SOUTH AFRICA v ARGENTINA: World Cup, Bronze

30.10.2015

Image thanks to ibtimes.co.uk

Venue: Olympic Park, London

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

Preview
This is a bronze medal match. It is not anywhere near the importance of the Final to be played Saturday. But try telling the 2007 Argentina side this match has no meaning. That win put Argentina well and truly in with the big boys of test rugby. We see them in 2015 in exactly the same position with perhaps an even better team.

South Africa has everything to lose and very little to gain. Their reputation has taken a beating in 2015. They came last in the shortened Rugby Championship which included a home loss to Argentina and the rugby world will never forget Japan’s astounding win over South Africa in their first pool match.

South African’s and New Zealander’s have a common attitude towards losing a rugby test match. Don’t do it! Losing is never an option and another loss by South Africa will create a dark cloud of that vast land and the coach can say goodbye.It would also place a minus against Victor Matfield’s illustrious test rugby career in this his last test match.

Argentina has problems. Four key players are out. They have depth in their team but losing captain Creevy is a vital blow from which I fear Argentina will not recover. It is a shame but I feel South Africa now has the favourite tag. Argentina though will go down fighting. If their explosive backs get a sniff of an upper hand it could well be even closer than the 13 point win to South Africa I have predicted. Still, Argentina will be even stronger in 2019 and they could well be in that final.

Last Five Encounters
15.08.2015 South Africa 26-12 in Buenos Aires ( RWC Warm up Friendly)
08.08.2015 Argentina 37-25 in Durban (Rugby Championship)

World Cup Encounters
14.10.2007 South Africa 37-13 in Paris (Semi-Final)

South Africa Last Five P 5, W 4, L 1
24.10.2015 v New Zealand L 18-20 at Twickenham (World Cup, Semi-Final)
17.10.2015 v Wales W 23-19 at Twickenham (World Cup, Quarter Final)
07.10.2015 v United States W 64-0 in London (World Cup, Pool B)
03.10.2015 v Scotland W 34-16 in Newcastle (World Cup, Pool B)
26.09.2015 v Samoa W 46-6 in Birmingham (World Cup, Pool B)

Argentina Last Five P 5, W 4, L 1
25.10.2015 v Australia L 15-29 at Twickenham (World Cup, Semi-Final)
18.10.2015 v Ireland W 43-20 in Cardiff (World Cup, Quarter Final)
11.10.2015 v Namibia W 64-19 in Leicester (World Cup, Pool C)
04.10.2015 v Tonga W 45-16 in Leicester (World Cup, Pool C)
25.09.2015 v Georgia W 54-9 in Gloucester (World Cup, Pool C)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: South Africa 3rd, Argentina 6th

World Rugby Ranking Points
South Africa 86.02, Argentina 84.24

Prediction: South Africa too strong, by 13 points. Score 30-17

TEAMS

Argentina
15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni,
12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Nicolás Sánchez (Capt),
9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Javier Ortega Desio, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Juan Figallo.
Replacements
16 Lucas Noguera, 17 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 18 Santiago Garcia Botta, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Juan Pablo Socino.
Head Coach: Daniel Hourcade

South Africa
15 William le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende,
11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen,
7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (Capt.), 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements
16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Lodewyk de Jager, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Patrick Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein.
Head Coach: Heyneke Meyer