Looking ahead to SA vs ARG: Second Test

After the Pumas were sent away to lick their wounds resulting from the mauling they received at the hands of the Springboks last weekend, much interest will surround how they respond on Saturday for the return Test this coming Saturday. 

 

Jacques Nienaber unleashed a new-look Springbok side from the one which tamed the British & Irish Lions in recent weeks. A few changes were made here and there to the forward pack while a completely new backline was employed with Cobus Reinach the only one retained from the third and final Lions Test. 

 

It was a dominant performance by the Boks who piled on pressure with the use of the boot while the no-nonsense unit of forwards made sure a strong platform was laid up front. 

 

 

 

This week, however, Nienaber rang the changes again which sees the previous backline back in action while Marvin Orie comes in for Eben Etzebeth in the locking position while the tireless Franco Mostert replaces Kwagga Smith on the side of the scrum. 

 

“A few players didn’t play last week after a physically demanding Castle Lager Lions Series, and are now back in the mix, while we also wanted to give a few players who have worked hard at training over the last two months a chance to get some valuable game time,” said Nienaber. 

  

“This is a long season, so we need to get the balance right between building consistency in selection and in our performances, managing the players in terms of their workload, and building depth within our squad.” 

 

It will be an especially big day for Lood de Jager who will win his 50th cap in the colours of his country. 

 

“Lood is a stalwart, and his work ethic is admirable, so we are excited to see him achieve this big feat,” Nienaber added. 

  

“It takes special character to feature and perform consistently at international level and to play 50 Tests for the Springboks, and Lood is certainly deserving of this accolade.” 

 

 

 

With regard to their opponents, Nienaber said the following: 

 

“Argentina will come hard at us, so we know we need to perform much better than last week to get the desired result. 

  

“While we were pleased with the victory and to start our Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign on a winning note, there was a lot of room for improvement in our performance. 

  

“We’ve identified a few areas we need to work on if we want to defend our title successfully, and we will work on those aspects of our game at training this week. 

  

“Argentina plays with a lot of passion, much like we do, so they’ll want to show their fighting spirit, which will set the scene for another challenging Test match between us.” 

 

Much criticism has been levelled at the Springboks of late with regard to their employment of a game-plan which comprises much kicking and the ‘boring’ tag line has been bandied about liberally. 

 

However, the Boks do not seem too perturbed by the negative evaluation, as was illustrated by the response of flyhalf Handre Pollard when questioned about it. 

 

“Everyone has their own style of playing rugby,” he said. 

 

“For us, it is not about entertaining, it is about winning. 

 

“Test match rugby is about winning and at the moment we are doing pretty well in that regard. 

 

“For now, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. We will just keep doing what we are doing. 

 

“People can criticise as much as they want, we believe in it and that’s the only thing that matters.” 

 

Pumas coach Mario Ledesma has rung the changes to his team for Round 2 with the Boks – making a total of 8 to his starting XV.  

 

The team will once again be led by Julian Montoya while the occasion will be especially exciting for Ignacio Mendy who makes his international debut on the wing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some quick stats ahead of the game: 

 

• South Africa have won 87% of their men’s Tests against Argentina (27/31) – the Springboks’ second-best win percentage against any country they have faced at least 10 times (93% v Italy).  

 

•  South Africa have lost only one of their last 30 men’s Tests in Port Elizabeth (W26, D3), a 26-9 defeat to the British & Irish Lions in July 1974; the Springboks are undefeated in their 16 Tests in the city since then (W15, D1).  

 

•  Argentina will be looking to avoid back-to-back defeats in men’s Tests for the first time since September 2019, following their 32-12 loss to South Africa last time out.  

 

•  South Africa are undefeated in their last four Tests in The Rugby Championship (W3, D1) – the last time the Springboks logged a longer unbeaten run in the competition was a five-match win streak across the 2008 and 2009 Tri-Nations campaigns.  

 

•  Argentina have won only one of their last 10 Tests in The Rugby Championship (D2, L7), including the 2020 Tri-Nations; it came in the form of a 25-15 victory over New Zealand in November 2020.  

 

•  South Africa have made fewer than five clean breaks in each of their last three men’s Tests, after doing so only once in their 16 matches prior.  

 

•  Argentina collectively beat 22 defenders in Round 1 of The Rugby Championship 2021, the most by any team and three more than South Africa (19).  

 

•  Lood De Jager (South Africa) won the joint-most lineouts (incl. steals) of any player in Round 1 of the 2021 edition of The Rugby Championship (6 – also Sam Whitelock) and double the tally of any Argentina player.  

 

•  Julian Montoya (Argentina) made the most tackles (13/13) of any player without missing a single attempt in Round 1 of the 2021 edition of The Rugby Championship.  

 

•  Aphelele Fassi (South Africa) has scored a try in each of his first two Tests for the Springboks, as well as providing one try assist in that time.