Written by @QuintenLetcher for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Argentina vs South Africa | Saturday 23 August | Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium | 21:40
The Springboks had a far tougher time than expected in their opening round clash with Los Pumas last week, claiming a narrow 13-6 victory in the monsoon-like conditions of the South African capital. Ruan Pienaar managed the only try of the match as the shrewd visitors used the weather conditions perfectly to their advantage, at the same time managing to highlight several areas of concern in the Springbok set pieces by upstaging them in the scrum, pinching a fair few of their lineouts, and taking the bite right out of their once revered rolling maul. This week the Boks head for the picturesque city of Salta, hopeful that the warmer conditions will allow for a more expansive free-flowing game more suited to their young, exciting backline.
To Win (80mins)
Argentina 9/2
South Africa 1/6
Draw 28/1
Handicaps
Argentina (+11.5) 9/10
South Africa (-11.5) 9/10
Argentina
Having ruthlessly outclassed their South African counterparts in almost every facet of the game last weekend, it comes as no surprise that Los Pumas coach Daniel Hourcade has decided to keep his formidable forward pack unchanged for Saturday’s rematch with the Springboks. The Argentine attack is expected to ooze a bit more sting this week as the evasive Juan Martin Hernandez is set to start at inside centre after being withdrawn at the eleventh hour last week. In the only other change to the run on side, the dynamic Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino takes over from Horacio Agulla on the right wing.
South Africa
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has made several changes to his side for Saturday’s game, the most remarkable by far is the surprise inclusion of forgotten favourite Juan Smith, who last turned out in the Green and Gold all the way back in November 2010. In other changes to the forward pack we see the return of Stormers bruiser Eben Etzebeth, who takes over in the second row from veteran enforcer Bakkies Botha. In the front row, stalwart Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira will embrace a well deserved break as he makes way for the inclusion of loosehead prop Gurthro Steenkamp. Sharks speedster Lwazi Mvovo makes his way onto a powerful Springbok bench, as does Marcell Coetzee, who stays on after filling in at the last minute for the injured Willem Alberts in the opening clash last week.
VERDICT: South Africa (-11.5) 9/10
The tourists should find this weekend’s conditions far more to their liking, and I’m hoping that means we’ll get to see the vibrant young talent Handre Pollard making a more persuasive claim for the coveted number ten jersey. Los Pumas will more than likely be up to their old underhanded tricks that comprise of intentionally, and often illegally, disrupting their opponents access to clean ball and generally just doing all they can to kill anything that even so much as resembles momentum as early as possible. But if Steve Walsh can remember how to use his whistle this time around, Pollard will be provided with ample goal practice this Saturday, and the Boks should wrap things up with a far more convincing victory than last week.
