Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus expects tough match against unpredictable Argentina Pumas

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus refuted suggestions that Argentina is an unsportsmanlike team, despite the scandal that surrounded the Los Pumas after their defeat to England in the Rugby World Cup.

Los Pumas faced heavy criticism following the match, which ended 34:21 in July. This tense match resulted in seven yellow cards, an accusation of improper conduct by World Rugby against winger Tomás Albornoz for physical contact with referee Angus Gardner, and the sudden departure of head coach Felipe Contepomi from the post-match press conference because he perceived it as disrespect from England.

Before the upcoming match in Buenos Aires against the Springboks, Los Pumas legend Federico Mendes urged the current generation to 'behave and control themselves.'

However, Erasmus emphasized that South Africa anticipates a very intense confrontation, not one plagued by disciplinary issues. He noted that the team knows Argentina well, as they play each other twice a year, apart from the current year.

'We know Argentina well. We play them twice a year, except this year, so we know their players, and they know us,' Erasmus stated on Tuesday. He added that some Springboks players have played with Argentinians in French or Japanese clubs, which allowed them to build good relationships with those players.

Regarding the officiating incident in the previous game, Erasmus said it was not up for comment, as referee Christoph Ridley would be working in the upcoming match. He acknowledged that new protocols make communication with the referee before the game difficult but stressed that he has never encountered Argentina being a negative or overly aggressive team. He concluded that while they are tough and physically strong players, he has never considered them unsportsmanlike.

The match against England was marred by numerous controversial moments: seven yellow cards between the teams and several scuffles on the field. Following this, Albornoz was sanctioned by World Rugby after clashing with Gardner when a late try that could have equalized the score was disallowed.

Contepomi also cut short his media conference just four minutes after the match, accusing England of 'disrespect' due to loud celebrations and music coming from the adjacent dressing room. Similar to Erasmus, Contepomi used this game to expand the squad, releasing ten new players, most of whom are young, in preparation for next year's World Cup.

Erasmus is also balancing the need to win with the opportunity to integrate players returning from injury, as well as giving chances to less experienced team members. He stated: 'Primarily, we want to win. If we win, the margin of victory is not that important. We have many key players returning from injuries, as well as some who are not yet settled in the team, such as Cameron Hanekom, Elryeg Lou, and Boan Winter, players with few matches.' He added that this means the game will not be perfect, but if they improve, develop in the game, and synchronize, the game will be in their favor, provided the playing time is set for the players returning from injury.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus intends to keep his cards close to his chest regarding the tactics the team might employ during the upcoming series of matches against the All Blacks as part of the tour, which is one of the greatest rivalries in rugby.

Team Playing Styles

There has been much discussion about how the New Zealand team performed in the first stage of the Nations Cup against France, Italy, and Ireland. The All Blacks demonstrated a high-tempo, possession-oriented game and led the tournament statistics for meters run and number of carries.

The Springboks, conversely, utilized more kicks than any other team, defeating England, Scotland, and Wales, placing a strong emphasis on controlled kicking as a lethal attacking weapon. Nevertheless, despite the differences in their styles, it was South Africa that emerged from the first block with more points scored and more tries than their fierce rivals.

Match Preparation

Although New Zealand selected several strong runners for the trip to South Africa, it is unlikely they will deviate from their high-tempo philosophy. Speaking to the press in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Erasmus commented on New Zealand's squad selection but remained characteristically cryptic when asked how the Blacks plan to counter this choice.

Erasmus stated: 'If we field Sacchu [Fineberg-Mngomezulu], Handre [Pollard], or Mani [Libbok] at winger, we have to decide whether we are playing a kicking game or a running game.' He added that the decision would depend on which team they choose and how the All Blacks perform in franchise matches. 'We haven't done much analysis on the All Blacks, so the squad for the greatest rivalry series will only be announced after the match against Argentina.'

Additional Matches and Opportunities

In addition to the four-match series, the tour includes mid-week historical matches where the All Blacks will face South African United Rugby Championship franchises—Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, and Lions. For Erasmus, these provincial games evoke warm personal memories and represent a grand platform for local players.

He noted: 'The franchise matches are quite special. I remember playing for the Cheetahs in a mid-week match against the British and Irish Lions, as well as my first match for the Springboks against them. This jersey from the Free State is framed.' Erasmus also emphasized: 'It is a huge honour for me to play against the All Blacks. Facing the haka of these players will be an honour.'

It is worth noting that Erasmus mentioned that the doors remain wide open for local stars who may earn a spot in the national squad through these mid-week encounters. He concluded: 'There are several players we released to the provinces, and they can still make the squad by showing excellent play against the All Blacks for their franchises.'

The Springboks team has completed the first stage of the Nations Cup without any defeats, accumulating a maximum of 15 points in three matches against England, Scotland, and Wales. Thanks to this, they are ahead of New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere tournament table based on point difference.

Upcoming Matches and Preparation

In the near future, the Boks will focus their attention on Argentina, with whom they will play next weekend in Buenos Aires. This match will serve as the final preparation before the start of the Rugby Rivalry (RGR) against the All Blacks.

Lock Lineup in the Nations Cup

Independent media plans to closely examine the recent successes of the Boks to determine who should start in the first test match against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday, August 22nd. Previously, the defensive line, centers, halfbacks, and wingers were reviewed. Now, the focus is on the combination of locks.

Lock Options

Various options were utilized during the Nations Cup: Ben-Jason Dixon (10 matches, rating 6.5 out of 10), Pieter-Steph du Toit (98 matches, rating 7), Ruan Normie (20 matches, rating 6.5), Vincent Tsituka (two matches, rating 4), and Ruben van Heerden (one match, rating 7.5), as well as Kobus Wieße (four matches, rating 7).

Squad Issues

The ongoing absence of Eben Etzebeth is causing serious concern, and it remains unclear whether he will be able to participate in the RGR. His current health status, related to concussion concerns, remains uncertain, and the Boks team is giving him maximum time to recover. The most experienced player has been out since early April, and although his class remains constant, he may require time to return to peak form if he can even take the field. In an ideal scenario, he would be the primary No. 4 lock, but it will be necessary to wait and see what role he plays in the coming weeks. He might travel to Argentina this week to gain invaluable game experience.

Second Lock Position

The situation with the second lock (No. 5) is less complicated. Despite several significant injury issues in the second row over the past few weeks, Erasmus managed to handle the 'crisis' by including Ruben van Heerden in the squad, placing Kobus Wieße in that position, and testing the versatility of Ben-Jason Dixon, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Vincent Tsituka.

Selection for Ellis Park

Ruan Normie, who played in two Nations Cup matches last month, has shown growth in his role at the test match level as both a player and a leader for the Boks. Even with available Luda de Jager and Franco Mostert, he should feature in the starting fifteen at Ellis Park, while De Jager could be substituted from the bench to make an impact.

Projected Starting XV

According to the information provided, the projected Springboks starting lineup includes: Damian Willemse (15), Cheslin Kolbe (14), Jesse Kriel (13), Damian de Allende (12), Ethan Hooker (11), South Africa Finberg-Mngomezulu (10), Kobus Reinach (9), Jasper Wieße (8), Pieter-Steph du Toit (7), Siya Kolisi (captain, 6), Ruan Normie (5), and Eben Etzebeth (4).