South Africa are the champions of the southern hemisphere for the second year running, but their title-clinching victory over Argentina was a flawed masterpiece. While the result writes them into the history books, the performance was often patchy and relied heavily on set-piece dominance to overcome a determined Pumas side.
This was not the fluid, all-conquering performance many expected from the world’s top-ranked team. In the first half, they were plagued by indiscipline, conceding an early yellow card and allowing Argentina to build a comfortable 13-3 lead. Their attack looked disjointed and they struggled to find their rhythm.
The saving grace, as it so often is for the Springboks, was their scrum. It was an awesome display of power that single-handedly dragged them back into the contest. This physical superiority masked deficiencies in other areas and was the primary reason they were able to turn the game around in the second half.
Coach Rassie Erasmus acknowledged the imperfect nature of the win, admitting his side were fortunate on several occasions. This honesty reflects the reality that while the Boks have the power to win ugly, they will need to be more consistent to maintain their grip on the number one world ranking.
Ultimately, lifting the trophy is all that matters. The Springboks found a way to win a crucial match when not at their best, a quality that defines championship teams. The victory is historic, but it also provides plenty of work-ons for a side that constantly strives for perfection.