Durban — According to Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, his team played a Rugby Championship “quarter-final” against Australia in Sydney two weeks ago and will meet the Pumas in a “final” in Durban on September 24.
If they win these “knock-out” games, not only will they have a very good chance of winning the title — it won’t be guaranteed, however, since New Zealand are one point ahead on the log with two games remaining — but they will also have had a sort of dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup.
“We are treating our two games against Argentina as the semi-final and the final,” Nienaber said from Buenos Aires, after naming an unchanged run-on fifteen for the first time this season.
He has, however, made three substitutions on the bench, substituting the experienced Duane Vermeulen with the younger Elrigh Louw, the scrumhalf Faf de Klerk for Cobus Reinach, and the utility back Andre Esterhuizen for Warrick Gelant.
“If we want to win the Rugby Championship, we must approach these games as win-or-go-home games,” the coach emphasized. Also, there will be a lot of heat and pressure in this game, similar to what we will experience in the World Cup, and it will be interesting to see how our players respond. This game is perfect for evaluating players in high-pressure situations.”
According to reports from Argentina, this match against the Springboks has been a long-term objective for Pumas coach Michael Cheika, who left several key players at home for the Pumas’ two-match game of New Zealand, during which the All Blacks were stunned in Christchurch before bouncing back spectacularly in Hamilton.
Nienaber claims the Boks are prepared for the version of the Pumas that defeated the All Blacks and Wallabies (in Argentina).
Nienaber asserted, “The Pumas are obviously targeting this game.” “We have no illusions about the Pumas team we will receive. They will be a physically energized team. The nation that defeated Australia and New Zealand now seeks to defeat us.
“They are a proud team from a passionate nation,” the coach continued. “They have faced a lot of difficulties, such as not having a competition to play in (such as Super Rugby or the United Rugby Championship), and have had to recruit players from all over the world; nonetheless, these difficulties have given them resilience.
They are tough and difficult to defeat, and they have a strong desire to play for their home fans. The Pumas are well-trained, have experienced forwards, and possess some highly skilled backs.”
Nienaber commented on the replacement changes, saying, “Our plan from the beginning was to give a few players a chance to show what they can do and build their Test experience, especially with the Rugby World Cup a year away, and there is no better opportunity to do so than in a match that is essentially a semi-final for us if we wish to win the tournament.”
Springboks starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.