Manie Libbok has come under criticism after missing a routine penalty that could have secured victory for the Springboks in their shocking defeat to Argentina.
As the Springboks reflect on their unexpected loss, there are many regrets about missed opportunities, particularly the last-minute penalty that Libbok sent wide of the posts.
Libbok, who has struggled for form and game time this season, entered the match as a replacement for Handre Pollard early in the second half. Despite some excellent distribution and contestable kicking, two costly mistakes ultimately put him in the firing line.
Midway through the second half, the Springboks held a narrow two-point lead and had an opportunity to extend it after winning a scrum penalty. Libbok opted to kick for touch, hoping to set up an attacking lineout, but his attempt went too far, landing in the in-goal area instead of near the 5m line. This error gave Argentina a much-needed reprieve, allowing them to stay within reach of the Springboks.
With just over 10 minutes left in the game, Argentina took the lead by converting a penalty. The Springboks had one last chance to win with a penalty in the final minutes, but Libbok’s kicking inconsistency, which has been a weakness in his game, resurfaced. Despite being well-positioned for a relatively straightforward kick, he hooked it wide, missing what could have been a match-winner.
Springbok fans quickly voiced their frustrations online, directing much of their anger toward Libbok. However, coach Rassie Erasmus defended his player, acknowledging the pressure of the situation but insisting the game should not have hinged on a single kick.
“Not just for us to win, but for him personally, I was really hoping he would nail that kick,” Erasmus said. “He had been kicking well all week and was great during the warm-up. He slotted everything, but that’s the nature of pressure.
“I don’t think the game should have come down to one man’s kick. We lost several opportunities with lineout errors and penalties in their 22. It wasn’t a great performance from us overall.
“Manie is going to face a lot of criticism, and we all know that. He has to find a way to handle it. We’ll get flak for him missing that kick, but the game shouldn’t have been decided by it. We should have secured the win much earlier.”
