Argentina v South Africa - Teams and Prediction

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND FIVE: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus says his team cannot afford to let things get too loose when they face Argentina on Saturday.

A win for the visiting team in the northern city of Santiago del Estero will make the four-time World Cup title-holders the Southern Hemisphere champions for only the second time in 12 attempts.

The Springboks head into the match with four wins from four matches over the Wallabies and All Blacks and they are overwhelming favourites to make it five in a row this weekend.

However, Felipe Contepomi’s Los Pumas side showed what they are capable of when they get the upper hand this season with a 38-30 away against the All Blacks and a 67-27 home win over the Wallabies.

Erasmus has noticed a new edge to their game since last year’s World Cup.

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Remember when @EbenEtzebeth started and finished this stunner last year against Argentina 🤩💥#Springboks#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/DHJVhfwMsR

— Springboks (@Springboks) September 16, 2024

“They’ve got the ability to make the game really fast and open and a lot of their players have come from the Sevens system,” said Erasmus.

“Then you’ve got the tough boys in front.

“So, they’ve got a blend of a big solid pack of forwards, but also speed in the backs.

“The moment it gets a little bit loose and unstructured, they thrive on that.”

After winning the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate (against Australia) and the Freedom Cup (against the All Blacks), Erasmus said his team is desperate to secure the Rugby Championship title this weekend.

“Our first goal was the Freedom Cup, but that is done now and now it’s the Rugby Championship,” said the Bok coach.

“But we are playing against a team that has their future in their hands as well.

“If they beat us with five points [in Santiago del Estero] and five points [in Nelspruit], they win it and I am pretty sure they are going to go for it.

“We saw what they did against Australia and New Zealand, so it is going to be really tough, but we are also very desperate.

“We are also very proud and they are very proud. We know the crowds here and the older guys have told the younger boys what it will be like on that field.”

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Meanwhile, Contepomi is hoping that the crowd will give his side the extra boost needed to upset the world champions.

“This is going to be a great match,” said Contepomi.

“We had magnificent support against Australia and I am sure it will be the same against the world champions.”

Prop Pedro Delgado will be making his debut in the match if Contepomi decides to use him off the bench.

“I am very happy to be at Los Pumas,” said Delgado.

“The truth is that I have adapted well to the squad, they welcomed me very well and it would be a dream to be able to play.

“I think the team is doing very well, we trained very well during the week and we are very focused on what we have to do.

“South Africa is the world champions and they have a very strong pack of forwards but we are focused on ourselves, training hard during the week and focused on being able to play a good match.”

Players to watch

For Argentina: Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi has made three changes to the side that started against Australia and trailed by 17 points during the first half before staging a stunning comeback. Locks Franco Molina and Pedro Rubiolo replace Guido Petti and Tomas Lavanini, while No.8 Joaquin Oviedo starts with Juan Martin Gonzalez dropping to the bench. In the front row, Joel Sclavi is a powerful scrummager and he will need to be on top of his game to put his opponent under pressure. Flyhalf Tomas Albornoz will also need to dictate play from the start and he is up against the experienced Handre Pollard.

For South Africa: Coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to the team that started in an 18-12 victory over New Zealand in Cape Town two weeks ago. The five survivors are centre Jesse Kriel, flyhalf Handre Pollard, prop Ox Nche, lock Ruan Nortje and No.8 Jasper Wiese. Ben-Jason Dixon gets another opportunity to impress in the No.7 spot and it is big shoes to fill with Pieter-Steph du Toit being the best player in the world. In the backline, Aphelele Fassi has been enjoying a great season so far and if he gets plenty of space, the Argentinians will be in trouble. Keep an eye on Manie Libbok on the bench. He has dropped in the flyhalf pecking order in recent months and will want to impress if he gets an opportunity. Eben Etzebeth will equal Victor Matfield’s Bok test-cap record when joins the action from the bench.

Prediction

@rugby365com: South Africa by nine points.

Teams:

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Matias Moroni.

South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Manie Libbok.

Date: Saturday, September 21
Venue: Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero
Kick-off: 18.00 (23.00 SAST; 21.00 GMT)
Expected: It will be partly cloudy with a slight breeze. A high of 37°C is expected, but it will cool down in the evening.
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Matt Carley (England), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

Additional source: AFP