Siya sizzles in Salta

Siya Kolisi scored two tries and sizzled in everything he did as the Springboks hammered the Pumas 41-23 in Salta, Argentina.

Kolisi’s attacking skills combined with his unforgiving defence was the stand out feature of a decent, if not always convincing win against the ill-disciplined Pumas.

The Pumas gave up three yellow cards, one of which translated into a red card and effectively played 30 minutes of the Test with 14 against 15. The hosts are as renowned for their scrum as they are for an inability to keep 15 players on the field and in Salta the scrum was absent but their ill-discipline was a constant presence.

The Pumas were as ordinary as they were in Port Elizabeth. The Boks, by contrast, were not as fluid as in Port Elizabeth but still got the bonus point win and coach Allister Coetzee’s first win overseas.

It was a good night in Salta for the Springboks, who have now won five successive Tests in 2017.

Kolisi, Jaco Kriel and Eben Etzebeth were colossal among the forwards and Elton Jantjies was again a general at No 10.

Jantjies also helped himself to a try, four conversions and two penalties.

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Kolisi afterwards commended the leadership of captain Eben Etzebeth in keeping the Boks calm and also credited Elton Jantjies’s authority in maintaining discipline in the face of the Pumas confrontational approach.

Kolisi also applauded the culture within the squad that allowed players to express themselves with ball in hand and to trust their instincts. He also said defensively the players believed in each other and played for each other, for unity in South African rugby and for the celebration of all things that has been achieved in the past 25 years.

Kolas said it was appropriate the Boks played in red to fight ‘fire with fire’ and also dedicated the red jersey and the win to the unity of South Africa as a country.

The Boks next play Australia in Perth in the Rugby Championship.

Scorers:

Argentina 23 (10)

Tries: Ramiro Moyano, Matias Orlando

Conversions: Juan Martin Hernandez, Nicolas Sanchez

Penalties: Emiliano Boffelli (2), Hernandez

South Africa 41 (17)

Tries: Siya Kolisi (2), Elton Jantjies, Penalty try, Jean-Luc du Preez

Conversions: Elton Jantjies (4)

Penalties: Jantjies (2)