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Recap: South Africa v Argentina LIVE | Rugby Championship
Follow all the action from the World Cup warm-up match live on RugbyPass as South Africa host Argentina at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
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Here, Paul Dobson of rugby365.com sets the scene, first asking is this friendly really a Test match?
Without wanting to be negative, it is a question that should be asked as we look ahead to Pretoria and some 35 000 people who have bought tickets. Look at the two teams. Of the 30 players who started last Saturday’s Test, there are two still in their positions.
Of the Springboks, nobody who started last week will start again this week. Of the Pumas, Ramiro Moyano and Pablo Matera are back again and three have shifted their positions – Jerónimo de la Fuente, Javier Ortega Desio and Marcos Kremer.
South Africa name their side to face Los Pumas next Saturday in Pretoriahttps://t.co/zS7fQYfn69
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 14, 2019
That’s five out of 30 – 17 per cent. Somewhere, somehow, it does not seem best versus best. It is understandable in this World Cup year that there is experimenting to be done. It is understandable that squad members need to get game time.
But why call it a Test? It could have more honestly been South Africa A versus Argentina A, leaving a Test to be a nation’s best versus a nation’s best. Point made.
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We still have a rugby match to look forward to, to be played by outstanding players. All of the Springbok starters have Test caps – from Siya Kolisi and Jesse Kriel, who are into the 40s, to Rynhardt Elstadt, who has just started.
The Pumas have two new caps in Lucas Mensa and Santiago Carreras. The rest are all capped Pumas and include strong Pablo Matera. A lot will depend on how the players find each other when the battle becomes intense, and the Pumas are likely to want intensity and collision in the game.
Players to watch
Amongst the Springboks, there are clever Warrick Gelant, speedy Sibusiso Nkosi, intuitive Dillyn Leyds and Cobus Reinach, who was excellent when he came off the bench against the Wallabies in Johannesburg.
Among the forwards, there is surprisingly skilful Rudolph Snyman, who seems not to need a rest, and his lock partner Lodewyk de Jager, who may well need the match to be on the trip to Japan after a wobbly time with injury.
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Of the Pumas, one would especially like to see their wings, Sebastián Cancelliere and Ramiro Moyano in action as they both have the speed and talent to be world-class wings. Then there is clever Jerónimo de la Fuente.
In the forwards, they have several strong, battle-hardened men. The pack could well lay the foundation of a Puma victory, and to lead them is Pablo Matera, the silent assassin.
Head-to-head
Pack versus pack could be the contest that decides the match. Unless there has been a miracle, the Springboks will dominate the scrums. There are not many scrums in a match but each one has the ability to influence morale and so the direction of the match.
Last week, there were 10 scrums in which the Pumas were penalised six times – surely a record of some kind for a Test match.
Hardman versus hardman – Pablo Matera versus Rynhardt Elstadt. Matera is three years younger than Elstadt but has over 50 caps more. He has great international experience, but Elstadt may just be the most fearless rugby player in the world. There could be a clash of strength here.
Locks versus locks could be a great contest, especially in the lineouts – Lodewyk de Jager and Rudolph Snyman versus Tomás Lavanini and Guido Petti. The Puma pair will not blink in the contest. The battle for the loose ball could be interesting as neither side has a robber chief but expect Marcell Coetzee to be prominent.
SOUTH AFRICA: 15. Warrick Gelant (6 caps), 14. Sbu Nkosi (7), 13. Jesse Kriel (43), 12. André Esterhuizen (7), 11. Dillyn Leyds (9), 10. Elton Jantjies (34), 9. Cobus Reinach (11), 8. Marcell Coetzee (29), 7. Rynhardt Elstadt (1), 6. Siya Kolisi (41), 5. Lood de Jager (39), 4. RG Snyman (14), 3. Vincent Koch (14), 2. Schalk Brits – captain (12), 1. Thomas du Toit (9). Reps: 16. Scarra Ntubeni (uncapped), 17. Lizo Gqoboka (1), 18. Wilco Louw (12), 19. Marvin Orie (2), 20. Marco van Staden (2), 21. Kwagga Smith (3), 22. Faf de Klerk (23), 23. Frans Steyn (59).
ARGENTINA: 15. Joaquin Tuculet, 14. Sebastian Cancelliere, 13. Jeronimo de la Fuente, 12. Lucas Mensa, 11. Ramiro Moyano, 10. Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9. Felipe Ezcurra, 8. Javier Ortega Desio, 7. Marcos Kremer, 6. Pablo Matera – captain, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 4. Guido Petti, 3. Santiago Medrano, 2. Julian Montoya, 1. Mayco Vivas. Reps: 16. Agustin Creevy, 17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18. Juan Figallo, 19. Matias Alemanno, 20. Tomas Lezana, 21. Gonzalo Bertanou, 22. Ben Urdapilleta, 23. Santiago Carreras.
WATCH: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on his team to face Los Pumas
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
4 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
23 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
23 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
23 Go to comments