Since the Rugby Championship kicked off expanding from the Tri Nations in 2012, the Springboks have only won this title once. And in 2019 when this happened, it was a curtailed version of it.
With two games to go, they are on the brink of finally doing it again (properly), and all that stands in their way is a spirited Argentina team.
Rugby Championship
(all times GMT+2)
SATURDAY
🇦🇺 Australia vs New Zealand 🇳🇿
08:45
🇦🇷 Argentina vs South Africa 🇿🇦
00:00
Before we get into the rugby this week, we just want to send out another big thank you to all those that purchased a bottle of Avante recently as part of our ‘Buy, Scan, Win’ promotion, with the winners joining us in the Avante Box at the Cape Town Stadium for the Springboks vs All Blacks test.
From the start, we have wanted to get our customers closer to the game, and this campaign is just a reminder of this, and our passion for the live experience with our rugby co-founders. As a member of the Avante Guarde, there will be more opportunities coming soon for you to win again, and of course engage with our legends of the game.
Australia and New Zealand cannot catch the Springboks in this years’ Rugby Championship, but Argentina still have a mathematical chance. With two games ahead against the Springboks, if they win both of these games and prevent the Boks from any log points, while creating a 40 point points differential, they will do it.
But as this is hugely unlikely, let’s look at Rassie’s latest (and again changed) team to see how the Boks are going to wrap up the trophy from here.
15: Aphelele Fassi
14: Kurt-Lee Arendse
13: Jesse Kriel
12: Lukhanyo Am
11: Makazole Mapimpi
10: Handre Pollard
9: Cobus Reinach
8: Jasper Wiese
7: Ben-Jason Dixon
6: Marco van Staden
5: Ruan Nortje
4: Salmaan Moerat ©
3: Thomas Du Toit
2: Malcolm Marx
1: Ox Nche
Replacements:
16: Jan-Hendrick Wessels
17: Gerhard Steenekamp
18: Vincent Koch
19: Eben Etzebeth
20: Elrigh Louw
21: Kwagga Smith
22: Jaden Hendrikse
23: Manie Libbok
We now know there is no such thing as a ‘second string’ Bok team. Every week is just another Bok team, and every match is a chance to shine. But there are still very much key positions where players still need to cement themselves into, or prove they are in the final reckonings come selection time going forward.
Fullback
We all have the impression that when Damian Willemse is back from injury, he is back in this team. But the efforts of Aphelele Fassi have been hugely impressive in the Rugby Championship, and another strong performance here could not only make the Willemse return far from a sure thing, but could also keep Willie on the sidelines.
Flyhalf
With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu out for the next 5 weeks, Manie Libbok finally gets a chance to show he is still in the Bok mix. He will do so off the bench behind Pollard in this one, but if he can show some signs of the player that ran the game so well against the All Blacks at Twickenham pre World Cup, he could very much be back in the fray with 60+ mins in next weekend’s Mbombela test.
Scrumhalf
A few years ago, totally based on his form in French club rugby, you would think Cobus Reinach was a solid selection in any kind of Bok team. But with a fully fit Faf De Klerk, a returning Jaden Hendrikse and a Grant Williams bench option, this is hardly the case anymore. This match gives the seasoned campaigner a chance to strengthen his claims at a starting jersey though, but he is likely to get shown up here by Hendrikse in the second half
Lock (4 and 5)
There simply has to be a serious replacement for Eben Etzebeth, both in the case of potential injury, and in the case of managing his workload going forward. Salmaan Moerat still has his doubters, and is yet to really impress with a massive performance against quality opposition in the Bok no.4 jersey. This is the game for that!
Similarly, Ruan Nortje gets another prime opportunity to cement himself as a second choice no.5 lock when you imagine the rest of the cattle being back to full fitness.
Hooker
This is a tough one to comment on, as it is clear that Malcolm Marx is the best no.2. But is he the best for use in the second half to really close out a match while Bongi Mbonambi sets a foundation? Bongi has looked a little off the mark in this tournament though, so perhaps Marx may be a primary which then opens up the chance for backup in the bench role. The solution here is hard to identify with much authority right now, but Jan-Hendrik Wessels gets his chance to further stake his claim this weekend.
The above focus on positions make for easy talking points, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the biggest talking points within the Bok team. They will be wanting to be more cohesive and clinical with their evolving game plan as a team, and with a few key players being rested for the away Argentina game, look for the game plan this weekend to be a little more measured than we have seen this season.
It’s hard to think the Boks will win this by any major margin, and the win will be a hard fought one. In the return match next weekend though, look for all rested players to come back, and the team to blow Argentina away in Mbombela with a more flowing and expansive game plan.
Again, hugely unlikely, but if Argentina in both matches can match the Boks physically and fracture the game to the point that it is loose and fast, they have a chance.
This is when they are their absolute best, especially at home in front of a rampant crowd.
If the game were to get to this though, you just feel that the Boks can adapt to control the game more and negate such threats. Especially with their customary second half bench players.
No matter how things play out this weekend, the game presents Eben Etzebeth the chance to equal Victor Matfield as the most capped Springbok of all time. Which in itself is something to celebrate!
