ARGENTINA V SOUTH AFRICA: Rugby Championship

17.08.2013

Venue:  FNB Stadium, Soweto, Johannesburg

Referee: Christopher Pollock (New Zealand)

Preview
The Rugby Championship is now into its second season. With the addition of Argentina this competition replaced the Tri-Nations competition. New Zealand was the first winners of the Rugby Championship. This, the second game in the Championship this weekend, sees hosts South Africa take on Argentina.

Argentina proved their place in this competition last year with a 16-16 draw against South Africa in Mendoza. Also last year they held New Zealand 5-21 in Wellington and pushed Australia twice, losing 19-23 in the Gold Coast and again 19-26 in Rosario.

South Africa emerged from the inaugural 2013 Triangular tournament against Samoa, Scotland and Italy as comfortable winners but failed to field a team in the Super Rugby final.

Last Five Encounters
25.08.2012 Drawn 16-16 in Mendoza (Rugby Championship)
18.08.2012 South Africa 27-6 in Capetown (Rugby Championship)
09.08.2008 South Africa 63-7 in Johannesburg
14.10.2007 South Africa 37-13 in Paris (World Cup, Semi-final)
05.11.2005 South Africa 34-23 in Buenos Aires

South Africa Last Five
22.06.2013 v Samoa W 56-23 in Pretoria (Quadrangular Tournament)
15.06.2013 v Scotland W 30-17 in Nelspruit (Quadrangular Tournament)
08.06.2013 v Italy W 44-10 in Durban (Quadrangular Tournament)
24.11.2012 v England W 16-15 at Twickenham
17.11.2012 v Scotland W 21-10 at Murrayfield

Argentina Last Five
22.06.2013 v Georgia W 29-18 in San Juan
15.06.2013 v England L 26-51 in Buenos Aires
08.06.2013 v England L 3-32 in Salta
04.05.2013 v Brazil W 83-0 in Montevideo (WCQ America; CONSUR A)
02.05.2013 v Chile W 84-10 in Montevideo (WCQ America; CONSUR A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: South Africa 6th, Argentina 15th

IRB Ranking Points
South Africa 87.03, Argentina 76.67

Prediction: South Africa by 20 points

Milestones
Fourie du Preez had last played a test for South Africa v Australia on 09.10. 2011 in Wellington in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup, which South Africa lost 9-11.

TEAMS

South Africa

15		Willie le Roux	Griqualand West
14		Bjorn Basson	Blue Bulls
13		JJ Engelbrecht	Blue Bulls
12		Jean de Villiers (capt.)	Western Province
11		Bryan Habana	RC Toulonnais, France
10		Morne Steyn	Blue Bulls
9		Ruan Pienaar	Ulster, Ireland
8		Duane Vermeulen	Western Province
7		Willem Alberts	Natal Sharks
6		Francoise Louw	Bath, England
5		Juandré Kruger	Racing Metro 92, France
4		Eben Etzebeth	Western Province
3		Jannie du Plessis	Natal Sharks
2		Adriaan Strauss	Free State Cheetahs
1		Tendai Mtawarira	Natal Sharks
16		Bismarck du Plessis	Natal Sharks
17		Gurthrö Steenkamp	Stade Toulousain, France
18		Coenie Oosthuizen	Free State Cheetahs
19		Flip van der Merwe	Blue Bulls
20		Siya Kolisi	Western Province
21		Fourie du Preez	Suntory, Japan
22		Patrick Lambie	Natal Sharks
23		Jan Serfontein	Blue Bulls
		HEAD COACH: Heyneke Meyer

Argentina

15		Juan Martín Hernández	Racing Metro 92, France
14		Gonzalo Camacho	Exeter Chiefs, England
13		Marcelo Bosch	Saracens, England
12		Felipe Contepomi (Capt.)	Stade Français, France
11		Juan Imhoff	Racing Metro 92, France
10		Nicolás Sánchez	Union Bordeaux Bègles, France
9		Martin Landajo	Club Atletico San Isidro
8		Leonardo Senatore	Worcester Warriors, England
7		Juan Manuel Leguizamón	RC Toulonnais, France
6		Pablo Matera	Asociación Alumni
5		Patricio Albacete	Stade Toulousian, France
4		Manuel Carizza	Racing Metro 92, France
3		Matías Díaz	Teqüé RC
2		Eusebio Guiñazú	Bath Rugby, England
1		Juan Figallo	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
16		Agustín Creevy	Worcester Warriors, England
17		Nahuel Lobo	Newcastle Falcons, England
18		Juan Pablo Orlandi	Bath Rugby, England
19		Mariano Galarza	Leinster, Ireland
20		Julio Farías Cabello	London Welsh, England
21		Tomás Cubelli	Belgrano Athletic
22		Santiago Fernández	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
23		Horacio Agulla	Bath Rugby, England
		HEAD COACH: Santiago Phelan