GoalMOUTH is a weekly column that places the spotlight on various sporting codes, tackling the brutal truth and chasing those who try to evade a bit of banter… And it’s all about the banter!

I think it’s safe to say that this past week, the Springboks proved they are not actually invincible and that Dr Rassie can actually make a mistake or two.

Saturday evening’s encounter was probably one of the most entertaining games of the Rugby Championship thus far and worth waiting up until 11pm for.

However, it was bit of a downer to lose by a point, especially after Manie Libbok could have secured us the title. No blame on him though, but what came out of that game is that not everybody in a Springbok jersey is ready for the jersey.

Yes, the team did really well and we shouldn’t start throwing people under a bus to prove a point. We lost against a spirited and arguably one of the best Argentinian sides in recent times.

It looked as if they watched us closely, closed off every option and played the game we expected to use against them.

Hats off to Contemponi and the boys, New Zealand struggled in two games and you guys pull off such a sweet victory in front of your home crowd.

However, when you attack a sleeping lion, he won’t attack you immediately, but rather give you that look that says: “Are you for real?”

I feel like it was one of those moments, when they poked and we thought the above and then thought of taking this meal home to enjoy it in front of our very own.

We are looking at a side that played out their skins, but we were always lacking something on every part of the field. I have never seen our team miss so many tackles or be rattled to the point where we gave away three penalties in one phase of rugby.

Once a team has you cornered and they sniff, they force you to make errors and it was kind of refreshing to see the Springboks there, as opposed to dominating the way they have done recently.

There is lots of debate around Libbok, who I feel is an amazing attacking flyhalf with so much vision and skills. But unfortunately, a flyhalf must be able to kick and it’s probably thee biggest requirement for that position.

Now the poor guy facing so much stick and must be wondering what would have happened if he had only put that ball between the sticks.

If you say it so many times, it still doesn’t make you feel better about that crucial moment though, but we believe in him and back him as a nation, despite all the memes coming from our Cape Town All Black supporters stuck in Cape Town.

I heard last week that a Cape Town All Black fan moved to Paarden Eiland just so that he could become more of an Islander.

If you’er not laughing, who cares? I am.

Anyway, off to Nelspruit this week where it’s set to be a cracker between these nations and it should be noted that Argentina are not messing around.

Could this be a sneak preview of the next World Cup final?

But. On to other things... My beloved Manchester United drew their two games, including their first Europa game against a team our manager actually threatened earlier this week.

I quote Erik Ten Hag: “I wish I could play someone else, because I hate to hurt the team I love.”

End result was 1 - 1 and now our manager has to explain whether he thought FC Twente were supposed to back down after he said that?

I’d rather not guys, Tottenham next week, this team gets my blood pressure really high.

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Opinion

Showdown in Nelspruit awaits