Ian Mac backs Harry

Former Springbok and Natal Sharks coach Ian McIntosh has returned from a brief sojourn with the Springboks in Argentina deeply impressed by what he saw.

"Mac" describes his visit to Buenos Aires as "one of the most enjoyable times I've spent with the Springboks" and is full of praise for Harry Viljoen's handling of the team and the enthusiasm of the players.

Attending "Boots and All" on SuperSport on Tuesday McIntosh defended the methods Viljoen applied in Saturday's test against Argentina.

"We have to realise that is the start of a process to completely change the attitude and approach of the team. What Harry has done is almost a shock treatment to make the players appreciate where he wants to go.

"And he was prepared to take full responsibility and even run the risk of a defeat to get the players to realise that we have to start scoring tries. His instruction to the team not to kick the ball against Argentina was designed to force them into getting behind the ball and trying to construct tries.

"I was as amazed as anyone with the way we ran the ball - especially after that first penalty - but look at the amazing tries we scored," said the elder statesman of South Africa's coaches. McIntosh admires Viljoen for having been brave enough to take the risks - such as playing Percy Montgomery at flyhalf and John Smit at hooker - to forcibly bring home to the players how serious he is about creating a completely different brand of Springbok rugby.

"I think it worked. Argentina tend to be very negative but there were times we cut them to ribbons. I think the players would have taken a lot from that," said McIntosh.

He added that Andre Markgraaff, too, deserved credit for the work he had done that enabled the Springbok pack to stand up to the Puma scrum and counter their compelling driving play.

"In the end I think the players got very tired. Most of them had been through the Currie Cup semis and the final and Harry was forced to take a gamble by working them extremely hard in Buenos Aires.

"When their legs started to go the mistakes crept in but it was significant how they tried to stay with a ball-in-hand game and get numbers behind the ball carrier to provide continuity.

"It might have looked a little panicky but I'm not convinced that there was obstruction when Thinus Delport scored while there were mistakes in two of the Puma tries that should have been blown up.

"We're on a sharp learning curve, but I was really impressed by the way the guys bought into what Harry is trying to do and their eagerness in practices. We're in for an exciting ride but I feel sure that Harry knows where he's going and that the benefits of not kicking the ball against Argentina will be seen along the way," McIntosh added.