Let’s not forget that on Meyer’s watch South Africa lost to Japan because they were out of ideas.
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The 48-year-old added that the protests and threat of court action over the racial make-up of his squad before the team left South Africa illustrated the unique challenges of the job.
Argentina and South Africa meet on Friday evening in the battle for third place at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Santiago Cordero – The 21-year-old wing has been a real bright spark during this World Cup and he did the same in this match. Many of these young players will be around for the next World Cup and they will only get better.
The fare didn’t improve much in the second half, even if Sanchez got Argentina on the board with a neat drop goal.
For rugby democracy as Argentina gains representation on World Rugby’s executive committee and there could hardly be a more popular choice of representative than Agustin Pichot. They gave everything and worked so hard.
There was no hiding who the majority of the Olympic Stadium’s crowd were supporting when a huge roar rang around after Argentina secured an early turnover.
South Africa: W le Roux (P Lambie, 64); JP Pietersen; J Kriel, D de Allende, B Habana (J Serfontein, 67); H Pollard, R Pienaar (R Paige, 77); T Mtawarira (T Nyakane, 41), B du Plessis (A Strauss, 48), F Malherbe (J du Plessis, 60), E Etzebeth, V Matfield (capt; L de Jager, 62), S Burger (W Alberts, 53), F Louw (Burger, 61-66), D Vermeulen.
The most capped South African of all-time, Victor Matfield, will return to the starting lineup on Friday to captain the side for the final time. Having clinically dispatched a much-fancied Irish side a week earlier, a combination of individual errors and downright bad luck decided that they would also be heading for industrial Stratford rather than leafy Twickenham for their final match. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE Argentina fans show their support in the stands prior to the bronze medal match at the Olympic Stadium.
Habana botched a host of chances in what will surely be his last World Cup turn, the 32-year-old ending his glittering World Cup career tied on 15 tries with former New Zealand prodigy Lomu. Bismarck du Plessis, 3.
Habana, who needed one touchdown to set a new outright record for the most tries by a player in World Cups, failed to get over the line in what was nearly certainly his last tournament appearance and after being replaced 12 minutes from time, remains tied with New Zealander Jonah Lomu on 15. Players have to be in Super Rugby from next year to be considered for the national team.
His first chance would come moments later when he vied for a touchdown with Pumas fullback Lucas Amorosino.
Habana’s frustrations continued when he knocked on again with the line gaping shortly before the half-hour mark, while Pollard’s second penalty made it 13-0 after Argentina went in at the side.
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Restored to full strength, Argentina found a foothold in the contest and could have reduced the deficit when Cubelli weaved his way through with a brilliant run but was stopped 10 metres short of the line. Tomas Cubelli; 10. Nicolas Sanchez (captain); 11.
