He also heaped praise on Eben Etzebeth after his inclusion in the starting line-up left him poised to become the most capped Springboks player of all time.
South Africa were denied clinching the title with one game to spare when defeated 28-29 by Los Pumas in Santiago del Estero after giving up an early 17-point lead.
Manie Libbok’s kicking struggles were again in the spotlight after the Springboks’ narrow defeat to Argentina in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in Santiago del Estero on Saturday night.
The Cape Town outfit won the inaugural URC title two years ago after the introduction of the four strongest South African sides, with Libbok landing a clinching drop-goal in their final win over the Bulls.
Defending champions La Rochelle scraped through to the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals after Manie Libbok missed a last-gasp conversion for Stormers in the 22-21 away victory.
DHL Stormers edged the Vodacom Bulls 26-20 in a tense South African derby in Cape Town that lifts the 2022 champions to seventh in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
The flyhalf battle for the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup was tense, with two world-class talents jostling for one of the most coveted jerseys in modern rugby.
As many predicted, South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has gone for experienced standoff Handre Pollard for the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand this Saturday, preferring him to Manie Libbok.
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has explained the decision behind replacing his starting fly-half Manie Libbok after only 30 minutes for Handre Pollard in his side's 16-15 World Cup semi-final victory over England at the Stade de France, saying it's for South Africa.
With the crucial quarter-final against France incoming, the Springboks need to nail their selection with questions at 10 and 12