Argentina head to Port Elizabeth with a point to prove against a much-changed Springbok side as both teams open their Rugby Championship campaigns.
South Africa v Argentina
14 August 17h05
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
To Win (80 mins)
South Africa 1/4
Draw 30/1
Argentina 28/10
Handicap
South Africa (-9.5) 9/10
Argentina (+9.5) 9/10
The Springboks get their Rugby Championship campaign underway when they host Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Boks are fresh off their epic series win over the British & Irish Lions and will be confident of reclaiming the Rugby Championship title they won in 2019. Coach Jacques Nienaber has rested a number of front-line players for this one but the inclusion of other names that missed out on selection during the series will undoubtedly give the Boks a different, but no less effective edge this week.
Players like Frans Steyn, Sbu Nkosi, Joseph Dweba and Aphelele Fassi will be out to prove a point and won’t hold anything back in the Windy City come Saturday. The presence of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager offers some continuity for the side as well as they look to get their campaign off to a winning start.
Claiming this year’s Rugby Championship crown will further enhance the legacy of this Bok side after their achievements since Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018. Indeed, another southern hemisphere title will all but ensure this group of players is talked about in the same breath as the best Springbok teams of the modern era.
Argentina, though, are not to be underestimated. Los Pumas claimed an historic first win over the All Blacks on their way to finishing second in last season’s Tri-Nations, and have already beaten Romania and Wales this year, on top of a draw to the latter as well. Their forward pack will offer some stubborn resistance but whether they have enough to totally outlast this Springbok team is another thing entirely.
Verdict: Argentina (+9.5) 9/10
I think Argentina will just fall short but could stay within the handicap with a big performance in Port Elizabeth.
Teams
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche
16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Dan du Preez, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Morne Steyn
Argentina
TBC
