SOUTH AFRICA v ARGENTINA: Rugby Championship

23.08.2014

Venue: Padre Ernesto Martearena Stadium, Salta

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Preview
The conditions didn’t help either team last weekend in Pretoria. If anything Argentina handled the conditions better. This weekend it will be 30+deg and dry as. So it will be the team playing the better dry weather rugby that will win.

South Africa allowed themselves to be out-muscled by the Argies, a situation intolerable by the team and fans. So I’d expect a better forward effort from South Africa.

Argentina has made two changes from last week’s team. Returning but to inside centre is the vastly experienced Juan Martín Hernández who withdrew from last week’s lineup due to injury. Also in is Lucas González Amorosino making for an attacking backline. If Argentina can maintain forward pressure on South Africa they may well win against them for the first time.

Last Five Encounters
16.08.2014 South Africa 13-6 in Pretoria (Rugby Championship)
24.08.2013 South Africa 22-17 in Mendoza (Rugby Championship)
17.08.2014 South Africa 73-13 in Bloemfontein (Rugby Championship)
25.08.2012 Drawn 16-16 in Mendoza (Rugby Championship)
18.08.2012 South Africa 27-6 in Capetown (Rugby Championship)

South Africa has never lost against Argentina.

Argentina Last Five P 5, W 1, L 4
16.08.2014 v South Africa L 6-13 in Pretoria (Rugby Championship)
21.06.2014 v Scotland L 19-21 in Cordoba
14.06.2014 v Ireland L 17-23 in Tucuman
07.06.2014 v Ireland  L 17-29 in Resistencia
25.05.2014 v Chile W 73-12 in Santiago (CONSUR Cup)

South Africa Last Five
16.08.2014 v Argentina W 13-6 in Pretoria (Rugby Championship)
28.06.2014 v Scotland W 55-6 in Port Elizabeth
21.06.2014 v Wales W 31-30 in Nelspruit
14.06.2014 v Wales W 38-16 in Durban
23.11.2013 v France W 19-10 in Paris

South Africa’s last loss was 27-38 to New Zealand 5 October 2013. They have won the last seven on the trot.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: South Africa 3rd, Argentina 14th

IRB Ranking Points
South Africa 89.34, Argentina 73.98

Prediction: South Africa will dominate in the forwards to win by 7 points.

Teams

Argentina
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Lucas González Amorosino, 13 Marcelo Bosch,
12 Juan Martín Hernández, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Mariano Galarza, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy (Capt.), 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements
16 Matías Cortese, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 23 Horacio Agulla.
Head Coach: Daniel Hourcade

South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Jean de Villiers (Capt.), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handrè Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements
16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
Head Coach: Heyneke Meyer