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Springboks v Pumas: Everything you need to know

Eben Etzebeth during South Africa training

South Africa’s Rugby Championship opener against Argentina on Saturday signifies the start of “the real challenge” for the Springboks, according to Eben Etzebeth.

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Etzebeth will skipper the side in the absence of captain Warren Whiteley – ruled out following groin surgery – and acknowledged Allister Coetzee’s side have a lot of work ahead to restore themselves as one of the sport’s most dominant sides.

A disappointing Rugby Championship in 2016 was followed by defeats to England, Italy and Wales in the November Tests, but a 3-0 whitewash of France in June has provided a huge confidence boost.

Stormers lock Etzebeth is keen for the Springboks to continue their push for improvement at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this weekend.

“It is difficult to judge yourself when you are playing against just one team,” Etzebeth told SuperSport. “The championship consists of matches against several teams, so it is now that the real challenge starts.

“We were quite happy with what we managed to do in the June series, but we know that we now need to step up a level. There were areas we felt needed improving so hopefully we will be better in the championship.”

A 26-24 victory over South Africa was Argentina’s only win in the 2016 Rugby Championship. They recovered from back-to-back defeats at home to a largely second-string England side in June by thumping Georgia 45-29, but must step up in the face of much sterner challenges in the coming weeks.

HEAD TO HEAD

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Springboks: 21 wins
Pumas: Two wins
One draw

KEY PLAYERS

Springboks – Elton Jantjies

No one scored more points in the 2017 Super Rugby season than Lions fly-half Jantjies.

Although the Johannesburg side fell at the final hurdle for the second successive campaign, Jantjies’ haul of 197 points proved his worth. He struggled to get going in last year’s Rugby Championship but notched 52 points and his first international try in the victorious series against France, holding him in good stead for the tournament.

Pumas – Martin Landajo

Argentina enjoyed the most time in possession of any team in last year’s Rugby Championship, an average of 17 minutes and 12 seconds per game.

If they can repeat that, the distribution of scrum-half Landajo will be key to their hopes of getting under way in positive fashion.  The 29-year-old will also be eager to impress when he makes his 70th appearance for the Pumas this weekend.

THE LINE-UPS

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Springboks: Andries Coetzee, Raymond Rhule, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje; Tendai Mtawarira, Malcolm Marx, Coenie Oosthuizen, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi, Jaco Kriel, Uzair Cassiem.

Pumas: Joaquin Tuculet, Ramiro Moyano, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Agustin Creevy, Enrique Pieretto, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lezana, Leonardo Senatore.

PRE-MATCH TALK

Ross Cronje: “We are very excited to get going and I feel we have an exciting backline at our disposal, which if we play well could unleash great possibilities. We have lots of grit plus a bit of flair, and that makes for a good mix that is exciting from a backline point of view. We know they [Argentina] were successful with their aerial attack last year but this time we have a definite plan to counter them.”

Tomas Cubelli: “We have a style of play that bothers them. They have trouble tackling us. We have hurt them with our attacking in all the games we have played. Although they are a top-level team, a superpower, I think we can cause them problems.”

OPTA STATS

– The Boks are undefeated from their previous four fixtures at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, restricting their opponents to just 10 points per game on average at the venue.
– The Springboks have lost seven of their last nine games in The Rugby Championship, including their heaviest home defeat ever in their last such match (57-15 against the All Blacks).
– Los Pumas enjoyed the most time in possession of any team in The Rugby Championship 2016 (17m 12s per game), as well as boasting the best ruck success rate (96 per cent) of any of the four nations.
Juan Manuel Leguizamon (77) is poised to equal Pedro Sporleder (78) as the third-most-capped forward in Pumas history; only Rolando Martin (86) and Mario Ledesma Arocena (84) have played more.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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