Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi has backed Manie Libbok to rebound from his missed kick in the 29-28 defeat to Argentina in the Rugby Championship.

With the game on the line, Libbok had the opportunity to seal the win for the Springboks when he lined up a shot at goal in the 79th minute.

However, the fly-half’s effort sailed wide as Los Pumas held out of the win which meant that the tournament would enter the final round to decide the victor.

“I’m talking from experience”

Libbok has come under fire since missing the kick and Mbonambi has sympathised with the 27-year-old after having a similar experience in a crushing defeat.

The experienced Bok hooker reflected back on South Africa’s first-ever defeat to Italy back in 2016 when the Azzurri claimed a famous 20-18 victory over a then Allister Coetzee-coached Springboks side.

Mbonambi failed to hit his jumper from a clutch lineout in what was a pivotal moment in the match and, like Libbok, the front-rower faced fierce criticism.

“I’m talking from experience when in 2016 we lost to Italy and I threw the last lineout in and we lost it,” the hooker said.

“I got my name dragged through the mud and all that. It comes with playing for the Springboks and playing at the highest level. You make a mistake and it costs you a Test match.”

Mbonambi, who returns to the starting XV after missing the clash against Los Pumas in Argentina, believes that Libbok now faces the challenge of bouncing back and proving himself once again – and backs his teammate to do just that.

“Some like Manie, who’s been through a lot also in his life outside of rugby, I think this is for him is just another challenge for him to just to prove himself firstly to him and then to everyone else that he is a fly-half of international standard especially in the Springbok jersey,” he added.

“So it’s going to be a tough game but we are looking forward to it we’ll prepare as best as we can but as I said we’ll stay in our reality and we’ll make sure that we fix our mistakes that we that we need to fix.”

Argentina challenge

Meanwhile, Mbonambi says that the Springboks are under no illusion of the task that awaits them this weekend against an Argentine team that has beaten all three opponents in the Rugby Championship for the first time in a single tournament.

South Africa have one hand on the title, needing just a single log point to seal the title, but Los Pumas will be motivated by the opportunity to win the tournament for the first time since their inclusion in 2012.

“We all understand the magnitude of this game coming this weekend,” he said.

“The Argentines are always tough, and we always respect them as they bring the kind of physicality that we also want to bring to other teams.

“This game is going to be important it’s going to be vital but obviously, we have made plans and we just stick to our reality and we have the Springbok standards that we want to achieve in the game so definitely be a massive one.”