Springboks defender Iben Ezebet played his last trial match in November against Wales. Most South Africans are expecting to see one specific player's name when Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus announces the squad for the match against Argentina on Tuesday evening.
Ezebet, who is the most capped player in Springboks history and one of the country's greatest players, has featured sparingly this year due to injuries and disciplinary issues. As the 'Greatest Rivalry in Rugby' tour against the All Blacks approaches, he is a major defender who urgently needs game time against Los Pumas this weekend if any player in Erasmus's squad does.
The legendary defender is experiencing a severe lack of match fitness, having only managed to play barely 40 minutes in competitive rugby since the trial match against Wales in November. This puts the legendary defender in a race against time to improve his physical condition before the first trial match against the Kiwis on August 22nd at Ellis Park.
This continuous period of play began with a three-month ban following an eye-gouging incident against Wales. As soon as he started returning to the Sharks squad, he was injured again in the thigh. The situation was worsened by him being withdrawn before the match against England after a heavy head impact; the Springboks management decided to exclude him from subsequent trial matches against Scotland and Wales due to previous concussion issues.
This makes Buenos Aires an indispensable venue to test skills. While several Boks players are regaining form this weekend, Ezebet needs these minutes at Estadio José Amalfitani more than anyone else. He remains the team's main initiator—the person setting the tone in the midfield. His relentless physical power, lineout expertise, and leadership qualities are critical for the two-time world champions.
Springboks training sessions are among the toughest and most physical known, which helped Ezebet get back into a working rhythm. However, training cannot replace game experience. The confrontation with the fierce Pumas team on South American soil provides exactly the intense and uncompromising contact that Ezebet needs to regain match fitness and shake off rust before the match against New Zealand.
The Springboks arrived in Argentina on Sunday morning, reaching Buenos Aires via São Paulo in two groups after departing Cape Town on Saturday. After settling into the team's hotel complex shortly after midnight local time, the squad had a day dedicated to rest, recovery, and acclimatization before resuming field preparations on Monday.
Erasmus emphasized that the foundation laid during the recent training camp in Johannesburg provides an ideal base for integrating returning players such as captain Siya Kolisi and star winger Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, as well as improving team cohesion. 'It's great to be back in Buenos Aires, and we look forward to the challenge of facing the Pumas here again,' said Erasmus.
He continued: 'It has been a long journey, and there is a significant time difference, so the players will have time to rest and adapt today before we return to the training pitch on Monday. Fortunately, we conducted most of the match preparation for the game at our training camp in Johannesburg this week, so we have a good foundation to build upon.'
Ahead of the historic All Blacks tour, the Saturday match against Los Pumas represents the final competitive test to implement tactical plans under pressure. 'We are sticking to the plan regarding our preparation for both this match and the New Zealand Tour,' added Erasmus, who will consult with his coaching staff before announcing the squad for the match on the 23rd.
