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After nineteen unsuccessful attempts, Argentina have finally broken through and scored a win over South Africa, with the added bonus of it being a win away from home.
>>MATCH REPORT: Pumas produce stunning upset win over Boks
Winger Juan Imhoff scored a hat-trick of tries as the Pumas rose to a 37-25 win over the Springboks in the last match of the Rugby Championship, leaving South Africa without a win in the competition.
South Africa 25 def. by Argentina 37
Welcome to the last game of the Rugby Championship for 2015, with South Africa taking on Argentina after the Pumas undertake a 24-hour journey to the ‘Shark tank’ in Durban.
Join The Roar for live scores from around 1am AEST, and follow along with the commentary in the comments below.
While both teams failing to secure a win so far, there should be a team enter the winner’s circle here.
This tournament may to attract numerologists along with statisticians. For the two games the Springboks played so far, they finished on the same score: 20. The Pumas scored 18 points against the All Blacks. The following week, they scored nine less: 9.
Could we then assume today’s score would be South Africa 20, Argentina 0?
It seems unlikely, considering the Springboks have not scored any points in the final quarter while conceding over 20 points. As their fortunes and form in the final 20 minutes have been under considerable inspection, there will be high expectations of the Bulls and Sharks dominated Springbok bench. 20 is not a lucky number of the South Africans seemingly.
The entire finishing front row hails from Heyneke Meyer’s former team – the Bulls, which from memory has not dominated the 2015 Super Rugby season.
A Sharks player, the long awaited Pieter Stephanus du Toit is the ‘finishing’ lock. Other Sharks to finish the game include winger Lwazi Mvovo, flyhalf Pat Lambie, and scrummy Jacobus Reinach.
Today 105 kg dynamo from Western Province Siya Kolisi, wearing lucky number ‘20′, will be trusted to inject power, smarts and pace to finish off the Pumas.
11 is the master number
Argentina has other ideas. European-based Pumas are injected today, part of an eleven – yes 11 – man change. Numerologists say that eleven is a powerful number.
Two notable changes are missing players. Firstly, 2014 superstar Nicolas Sanchez has been dropped. Another Toulon player, Juan Martin Hernandez, who just turned 23 years old yesterday, starts as playmaker.
Sanchez is not alone. Every other starting back has been replaced by European-based players, except winger Juan Imhoff. Today’s backs are those who triumphed last year versus the Wallabies. The star studded Springbok backs tasked to stop them is lead by their returning Captain Jean De Villiers.
A forced change is 123kg tighthead prop, Ramiro Herrera, who is injured. Lyon reserve prop Francisco Nahuel Tetaz will be promoted to start. Tetaz seemed to struggle, and will be measured closely against Bismarck Du Plessis, Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira and his pod of Lood De Jager and Marcell Coetzee.
The hooker/flanker match up in the loose will be one to savour: Pumas captain and former flanker ‘Sonny Bill’ Agustin Creevy versus ball-pilfer addict Bismarck Du Plessis. Their lineout form will be closely watched, as both their records has been average.
The all-new Pumas backrow are not only notable that they are play for UK and French teams. Two of them, like Schalk Burger, are over 30 years old. How they compete with the lightning backrowers like Heinrich Brüssow and Kolisi will be great viewing.
The lock contest is not only a battle of power and guile, it is a battle of the youth. The oldest lock is 23-year-old Eben Etzebeth. The youngest is the curious inclusion of 20-year-old 1.94m, 108 kg Guido Petti Pagadizábal hailing from Pampas. He is lighter and has similar height as backrower Schalk Burger.
While I am big fan of scrums, collisions, lineout and forwards play, the return of Joaquin Tuculet will also be good to watch, in particular his face-off with his South African twin Willie Le Roux.
Prediction
It is likely the Springboks will be focused on delivering an 80 plus minute power and speed performance, as a response to recent games. The Pumas will be blooding their new team, as a precursor to their rematch next week in Buenos Aires, followed by a pre-World Cup match in Leicester.
If the Argentineans pull of a massive upset, they may be credited for a major disruption and loss of confidence in the Springboks, which other teams in the World Cup will thank them for. In any case, the bookies have the Springboks at an overwhelming advantage, which looks about right.
This is not a game for reserves. It the match for finishers!
Join us for live scores and commentary from 1:05am AEST. Game on!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.