Media reports are quick to plug that the Springboks have never lost to the Pumas.
However I can still remember the day in 1982 when Hugo Porta’s South American team gave the Springboks a hiding 21-12 with Porta scoring all his teams points by running in a try, kicking a dropgoal, and slotting a few penalties and a conversion.
Picture above show Hugo Porta on his way to score his try on that day on 3 April 1982 when the Jaguars won the boks in Bloemfontein. Porta jinked his way past Naas Botha and Ray Mordt.
That South American team of 1982 was of course called the Jaguars and played in different jerseys than today’s Argentinians. The Jaguars consisted of players from Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Brazil and, in 1984, Spain. But essentially they were Argentinians.
Technically the Pumas thus have never beaten the Springboks.
Factually they did accomplish it in 1982.
Above is a picture of the Springbok side of 1982 who demolished the Jaguars 50-18 in the first of a two test series on 27 March 1982 in Pretoria. This was a formidable Springbok side with most of the players having toured to New Zealand in 1981. In the back row from right to left: Danie Gerber; Hempies du Toit; Rob Louw; Carel du Plessis and Ray Mordt. Middle row: Divan Serfontein; Willie Kats; Ockie Oosthuizen; Burger Geldenhuys; Johan Heunis; Willie du Plessis. Front row: Louis Moolman; dr Hannes Marais (assistant oach); Wynand Claassen (Captain); Prof Daan Swiegers (Manager); Theuns Stofberg; dr Cecil Moss (Coach) and Naas Botha. A week later this same side lost against the Jaguars in Bloemfontein 21-12.
One of those playing for the Jaguars that day was Marcelo Loffreda, later the Pumas’ coach, the man largely lauded for the success of the Pumas in recent times. That series in 1982 was of course not the first time that South Africa played against South America.
Romantically one could argue that the relationship between South African rugby and South American rugby started in 1905 with a man called Fairy Heatlie. Heatlie was the youngest forward ever to play for South Africa. He played for South Africa in 1891, 1896 and 1903. He was a giant of a man and captained the South African test side in 1896 and 1903.
Fairy Heatlie was the captain of the first South African team who won a series against Britain in 1903. In the picture above he can be seen sitting in the centre chair. The players in this picture are from the left in the back row: Joe Anderson; Paul Roos; W van Renen; P.O Nel; H.H. Ferrts; J Barry; Japie Krige. Middle row: J.A Loubsher; W.M.C McEwan; Fairy Heatlie (Captain); J Botha; C Brown. Front row: T.E.C Hobson; H.W Carolin.
It was Heatlie who gave South Africa the green jersey which the Springboks still wear. He was earmarked to captain the first South African touring team to the United Kingdom in 1906 but his life spiralled out of control and he ended up in Argentina fleeing the law. He was eventually brought back to South Africa, stood trial and was sentenced to two years’ hard labour.
However he managed to get back to his wife and sons in Argentina after having served his sentence. In 1910 the first touring team came from Britain to Argentina and they played a Test; Argentina’s first Test. In the Argentinian team was Fairy Heatlie. Having played against the first three such touring teams to South Africa, he also played in the first to tour Argentina which makes him one of the originals or foundation players of both South Africa and Argentina.
The first official contact between the two countries was in 1932 when a Junior Springbok team under captaincy of Joe Nykamp toured to Argentina. Danie Craven in his book ‘Rugby in South Africa; 1889-1964’ explains that this tour resulted as a consequence of the trails to select a team to tour the United Kingdom in 1932. Due to general consensus that South Africa could quite easily select another strong team to tour the U.K a tour was arranged to Argentina and this touring side was called Junior Springboks. The manager of this side was legendary Paul Roos. Paul Roos made no extravagant claims for the strength of his team but felt that the best fifteen “would have given any South African provincial team more than a good run for their money”.
The juniors won all eight their games, beating a representative Argentinian team 42-0 and 43-3. Their hardest match which they won by 11-5 was against Gimnasia y Esgrima, a club coached and captained by Fairy Heatlie. Five of the 1932 Junior Springboks became Springboks.
After the Springboks disastrous tour to New Zealand in 1956 and the series lost against France in 1958 a second Junior Springbok side was send to Argentina in an attempt to build up South African rugby. This team under captaincy of Peter Allen and managership of Kobus Louw played 13 matches, scored 456 points with only 47 scored against them. They played two ‘internationals’ which they won 14-6 and 20-6. This junior Springbok team played against the rest of South Africa as part of the 1960 trails and won the match. Consequently 16 of the team became Springboks.
In 1965 the first Argentinian team left South America touring to South Africa. To prepare them the South African Rugby Board sent one of its most innovative coaches Izak van Heerden to Argentina. Izak van Heerden made a name for himself when in 1963 he coached Natal from a fairly insignificant provincial team to an unbeaten season; the first in 73 years of the Natal Rugby Union. After that season the President of the South African Rugby Board sent a congratulatory telegram to van Heerden which read: “Be assured that we are proud of what you are doing in Natal for Rugby, and particularly your whole approach to the game. You have proved that that adventure in the form of attack is still the basis of the game and we are proud of all you have achieved. We hope that you will continue with the good work.”
Picture of the late Izak van Heerden who is still remembered with respect in Argentina.
That 1965 Argentinian team, captained by Aitor Otaño became the first to be called the Pumas when a South African journalist mistook the Jaguar on their badge for a puma. The highlight of their tour was when they beat the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, for them an incredible achievement, which they celebrated at great length, loath to leave the stadium.
A Gazelle team (South Africa Under-23) under captaincy of Jannie van Aswegen toured to Argentina in 1972. Fifteen of this 1972 Gazelle side namely Paul Bayvel, Morné du Plessis, Dawie Snyman, Piet Cronje, Ray Carlson, Joggie Jansen, Niek Bezuidenhout, Gerrie Germishuys, Klippies Kritzinger, Kevin de Klerk, Dougald MacDonald, Jan Schlebush, Carel Fourie, Johan Strauss and Jackie Snyman became Springboks.
After this tour Argentina started to become a power to be reckoned with and they went on to beat Wales, Scotland and Ireland in successive years. They drew with England at Twickenham in 1978.
Politics became a major obstacle in terms of maintaining rugby contact after 1972 but the administrators found ways around it which saw the emergence of the Jaguars.
The South American Jaguars played in total 8 test matches against the Springboks between the years 1980 and 1984. They played a significant part in the preparation of the Springbok teams who played the British and Irish Lions in 1980 and the 1981 side who toured to New Zealand.
Who will forget that first test in 1980 against the Jaguars at the Wanderers when the Pumas scored a scrum pushover try against us (see picture above).
This was Naas Botha’s first test. Naas kicked one drop goal and prevented two tries with good cross covering defence. In the second test of that series he announced himself in international rugby with three magnificent drop goals.
This was also the first and last test matches played by the two Northern Transvaal stalwards Tommy du Plessis and Pierre Edwards.
This picture shows Edwards (the original slap chips-I think) kicking for touch. Edwards got injured in the second half of the second test and was replaced by Gysie Pienaar who made such an impression that Edwards never regained his spot.
Tommy du Plessis opened the scoring with his try in the first test at the Wanderers in 1980.
The Springbok team that played in that test at the Wanders can be seen in the picture above. In the back row from right to left: Naas Botha; Johan Strauss; Rob Louw; Willie du Plessis; Ray Mordt. Middle row: Gerrie Germishuys; Richard Prentis; Theuns Stofberg; Louis Moolman; Pierre Edwards; Dave Fredrickson; Tommy du Plessis. Front row: Kevin de Klerk; Butch Lochner (manager); Morné du Plessis (Captain); Nelie Smith (Coach); Peter Whipp. For the second test of that series (which the Springboks won 18-9) Johan Straus was replaced by Daan du Plessis. Tommy du Plessis was replaced by Divan Serfontein a few weeks later for the sreies against the British and Irish Lions. Edwards was replaced by Gysie Pienaar after 12 minutes in the second half of the second test. De Wet Ras also replaced Willie du Plessis after 14 minutes in the second half thus gaining his second test cap as a replacement after getting his first cap in 1976 when he went on in the first test against the All Blacks for Gerald Bosch.
The second test of that series is remembered for a crash tackle by Peter Whipp on Hugo Porta. This tackle culminated in a try by Gerrie Germishuys. This picture show Peter Whipp in action against the Jaguars in 1980.
This was the pre-ultimate test for Kevin de Klerk shown here on the charge in the first test match. De Klerk played one more test after this series namely the second test against the Lions of 1980.
After the series against the 1980 British and Irish Lions in 1980 the Springboks went off to South America. Barred from Argentina they played two tests matches against the Jaguars in Montevideo and Santiago. The South American team consisted solely of Argentinian players. In total the Springboks played 6 matches which they won quite comprehensively including winning the first test 22-13 and the second test 30-16. Errol Tobias –the first black player to represent South Africa- was also on that tour. In 1982 as mentioned above the Springboks beat the Jaguars 50-18 in Pretoria. The pictures below show some action from that first test which saw Danie Gerber scoring three tries, Carel du Plessis scoring his first test try as well as tries by Willie du Plessis and Ray Mordt (2). Ray Mordt in particular scored a stunning try shrugging of two defenders on his way to his try.
Danie Gerber scoring the first of his three tries after a long run next to the right hand touch line.
Carel du Plessis playing in his first test match on his way to score his first test try.
Ray Mordt shrugging of two defenders on his way to a spectacular try.
Johan Heunis estabished himself after the 1981 New Zealand tour as the test fullback and cemented that position with a solid performance in the first test.
A week later Porta orchestrated a historic victory mentioned at the start of this piece.
There was one more encounter between the Springboks and the Jaguars namely in 1984. The Springbok team that played in two test matches against the Jaguars in 1984 can be seen in the picture below. Divan Serfontein was the captain and players like Anton Barnard, Attie Strauss, Kulu Ferreira, Nick Mallet and Michael du Plessis were test debutants. Naas Botha was in the United States playing American Football and that opened the door for Errol Tobias. Tobias also played against England in June of 1984 so this was his 3rd and 4th starts in a test match.
The 1984 Springboks side that played against the Jaguars.
South Africa met the Pumas for the first time in 1993 on the rugby field touring to South America. The Springboks won the two rest matches 29-26 and 52-23 respectively. The next year Argentina toured for the first time since 1965 as the Pumas to South Africa They played two test matches; one in Port Elizabeth which they lost 42-22 and one in Johannesburg which they lost 46-26.
There was another tour to South America in 1996 before that crazy match in 2000 when eccentric coach Harry Viljoen forbade the Springboks to kick and they came close to losing; winning 37-33 in the end.
The closest the Pumas came to a victory was in Port Elizabeth in 2003 when a last-minute penalty goal by Louis Koen won the match for the Springboks.
The introduction of the Pumas into the four nation South Hemisphere tournament is a new chapter in the history of test matches between South Africa and South America and judging by how the Pumas played at Newlands they will be competitive and might become increasingly harder to beat.
It is also true that the Mighty Southern African worriors (consisting of RSA, Nam, Ken and Zim) have never lost against the All Blacks.
Although technically they have never played a game — Factually it is true that they have never lost to Nz.
And your point is?
I remember Cecil Moss (the coach) saying after the Bloemfontein match that he contribute the loss to the fact that the Springboks only got together the day before the match. They had no training session for the second test and obviously totally underestimated the Jaguars.
At the time nobody realy seemd to worry or care about the loss. The Jaguars were not regarded as a ‘real’ test side. For them I believe it was major victory almost like Rhodesia beating the All Blacks.
Lovely piece Mclook.
A bit of useless info relating to the 1982 Test in Bloemfontein. That was the last time that a SA ref officiated a Springbok test until recently.
Question: When did this incident change?
Which incident are you referering too? Indepenedent referees officiating test matches? Or home refs being allowed to ref their own countries teams again?
What part don’t you understand?
A South African reffed the 1982 test v Jaguars in Bloem. (this was the last time that a SA ref i.e a referee from SA blowing the whistle) like Max Baise or Gert Bezuidenhout for example.
But this changed in one test match in SA.
A South African (HOME ref) officiating a test involving the Springboks
It is interetsing that in 1980 (all the test matches) independent refs were used. Howver in 1982 two SA refs were used for both tests against the Jaguars.
In 1984 against England and the Jaguars independent refs were used as well as in 1986 against the Cavaliers.
So the two test in 1982 was almost a breach of protocal (using independent refs and not home refs)that stated in 1980 already.
Spot on with 1980. Keith Rowlands (Wales) did the two Jaguars tests, Palmade (FRA) and Bonnet (FRA) were in charge of the Lions series, Prideaux (ENG) the away Jaguars series and JR West (Ireland) did the French ‘Summer test’.
Perhaps the cancelled Welsh tour in 82 had something to do with change of protocol and the hastily arranged tour.
Argentina weren’t exactly the most well-loved bunch with the Falklands war still fresh in the mind. I’m surprised they toed the IRB’s line.
Anyways, the Jaguars certainly enjoyed the tiop-class competition.
Imagine if they had played the All Blacks two, three times every two years like they did against the Boks.
We’re in 2012 and only now will they have that opportunity.
As far as I can see no SA ref has officiated a Springbok test match since Fransie Muller in Bloemfontein in 1982 when SA was playing against the Jaguars.
Lately with refs receiving a grade it is possible for home refs to officiate matches involving their home countries team. Howver it seems that SA refs are kept away from test matches involving the Springboks.
THE ANSWER: Jonathan Kaplan was the referee when the Boks whipped Namibia 105-13 on 15 August 2007 at Newlands.
Good one I missed that one. Namibia is almost like we playing against ourselves.
Cheers! I need to hit the sack.
Take care!
Hey, Al,
Long time no talk.
“Argentina weren’t exactly the most well-loved bunch with the Falklands war still fresh in the mind. I’m surprised they toed the IRB’s line.”
Yeah, although to be fair, and SA in that era experienced, the IRB was always very reluctant to let the domestic politics of a country interfere with their scheduled tours. It usually always took the intervention of a government (e.g., NZ Prime Minister cancelling the 1973 Springbok tour, or the Argentinian government cancelling the All Blacks scheduled tour there in 1982) to affect the schedule. Whether it was truly possible or not, the IRB did try and practice “no politics in sport” across the board.
NZ Prime Minister Rob Muldoon (of allowing the ’81 Springboks to tour fame) was in boots and all when Thatcher decided to fight in the Falklands. We offered a frigate to the Brits, which ended up patrolling in the Indian Ocean, which freed up British ships to fight in the South Atlantic. So the Argies then cancelled our scheduled tour there in late 1982…
One other upshot of that sports-and-politics era was that, in protest against the ’81 Springbok tour, the countries of the West Indies canned a scheduled cricket tour by our team there in early ’82 (The ’81 English tour had been disrupted when Robin Jackman was refused entry in Guyana). If you’ve ever seen the excellent documentary, “Fire in Babylon”, you can be pretty sure not too many NZ batsmen were disappointed they missed out having to face Roberts, Holding, Garner, Croft, Marshall, Daniels…!
“Imagine if they had played the All Blacks two, three times every two years like they did against the Boks.”
We had two unofficial test tour contacts with the Argentinians during that era. Just after the 1976 tour to South Africa, a “3rd-string” All Black team, captained by Graham Mourie, and coached by Jack Gleeson (and including guys like Andy Haden and Stu Wilson who would cement themselves as great All Blacks in the years ahead) toured Argentina. They were unbeaten, but they were a very good side – maybe not as talented as the team that toured South Africa, but certainly better lead. The tests were difficult. That tour laid the foundation for our series win against the Lions in 1977, our Grand Slam in 1978, and arguably the next decade of All Black rugby until the Cavaliers tour.
Then Argentina toured here in 1979. They just lost both unofficial tests against a 2nd string All Black team , that again, included guys who became great All Blacks in the years ahead – Dave Loveridge, Murray Mexted, John Ashworth, Bernie Fraser. Argentina also lost their last tour game against that year’s national champions, Counties. They were a very good side, who dominated local top class provincial teams (they beat Auckland, fro example). But the stand-out player who created a lasting impression, even to this day, was Hugo Porta.
Bryan Williams, who had played against some great no, 10s in his time (Piet Visagie, Barry John, Phil Bennett, Gerald Bosch, Tony Ward, Mark Ella) rated Porta the best fly half, and the most complete player he ever saw based on his experience of Porta in 1979.
Then, after the 1985 tour to South Africa was cancelled, the All Blacks had an end-of-season replacement consolation tour to Argentina. We won the first test, but the second drawn 21-21. Porta scored all their points,
I know you guys rate Naas Botha a tremendous match winner, especially courtesy of his efforts for the Blue Bulls at Loftus during the ’80s. Fair enough. But Naas, whether at domestic or international level always had great players around him. In contrast, Porta was almost a one-man band, having to act as glue to cover-up a lack of comparative class throughout his team.
My understanding of the Jaguar tours to South Africa in that era was that non-Argentinians were included as window-dressing, to try and deflect some of the diplomatic pressure off the Argentinian Rugby Union. A bit like the Cavaliers of 1986. But despite that, they seem to have been the real McCoy, and I’m sure both the tourists and the hosts regarded it as the real thing. And any team with Hugo Porta could certainly be regarded as a genuine international team!
Nice to hear from you and thanks for that Kimbo. Interesting times. Seems a universe away when you look at the world of rugby today.
Hugo Porta was a great flyhalf and I’m glad to hear many top international players that played against him during this era rated him so highly.
The test in 1982 reflects his genius as he contributed to the Jaguars by getting a fullhouse of scoring movements against a powerful Bok outfit. I seem to recall that he played for the South African Barbarians in the 70s or 80s.
He was also appointed Argentina’s Ambassador to South Africa in 1991 and was well received in this country.
Al Blacks drawing with the Pumas must have been a bit of a shock for most AB fans.
Pumas are like the SA teams a lot more competetive at home. This weekend game against the springboks are therefore going to be interesting.
On evidence of the Newlands test I got the impression that they are a bit of an old style rugby team. Bash and smash type thing with not a lot of skill and variety on attack.
They will probabbly get better as they play more together. They will be playing 9 test this year against top class competition (All Blacks, SA and Aussie). They are as a consequence bound to get better. I reckon in two three years time (maybe even at the end of this years 4 nations) they will be a real handful.
“Al Blacks drawing with the Pumas must have been a bit of a shock for most AB fans”
Sort of. We had real respect for Argentina in that era, especially due to Porta.
From memory we scored at least two or three tries that day, and all of Porta’s points were from kicks, with at least 2 drop goals. However, it was a very tough game, and we were lucky in some ways to come out with a draw. Buenos Aires is a tough place to play. I heartily concur Argentina will be winning against SA and NZ in the next few years. I think they may knock over Oz this year.
Back to that 1985 game. It was the last (official) test match for Wayne Smith, Dave Loveridge, Murray Mexted, and Andy Haden. All four of them were suspect selections at that stage, as better younger players had been performing, in the case of Grant Fox, David Kirk, and Murray Pierce in the test the week before. Also Buck Shelford was in better form in the mid-week games than Mexted, which I understand may have also been the case on the Cavaliers tour in 1986. However, there was a lot of player power in that era over selections, which became possibly even worse on the player-driven Cavaliers tour.
I remember that weekend well – it was a triple header, with the Rugby League Kiwis playing a test in Great Britain that night – they lost. The next day our All Whites football team was bundled out of making the 1986 World Cup by losing to (horror!) Australia, and then the All Blacks failed to win.
I remember the NZ Herald, reflecting on the draw, and how we came to be playing in Argentina as a replacement for the scheduled South African tour, and they mused that a door had been closed on a great rugby rivalry, but Argentina’s showing was a case of a new one opening.
Now we have the Boks back in the fold again, and hopefully, within a few years Argentina, courtesy of regular fixtures and their tough home venue, will be knocking over the others from time to time. World rugby competition needs it!
“On evidence of the Newlands test I got the impression that they are a bit of an old style rugby team. Bash and smash type thing with not a lot of skill and variety on attack.”
Yep. You are right to highlight the connection between SA and Argentina courtesy of “Fairy” Heatlie. We’ve always felt Argentina’s play is very much modelled on South Africa.
Interesting the mention you made of a push over try the Jaguars got against the Boks. The Argentinians had perfected an 8-man shove they called “bajada”, which was especially lethal in that era. With good kicking fly halves, Big forward, and barren hard up-country grounds, touring Argentina is a bit like playing the Transvaal-OFS-Griqua circuit that teams used to do in the old days.
Kimbo, your posts are really interesting. I remember well those Sudamerica XV and Jaguars teams of the early 80´s. As you said they played (and Los Pumas still play) very similar to South Africa. Today Los Pumas got a very valuable draw against SA here in Buenos Aires. It is a little bit bittersweet because they were winning with just 15 min remaining.
Regards from Argentina
Yes SA was very lucky to salvage a draw. Pumas played really well and is streetwise. Was annoying to watch as a SA fan because we couldn’t get going mostly due to playing the wrong tactics and the effectiveness of the Pumas at the tackle ball.
Good result for you guy’s even though it pains me to admit it. Cheers. Hope the Pumas keep it up against the Aussies and the All Blacks.
Gracias, Pablo,
The All Blacks were very very lucky to win in Argentina in 2002 (you were the better team that day, and we would have had no good reason to complain if we lost (which, as the South Africans around here will tell you, never stops Kiwis complaining anyway!), and also you pushed us close in 2006. Also last year in the World Cup 1/4 final you were in it until just after half time.
We Kiwis hate playing at Johannesburg. It is a crazy nut-house, where if we scrape through with a lucky win, no matter how favoured we were beforehand, we count ourselves lucky. I have little doubt Buenos Aires will be like that for us, and all teams that visit.
For all my talk about physicality, my experience of Argentinian rugby players is that they are very skilled also. I manage an age-group team here in Auckland, and because it is dominated by Polynesians, the style of play tends to be very very confrontational. We had a couple of Argentinian players pass through our teams a number of years ago (a fly half and flanker from the La Tablada club in Cordoba), and they had a very different approach – and it was a breathe of fresh air.
Congratulations on your draw against South Africa. Now I will let you know a basic facet of Kiwi cultural identity: We support the All Blacks, and anyone who beats Australia. Make sure you beat those Wallabies!
Viva Argentina!
Correction it was not in Buenos Aires but in Mendoza
My friend go back and check your records again. That was not the Springboks, but infact the Junior Springboks that they played against. It was the First time they beat the Junior Springboks as well. Big difference playing under 21′s and playing the senior team.
What the hell are talking about?
The Pumas beat the Junior Springboks the first time in 1965. They played one more series after that against a Junior Springbokside and that was in 1972.
If you are argueing that the Jaguars 1982 win was against a Junior Springbokside then you’ve got it wrong. Go see the team photo above (first team photo in the piece). That 1982 Springbokside included players like Danie Gerber; Hempies du Toit; Rob Louw; Carel du Plessis and Ray Mordt; Divan Serfontein; Willie Kats; Ockie Oosthuizen; Burger Geldenhuys; Johan Heunis; Willie du Plessis; Louis Moolman; Wynand Claassen (Captain); Theuns Stofberg; and Naas Botha.
The majority of those players were on the 1981 tour to New Zealand and played in the test matches against the All Blacks they where definetely not Junior Springboks.
Yep – you are right, McLook, on the 1965 result.
At the same time Dawie de Villiers’ senior Springbok team was in Australia on the first leg of their 30 game 6 test tour of Australasia, the Pumas beat the Junior Springboks/Gazelles in an”unofficial” test. Was unofficial because the IRB did not recognise Argentina as an official test side. I’m pretty sure it happened happened the same day the big Boks lost a test to Aussie in Sydney. Doc Craven remarked it was about the darkest day in South African rugby history!
While the Jaguars were not an officially recognised IRB international team, and so they were not viewed as a test side, the SARB had the right to issue caps to whomever they saw fit – as they did against the Jaguars, and also the Cavaliers in 1986, and I also think with an Invitational side that toured the Republic in 1989. As it was the boycott years, the SARB wanted to give official caps for matches against whomever they could find to play the Boks. So while the Jaguars and Cavaliers players never earned official ‘caps’, the South Africans did.
And that selection in 1982 is most certainly not a Junior Springbok/Gazelles team. They were the big boys!
In the absence of any of these “records” to “check”, Dave, I’d suggest you need to come forward with some links and evidence to silence the rugby trivia train spotters who gather in these parts!
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