Rugby World Cup: Springboks pleased with playoff win

London: South Africa beat Argentina 24-13 in the Rugby World Cup playoff and afterwards head coach Heyneke Meyer said he felt blessed, while captain Victor Matfield, who is retiring, said there had been a great unity.

"To turn it around after our first game, captain being injured, Victor came and he was injured, Fourie (du Preez) and Schalk (Burger) did brilliantly and you know being so close right to the end. Even now it`s great to be in this position, but you almost feel you could have been in the final. Just two points, could have gone either way, but I just feel blessed.

It`s been a great, amazing journey and the thing that stands out for me is the people back home you know. I know there`s some negative criticism as well, but the people that you meet day-to-day, the SMSs, it`s been amazing how people have supported us right to the end," Meyer told a post-match news conference.

Matfield commented: "After that Japan game (loss) something special happened with this team. I`ve been in a lot of teams, when the campaign finished, if you`re successful or not successful, there`s not a real unity. I think we somehow built a brotherhood in this team that`s just fantastic and it`s something I can use in the future, whatever I do."