The Springbok rugby coach Heyneke Meyer says he has serious back-row problems to solve before a Rugby Championship third-round clash in Australia next month.
His first away game since replacing out-of-contract Peter de Villiers last January did not go according to plan at the weekend as they snatched an undeserved 16-all draw with fired-up newcomers Argentina.
Meyer gambled on a new loose trio combination of flankers Marcell Coetzee and Jacques Potgieter and No. 8 Willem Alberts in Mendoza.
But the anticipated physicality from his back-row never materialised as they repeatedly came off second best at the breakdowns while a near-capacity 40,000 crowd roared on the home team.
Meyer says they battled at the breakdown, they got little quick ball and, when they did, they should have used it better.
Meyer opted for ball-carrying loose forwards when he took over and discarded Heinrich Brussow, ranked among the best "scavengers" in world rugby for his ability to win possession at rucks and mauls.
Potgieter was a particular disappointment in Mendoza, never stamping his authority on the game like he did for the Bulls in his maiden Super Rugby season.
