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Springboks insist they are 'on track' for Rugby World Cup

South Africa's Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber (white cap) gestures next to hooker Bongi Mbonambi (#2) after defeating Argentina's Los Pumas during their Rugby Union test match at Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires, on August 5, 2023 in preparation for the upcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP) (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images)

South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber claims the Springboks are ‘on track’ for the Rugby World Cup following their win over Los Pumas in Buenos Aires.

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Amidst an electric atmosphere at Velez Sarsfield stadium, the Springboks showcased their mettle with a powerful second-half surge to defeat Argentina 24-13 in the opening match of their three-game warm-up series. Head coach Jacques Nienaber expressed unwavering confidence that his team is firmly “on track” for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

Despite trailing 10-3 at halftime, the Springboks remained undeterred, taking inspiration from the opportunities they created earlier in the game. Although their execution faltered in the initial stages, the team found their rhythm in the second half, culminating in tries by Makazole Mapimpi and Canan Moodie.

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Points Flow Chart

South Africa win +11
Time in lead
21
Mins in lead
42
26%
% Of Game In Lead
53%
25%
Possession Last 10 min
75%
0
Points Last 10 min
3

“This is an exceptional place to get a win,” said Nienaber. “Argentina have been progressing well. They beat Australia and, last year, they defeated New Zealand, so we worked really hard to get our game in order and grind out the win, and we are pleased with the result.”

The Springboks will name their 33-man squad this Tuesday and Nienaber admits selection is coming down to the wire.  Thirty-eight players were tested in recent weeks and at least five now face the brutal reality of being axed just a month out from the Rugby World Cup, given Handre Pollard and Siya Kolisi have not played in this window due to injury.

“We have a tough team selection meeting coming up,” said Nienaber. “The players certainly put up their hands today. We gave 38 players a run in the last few weeks, and with the team set to play knock-out rugby from our opening game of the World Cup, it has set us in good stead.”

The Boks will arrive back in South Africa tomorrow.

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G
GrahamVF 1 hour ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

"has SA actually EVER helped to develop another union to maturity like NZ has with Japan," yes - Argentina. You obviously don't know the history of Argentinian rugby. SA were touring there on long development tours in the 1950's

We continued the Junior Bok tours to the Argentine through to the early 70's

My coach at Grey High was Giepie Wentzel who toured Argentine as a fly half. He told me about how every Argentinian rugby club has pictures of Van Heerden and Danie Craven on prominent display. Yes we have developed a nation far more than NZ has done for Japan. And BTW Sa players were playing and coaching in Japan long before the Kiwis arrived. Fourie du Preez and many others were playing there 15 years ago.


"Isaac Van Heerden's reputation as an innovative coach had spread to Argentina, and he was invited to Buenos Aires to help the Pumas prepare for their first visit to South Africa in 1965.[1][2] Despite Argentina faring badly in this tour,[2] it was the start of a long and happy relationship between Van Heerden and the Pumas. Izak van Heerden took leave from his teaching post in Durban, relocated to Argentina, learnt fluent Spanish, and would revolutionise Argentine play in the late 1960s, laying the way open for great players such as Hugo Porta.[1][2] Van Heerden virtually invented the "tight loose" form of play, an area in which the Argentines would come to excel, and which would become a hallmark of their playing style. The Pumas repaid the initial debt, by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, and emerged as one of the better modern rugby nations, thanks largely to the talents of this Durban schoolmaster.[1]"


After the promise made by Junior Springbok manager JF Louw at the end of a 12-game tour to Argentina in 1959 – ‘I will do everything to ensure we invite you to tour our country’ – there were concerns about the strength of Argentinian rugby. South African Rugby Board president Danie Craven sent coach Izak van Heerden to help the Pumas prepare and they repaid the favour by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park.

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