Preview: Argentina v South Africa
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND TWO: The tournament flies west and then up to the foot of the mighty Andes, to the beautiful city of Mendoza.
The area is Karroo-like, but has ample water from the snows melting in the Andes, and Mendoza is known for its wines and its trees.
In 1996 the Springboks played Cuyo there – between the first and the second Tests.
They have subsequently played two Tests in this rugby heartland – in 2012, when they drew 16-all with the Pumas, and in 2013, when they won 22-17.
The last of the seven Tests played in Mendoza was last October, when the Wallabies won 37-20.
Argentina, once seen to be surging upwards in world rugby, has slumped somewhat, winning only two of its last 16 Tests, beating Georgia and Italy.
There is great hope that Mario Ledesma can replicate his achievements with the Jaguares, who went from easy-beats to a place in Super Rugby’s play-offs.
There were signs in Durban last week of much Puma improvement, after the dismal home thumpings by weakened Welsh and Scottish sides.
Just one little question: How much interest is there in this Test?
Last week interest seemed minimal, excitement none at all.
It showed in the crowd – 26,000 at the Test compared with 35,000 at the 2017 Currie Cup Final at the same venue 10 months before.
Players to Watch
For Argentina: Nicolás Sánchez, the Puma flyhalf, who is such a skilful player, an all-round flyhalf who can run, let play and kick excellently out of hand and at goal – and tackle. Lively Gonzalo Bertranou, a local man, whose father was also a Puma.Emiliano Boffelli with the booming boot who is so dangerous when he gets running in counterattack.
For South Africa: Willie le Roux and Faf de Klerk who are both players who have their own way of doing things which are often a delicious surprise. Two who did so well in such different ways in last Saturday’s Test – Aphiwe Dyantyi with the speed, acceleration, elusiveness and clever feet and Eben Etzebeth with his indomitable strength, carrying the ball with sheer, bullocking strength.
Head to Head: The breakdowns. Much has been said of the collisions that will happen there as the Pumas want to counter Springbok physicality – power versus power, and may the more determined man win. The line-outs. The Pumas had the better of the Springboks there. Winning them is especially important when a team prefers to exchange kicks at goal for kicks into touch in search of tries. Poor technique there is prodigal. Cocky Gonzalo Bertranou versus devil-may-care Francois de Klerk.
Prediction: The Springboks have won all but three of their previous 27 games against the Pumas, including their last three on the bounce and a come-from-behind win in Round 1 of this tournament. Four of the last six games between the Pumas and Springboks in Argentina have been decided by a margin of five points or fewer; though, South Africa’s 41-23 win in their last game in Argentina was their biggest against the Pumas there since 2004 (39-7). Argentina has led at half-time in each of their two previous games against South Africa at Estadio Mundialista Malvinas, though they’ve gone on to earn just a draw from those games. The Pumas have lost their last six games on the bounce in Argentina, conceding fewer than 30 points on only one occasion in that span. South Africa have won only three of their last 13 games as the away team on the day, despite leading at half-time on five occasions in that time. The Springboks have trailed at half-time in each of their last five games in. The Rugby Championship; however, they have managed to scrounge up a win and two draws in that span. The Pumas have finished six of their last seven home games in The Rugby Championship with a 100 percent goal-kicking accuracy, missing just three of 30 attempts in that time. South Africa have scored just 10 tries in their last five games away from home, failing to cross the whitewash twice in that time. Nicolas Sanchez (624) is now just 28 points shy of eclipsing Felipe Contepomi (651) as the most prolific Argentinian point-scorer in Test history. Aphiwe Dyantyi bagged a brace of tries in the opening round of The Rugby Championship 2018, and has now scored three tries in his four Test appearances; his seven tries in Super Rugby 2018 were the equal second-most of any Lions player. In a tough match, South Africa will win by five points or more.
Teams
Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustín Creevy (captain), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Francois Louw, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Rudolph Snyman, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Damian Willemse.
Date: Saturday, 25 August 2018
Venue: Estadio Malvinas Argentina, Mendoza
Kick-off: 16.10 (21.10 SA time, 19.10 GMT)
Expected weather: Sunshine, a light breeze, a high of 20° and a low of 7° – great rugby weather.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
By Paul Dobson
@rugby365com
* Stats by Opta Sport
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