The Springboks departed for Argentina on Saturday afternoon, preparing for a crucial clash against Argentina in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship next weekend. This match, taking place in Santiago del Estero, will be pivotal in deciding the championship winner, and a victory for South Africa could secure their first title since 2019.
Currently, the Springboks are the only undefeated team in the competition and need just three more points from their two upcoming matches against Los Pumas to clinch the title. However, South Africa’s Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, emphasized the challenges ahead, refusing to discount Argentina’s chances. He pointed out that Argentina defeated New Zealand in their tournament opener and recently secured a convincing 67-27 win over Australia, keeping their title hopes alive.
Erasmus acknowledged the high stakes of the match and the determination of both teams: “It doesn’t matter how one looks at it – we don’t want to lose against Argentina, and it’s exactly the same for them,” he said. He believes that Argentina will be just as eager for a victory, given that they remain in contention for the trophy.
Playing in Argentina poses additional challenges, as the passionate home crowd can create a hostile atmosphere for visiting teams. However, Erasmus views this hostility as a form of enthusiastic support rather than intimidation, and he respects the energy the Argentine fans bring. He noted that Argentina has a strong team led by several legendary players and a skilled coaching staff. Their recent wins against top teams like the All Blacks and Australia show that they will be confident heading into this clash.
Erasmus believes that the match’s outcome will depend on which team is better prepared and more desperate for the win on the day, as he feels there is little difference in skill between the two sides. The Springboks took advantage of a two-day camp in Stellenbosch to focus on mental preparation and fine-tune their strategies for the encounter. Erasmus stressed the importance of such camps, especially when trying out players in different positions, saying that the team utilized the two days well.
The journey to Argentina is long, with the team traveling via Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires before reaching Santiago del Estero on Wednesday night. Erasmus expressed hope that the groundwork laid in the camp would allow them to start off strong upon arrival. The match is set to take place at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades at 23:00 South African time on Saturday, 21 September.
The Springboks and Argentina will face each other again at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on 28 September in the final match of the tournament, where the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title will ultimately be decided.
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