JOHN MITCHELL, writing on the Vodacom Rugby Portal, identifies how and why the All Blacks and Springboks bounced back from defeat.

The most important statistic for the Springboks from their match against Argentina in Buenos Aires was the final scoreline of 26-12. After four successive defeats, including a first-ever loss to the Pumas, they desperately needed a win to regain their pride and engender confidence going into the World Cup.

The Bok scrum went well on Saturday, having struggled in Durban a week earlier, although the loss of loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza just before kick-off was a big blow for the Pumas.

Read the rest of Mitchell's column

Photo: Juan Mabromata/AFP Photo