Will Argentina burst Boks' bubble?
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Argentina are bracing themselves for a massive physical onslaught when they face the Springboks in Salta on Saturday.
After a win against the Wallabies and a draw with the All Blacks, the Springboks are one victory away from claiming their first Rugby Championship title. South Africa last tasted success in 2009 when it was still the Tri-Nations.
For Argentina, it has been a different story so far with two defeats (against New Zealand in Buenos Aires and Australia in Brisbane) from their two matches so far.
Mario Ledesma’s side will also enter Saturday’s match with a dismal home record. Their only victory in their last 10 Tests on home soil came against South Africa in August last year.
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Argentina flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez knows that his team will have to man up physically if they are to upset Rassie Erasmus’ side.
“The truth is that South Africa are playing a very hard and very physical game,” said Sanchez ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
“The challenge for us will be trying to impose ourselves on the game.”
Argentina’s form in the Test arena is a worry heading into this year’s World Cup in Japan. However, head coach Mario Ledesma is confident his team will be the finished product by the time the tournament starts.
“The boys are very focused. It is a team that requires a little more [work] every day,” Ledesma told Buenos Aires radio station FM Milenium.
“The work that Gonzalo Quesada did with the boys at the Jaguares made it very easy for us. The players did well this season.”
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