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Rugby Championship 2017: South Africa vs Argentina Preview

The Springboks will host Argentina in their opening Rugby Championship clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday the 19th of August 2017.

The opening round of the 2017 Rugby Championship is finally upon us, and the Springboks will get their campaign underway against Argentina in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. Allister Coetzee’s men made significant strides in the right direction following their annus horribilis of 2016, when they whitewashed the French in a three Test-match series in June, and they will look to continue their road to redemption against Los Pumas this weekend. Their opponents meanwhile, will be chomping at the bit after twice losing to England’s second-stringers in June, and the chance to claim their second victory in South Africa in three years.

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South Africa v Argentina | 19 August 17h00 | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

To Win (80 Mins)
South Africa 1/8 | Draw 35/1 | Argentina 47/10

South Africa
The Springbok revival is very much on. South Africa’s 3-0 series win over France two months ago was an emphatic return to form for the national side, after a 2016 season that rendered just four wins from 12-Tests (which included some nightmare results along the way). They will head into this season’s Rugby Championship with the belief that they have what it takes to right the wrongs of the last 14-months and with momentum on their side, are well-placed to better a rather sporadic Argentine side.

For all the positives that surround the Bok camp at the moment, there is certainly no hiding the negatives and, indeed, the stark reality of their current situation. France were missing some key players in June, and looked disinterested and fatigued after what had been another marathon of a European season. Argentina will pose a much bigger threat to the Boks in the coming fortnight, not least due to the fact that they have claimed two wins from their last four matches against the South Africans.

Injuries have also threatened the Boks’ campaign, with the news that captain Warren Whiteley will miss the competition’s early stages, while Duane Vermeulen has been ruled out entirely. Eben Etzebeth has been tasked with leading a seriously inexperienced squad that includes just three players with 30 Test caps or more, while 17 of the 34-man group have 10 caps or less, with three eagerly waiting for their debuts.

The Springboks’ defence looked much more organized against the French but will face an even tougher test against Agustin Creevy’s boys. Allister Coetzee has a few selection dilemmas to assess too – particularly in the back-row – but will feel confident of beating Argentina for just the second time in his tenure, with a far more collective effort this weekend.

Argentina

“Being good in the head is not enough, nor is only technique, the two combined is ideal but in rugby and because of our way of experiencing rugby, getting our heads right is of tremendous importance.”

Head coach Daniel Hourcade will lead Argentina into their sixth Rugby Championship campaign this weekend, where they will be looking to better their rather mediocre record against the rest of the Southern Hemisphere contingent in the competition to date. Hourcade, affectionately known as “Huevo”, or egg (after the odd shape of his noggin) has openly proclaimed his confidence in his soldiers in the media ahead of this weekend’s clash and has stated that Argentina’s greatest challenge in the upcoming months will be a mental one.

“Eighty per cent (of the game) is in the mind, there’s no doubt,” Hourcade told reporters. “Being good in the head is not enough, nor is only technique, the two combined is ideal but in rugby and because of our way of experiencing rugby, getting our heads right is of tremendous importance.”

Hourcade was referring to his side’s tendency to lose concentration at crucial times in past Tests, which ultimately cost them. Additionally, Hourcade highlighted the defence as an area to work on this season, as he continues to adopt his rather expansive philosophy. If Argentina is to challenge the Boks over the 80-minutes, they will certainly need to remain steadfast in this area and rely on their excellent scrums to mount attacks. They will certainly hold nothing back this weekend.

Verdict: South Africa 1/8
The Boks look like they are on an upward curve, and I don’t see this current Argentina side beating them on Saturday. The South Americans are certainly dangerous on the counter and their scrum remains another strong-point, but the home side should have the physicality to outmuscle their opponents and force their game-plan on them. Boks by 10-points or more.


Written by Shaun Goosen for @Hollywoodbets.net


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