Sunday 14 September 2014 15:16, UK
New Zealand remain top of the Rugby Championship after beating South Africa 14-10 in Wellington on Saturday.
Richie McCaw scored his 25th Test try to give the All Blacks a six point advantage over second-placed South Africa, with the reverse fixture set to be played on 6 October.
Thinus Delport acknowledged that New Zealand’s superior experience and mental strength was the difference as they earned a late victory.
He said: “It’s that winning mentality – not panicking, staying calm, making the right decisions. That’s what it boils down to. One simple error at this level and the game changes. It’s just building that confidence as a collective unit – the All Blacks have got it and South Africa are pushing and they’re really close.
“I feel a bit like a Welsh supporter playing against South Africa, a panic just closing out the last minutes. We had the opportunities, but I think when the substitutes came on the game changed a little bit. Unfortunately you don’t say this often but Bismarck du Plessis not hitting his line-out jumpers put us under pressure.
“We just panicked a little bit chasing that elusive win against the All Blacks away. Unfortunately not close enough but don’t take anything away from the Springboks, that was a great effort.
“I think defensively we did outstanding work, the guys put a lot of effort into that defence. Slowed the All Blacks’ ball down at the breakdown, Duane Vermeulen was absolutely outstanding bringing his physicality and dictating the game.
“But this is the All Blacks at home, they’ve got a marvellous win record and they’re the number one side in the world.”
But Delport praised his compatriots for their performance, saying: “It’s a great turnaround from last week’s game against Australia – backs against the wall they came out and really pushed the All Blacks.”
Sean Fitzpatrick agreed that New Zealand edged the game mentally in the later stages.
“I think it’s experience at the end of the day,” he said. “They know how to win, they like winning. They don’t like losing and they do everything they can to win, that experience told – that winning mentality told – in the last five or 10 minutes.”
Australia 32-25 Argentina
Australia moved into joint second largely thanks to two Michael Hooper tries and 17 points from Bernard Foley against Argentina on the Gold Coast.
Argentina were twice penalised in the closing stages with possession just five yards from the try line allowing Australia to hold on and prevent a spirited comeback.
Michael Lynagh paid tribute to man-of-the-match Foley and insisted he must remain as Australia’s first-choice fly-half.
“He has to be selected, doesn’t he? The first two Tests it was a really strange decision from Ewen McKenzie to go with Kurtley Beale and then Foley came on in those games and the team looked better.
“That’s not to say that I don’t think Beale is a very good player but all year you see Foley and Beale at 10 and 12, respectively, and win a Super Rugby championship and play really well.
“All of a sudden they mix those around. When Foley comes back into this team he seems to give them good direction. He likes being on the big stage and I’ve said for two years now that he improves with every game – his confidence, his decision-making , his running of the game and of the team.
“He is the man for the big occasion. He’s kicked two goals to win big games in the last month or so. For me he’s a guy who I believe is the best 10 in Australia at the moment.
“We’ve got a lot of depth in that position which we haven’t had in the last few years but he’s a good player, very consistent, and a good reader of the game.”
Argentina, while dangerous with ball in hand, were too vulnerable out of possession claimed Gonzalo Camacho.
“The thing is, we couldn’t get the positions right early in the game,” he said.
“We struggled with the scrums, we struggled with the line-outs. We had good turnover balls and we had a good score – with Manuel Montero – afterwards when we had a bit of possession in their 22 we scored with Marcelo Bosch and with a good kick from Nicolas Sanchez.
“When we had the ball we played quite good but we have to be right on the spot and focused and try not to lose concentration, and be right in the moment when we have the ball.”
