South Africa and Argentina go head to head here on Saturday, in a repeat of last year’s World Cup semi-final, with the hosts seeking to hit top form ahead of New Zealand and Australia clashes.
The world champion Springboks are in third spot on the Tri-Nations competition points table having won one of their three matches in Australia and New Zealand, but a full points haul on home soil will almost guarantee the Boks their third Tri-Nations title.
They face New Zealand, who are currently in top spot with 10 points from four games, in Cape Town next weekend before turning their attention to Australia, who are second on the log with nine points from three matches.
Victory, with a bonus point, for the Boks next weekend will see them draw level with the All Blacks at the top of the Tri-Nations standings, but before then they face Argentina in a match to celebrate former South Africa president Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday.
As world champions and a team showing good form under new coach Peter de Villiers, South Africa go into the clash as deserved favourites, but that will count for nothing against a team looking to score their first ever win over the Boks.
Argentina showed at the World Cup last year they are a team on the up and need to be taken seriously.
New coach Santiago Phelan has picked 10 players in his side who played at the World Cup for this weekend’s match so there is plenty of experience in the ranks, but they will be without inspirational former captain Agustin Pichot and flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez.
Bok boss Peter de Villiers has picked his strongest available team, but has resisted including winger Bryan Habana and flank Schalk Burger, who both picked up injuries in the Boks’ last outing.
But World Cup stars Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Juan Smith, Butch James, Jean de Villiers and Percy Montgomery are all in the match-22.
Also back from injury are Fourie du Preez and Jaque Fourie, who’ll get game-time off the bench in the second half.
On top of this experience, the Boks have also familiarised themselves with the new global laws that have come into the game, while for the South Americans, the ELVs will be a new experience.
Despite this disadvantage, captain Matfield says Argentina will be the perfect test ahead of the Boks’ other big challenges that lie ahead.
“They love to maul and enjoy the hit and go so it’s going to be a typically physical Argentina Test,” said Matfield. “But they’re also going to be the perfect test for us to get things 100 per cent right before the Tri-Nations matches.”
Argentina will, indeed, provide a stern test for the Boks, but they’re going to have to produce a quite magical performance to beat them, especially when one considers the hosts will be playing in front of former president Mandela, who on so many occasions in the past has inspired the national team to victory.
Benjamin
Guest
Don't know, have to wait until the teams are out. A home victory is probably the most likely result.
TembaVJ
Guest
What is you prediction for the AB vs. Bok game in capetown Benjamin?
Benjamin
Guest
Anyhow - predictions - SA to dominate the lineout - M.Ledesma is an awful thrower. SA to dominate the scrum - P.Ledesma is an awful scrummager. SA to post plus 20 points on SA. Hattrick for Nokwe.
Benjamin
Guest
Jools, it is pointless from that perspective because the majority of the Argentine players are travelling straight from their holidays. They are lacking match fitness and general fitness and the last thing they need is to take on a motivated SA side in SA. This game is only there to provide SA with match sharpness until the 3N recommences, and that it coincides with Mandela's bday. There is only going to be one winner in this match. Argentina have seen mass retirements and the last three games they played they were appalling. This game will not get them more meaningful games and listening to Ledesma's interview I get the distinct impression he could do without this game. I can only foresee Argentina dropping down the rankings from now on. I'm not picking fish bones here but I thought the SA-Argentina game was awful. Argentina were clearly not used to playing knock-out rugby and SA got an easy passage to the final. Argentina need a long-term plan and either a European based team or a S14 based team. If there is an upset this weekend Jools I will shave off my hair and post it all the way to the USA.
jools-usa
Guest
Benjamin, It's not pointless from the Arg angle. Another showcase to legitimize their place in top 5 World Rankings & maybe get them into the Tris or more "meaningful" encounters. Their RWC game against SA was one of the better ones.versus so many dull games,. maybe an upset? Jools-USA
Benjamin
Guest
What a shame that Argentina has to engage with this pointless test.