Rugby Championship Round 2: South Africa v Argentina Preview and Predictions

The Springboks will look to kick on when they meet Argentina in a second successive Rugby Championship clash in Gqeberha on Saturday, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

South Africa v Argentina

(Saturday 5.05 PM SA time)

The defending champions’ depth was on display when a second-string side swept the Pumas aside last weekend. The other key takeaway was how disappointingly limp the Argentinians were. They never posed a real threat on attack nor looked like springing an upset.

It was an uncharacteristically uninspired showing from the visitors and what was widely expected to be a tightly-contested clash ended up being a dominant 32-12 tournament-opening triumph for South Africa instead. It’ll be on the Pumas to step up and redeem themselves in the rematch, which is bound to be an even greater challenge with the world champions having recalled their first-choice backline bar Faf de Klerk, who remains sidelined through injury.

Despite being in firm control of last weekend’s clash, Siya Kolisi and company stuck to their conservative approach until the end. Having kept Argentina tryless meant the three tries they scored were sufficient for the bonus point, but in bringing back his star back division, it’s clear coach Jacques Nienaber wants a better conversion rate from his charges this weekend.

The focus in the visiting camp won’t be on the Handre Pollard-pivoted backline but rather on fronting up better to the source of the Springboks’ success. It’s no secret that the key to beating the pack-powered Springboks is to match them physically. It’s not a technique or tactical adjustment that can be rectified in a week but the Pumas should still be much-improved in this department as they’re a proud bunch and would’ve been disappointed by their meek maiden challenge.

Despite this and the fact that Nienaber’s fielding an experimental tight five, the Springboks have more than enough firepower on the bench to overcome the -12.5 handicap.

Prediction

Prediction: South Africa by 15 to 25 points.

Suggested Bet: South Africa (-12.5) at 1.91

Suggested Bet: South Africa to win by 16-20 points at 6.25

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.