RWC 2007 2nd Semifinal Review
South Africa v Argentina, Sunday 14 Octtober
The fairytale is over for the Pumas as the Springboks capitalise on errors to rack up an impressive win on their way to Saturday's final.
With the rugby world cheering them on, Argentina approached this game with the self-belief to beat the recently shaky looking South Africans. However an error-strewn performance from the Pumas handed the match to the Springboks who capitalised on every Argentinean dropped ball and turnover to enter the World Cup Final with a full head of steam.
The match started in emphatic style with the Argentineans looking solid and strong through the forwards. It was early on when, entering the South African quarter, centre and goalkicker Felipe Contepomi threw a suspect pass to his outside backs which was cleverly picked off by Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez. Du Preez raced 70 metres to score the opening try, which was converted by prettyboy full back Percy Montgomery.
To their credit, the Pumas rallied and looked impressive through the forwards in the set pieces and loose play. They were rewarded with a penalty goal to Contepomi after South African skipper John Smit was penalised for obstruction. The Boks hit back almost immediately, with their own penalty goal from Montgomery, making the early score 10-3.
Although still looking strong, handling errors and truck-and-trailer play in the forwards repeatedly gifted the ball back South Africa’s way. The Argies hung in there though and Contepomi kicked another penalty to draw them closer at 10-6. In the ten minutes before the break the unravelling of the Pumas gameplan began. Springbok flanker Schalk Burger created a turnover on the touchline at midfield and young star Francois Steyn threw a beautiful 35 metre pass after seeing space out wide. The ball was shifted to speed merchant Bryan Habana and, just on his own side of halfway, he showed the world why he is such a feared finisher.
Habana put in a deft chip kick then outraced several opponents to the ball, which bounced perfectly up for him to regather and race away for the try. Montgomery continued his perfect kicking and all of a sudden the Pumas were down by 11.
In the final minute of the half, Juan Martín Hernández spilled a pass from captain Agustin Pichot and the Boks quickly jumped on the error. Steyn made a nimble regather of the loose ball and swift hands out wide found number eight Danie Roussow with enough space to crash over. Montgomery converted to make the halftime score 24-6.
The Pumas gameplan was not working well for them. Their kicking game was being easily countered by the back three of the Boks playing deep and daring the Pumas to go against what had previously worked and run from deep. Unused to playing this style, the South Americans simply looked out of their depth, forcing the play and putting unneeded pressure on themselves.
All was not lost however. The Pumas scored a well-worked try four minutes into the second half. Good lead up work saw a ruck formed metres from the try line with numbers out wide. The ball was spread and centre Manuel Contepomi stumbled his way over for what, after careful consideration by the man upstairs, was awarded a try. His brother Felipe converted to make it 24-13 and the Argentinean fans lifted their voices to try and bring their team back to within striking distance.
Chances which could have brought the game back into reach were wasted though when Contepomi missed a penalty and fullback Ignacio Corleto took a quick tap from another penalty only to have the ball turned over when his support was slow to arrive.
From here the South Africans took over and looked to close out the match. Two decisive penalty goals to Montgomery put the game out of reach and when Bryan Haban raced 80 metres to score from another intercept, celebrations were well underway by the fans in green as the score finalised at 37-13.
Undoubtedly, the Argentineans created their own demise. All of the Springbok tries were the direct result of errors and at times it seemed as though the Pumas were simply resigning themselves to being satisfied as semifinalists. The belief that they had shown all tournament seemed absent against the South Africans and a semifinal is an occasion where good teams need to step up and prove that they are great. The World Cup as a whole was a fine showing for the South Americans and they clearly deserve a place in either the Tri-Nations (likely) or the Six Nations (logistically unlikely) competitions.
South Africa looked relatively strong and will head into the Final as favourites to win the Cup. They appear to have come through the semifinal unscathed and will put a full strength outfit on the park next Saturday night.
Further information regarding the Rugby World Cup including lineups, results and stats can be found at the official site for the tournament.
Review of the 1st semifinal featuring England and France.
