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
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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.
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.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1AZNbTAcLK/
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.
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
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments