posts to win the game.
The loss keeps the Rugby Championship title race alive, though the Springboks will need just a point from their return meeting with Argentina at home in Nelspruit next Saturday when the destination of the trophy will be decided.
"We made too many mistakes at crucial times and Argentina took their chances," Erasmus told reporters. "If it wasn’t for a missed kick, we would have had smiles sitting here now.
"But if we had done the things we should have in the game, it would not have come down to that one kick. We lost lineouts and made other errors. It was not a great display from us.
"I was so hoping he (Libbok) would kick that penalty over and he had been kicking so well all week. But it is the pressure.
"He will get a lot of flak for that, and will have to manage that. I am sure we will all get flak for him missing that kick."
Erasmus made 10 changes to his side for the game in Santiago del Estero and left several regulars at home in order to give his wider squad a run.
Despite the result, he had no regrets and believed in the long term the experience will help the younger players in the squad develop.
"The guys who were rested will all come back into the mix (for next weekend). As much as we wanted to win this game, it was a gamble leaving guys at home," Erasmus said.
"The loss is not nice, but for some of the younger guys to experience this stadium and how Argentina loosen up the game, it will help them in the future.
"We will have to get over tonight and it hurts a lot, I assure you. We have to point the fingers at ourselves, not just the players but also the coaches and the management.
"Next week we have a chance to redeem ourselves and win the Rugby Championship."
(Reporting by Nick Said in Cape Town; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
