Boks braced for 'semifinal' against Los Pumas
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has dubbed this weekend’s Rugby Championship fixture against Los Pumas as a semifinal clash.
Both teams are in the running for the title, with one point and points difference separating the sides.
The tournament has been the strongest since its inception in 2012, when Argentina joined the former Tri Nations to form the revamped Rugby Championship.
Argentina has been competitive and had a mathematical chance to clinch the title last season after their 29-28 win over the Boks in Santiago del Estero.
Kolisi praised Argentina as a team and what they have achieved over the past couple of seasons.
He also dismissed the idea that the Boks would go out to “put on a show” and emphasised that they will go out to win by any means necessary.
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“We’re not putting up a show, we are playing Test match rugby on Saturday.
“We are trying to win the game, and we are [essentially] playing a semifinal tomorrow [Saturday].
“Argentina and we have the opportunity to win the Rugby Championship.
“We just want to play winning rugby.
“It doesn’t matter what it takes for us to win; that is what we have to do.
‘We are grateful for all the support we have received throughout the year from the South African public.
“It hasn’t been an easy year. It’s been tough, and we had to dig ourselves out of tough weeks.
“We lost by some big scores.
“It just shows how tight we are as a team, and that’s the positives we take.
“On Saturday, we just want to play Test match rugby and respect Argentina because they are an amazing team.
“I don’t think they get enough credit. They’re a strong team.
“From what they did last year and even this year shows they are an ever-improving side.”
The Boks made subtle changes to their side since the start of the season during the incoming series and showed more consistency during the Rugby Championship.
Still, there have been several changes in selection during the tournament.
Kolisi touched on how the team has dealt with the changes and warned that they should not take Los Pumas lightly in their quest to make history and win the tournament two years in a row for the first time.
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“The team has been chopping and changing, and everybody gets an opportunity they want to grab with both hands.
“I don’t think, with the mindset we are in, anyone in this team will see this game as a walk in the park.
“We know what’s at stake, and we know Argentina is capable of winning the Rugby Championship.
“We know that they’re going to bring passion and emotion into the game along with their tactical approach. The same counts for us.
“We have an opportunity to do something we’ve never done as a group before.
“That’s winning the Rugby Championship back-to-back, and we know Argentina is not just going to hand it to us.
Kolisi added: “For us as players, we need to ensure we do our best.
“We need to ensure that we put ourselves in a good position to get an opportunity to play again.
“In saying that, to put the team in the best position to win the tournament.”
