Springboks Host Argentina in Crucial Rugby Championship Match

The Springboks host Argentina in a must-win Rugby Championship match. Find out how to watch and get the latest updates on team lineups and predictions.

The Springboks are on the cusp of a thrilling Rugby Championship showdown against Argentina in Durban, with both teams seeking to take a crucial step towards claiming the trophy. After a record 43-10 victory over New Zealand, South Africa is riding high on momentum, while Argentina is looking to build on their impressive wins over Australia and New Zealand earlier in the championship.

The match is a must-win for both teams, with the Springboks and Pumas each having two wins and two losses from their previous four matches. Australia currently tops the table with 11 points, followed closely by South Africa and New Zealand on 10 points each, while Argentina has nine points. The Springboks' game plan will likely focus on exploiting Argentina's weaknesses in the set piece and collision areas.

Argentina's coach, Felipe Contepomi, has emphasized the importance of physicality, particularly in the forwards, and has opted for a strategic 6-2 split between forwards and backs on the bench. The Pumas will be led by Julián Montoya, who's tying the all-time Argentine record of 51 caps as captain. South Africa's team features experienced players like Damian de Allende and Eben Etzebeth, who've returned from injury to face Argentina.

The Springboks have a strong record against Argentina, but the Pumas have shown they can compete with the best teams in the world. This match promises to be an intense and closely contested encounter, with the winner gaining a significant advantage heading into the final round.

Springboks' Dominant Performance Sets Stage for Crucial Match Against Argentina

The Springboks are riding high after their impressive 43-10 victory over New Zealand, with 36 unanswered points in the second half. This monumental performance has put them back on track to potentially retain their Rugby Championship crown for the first time ever. With this momentum, they'll face Argentina in Durban at Kings Park Stadium, a venue where they've had significant success, winning four of their last five tests, including their previous three Rugby Championship encounters.

Current Form:

The Springboks have shown strong form in their recent matches, with their last five games resulting in:

• Win vs New Zealand (43-10)
• Loss vs New Zealand (24-17)
• Win vs Australia (30-22)
• Loss vs Australia (38-22)
• Win vs Georgia (55-10)

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for familiarity over experimentation in his squad selection for the Rugby Championship clash against Argentina, making only two changes to the starting XV due to injuries. Experienced lock Eben Etzebeth, with 136 caps, replaces Lood de Jager, while Damian de Allende, with 91 caps, takes over Aphelele Fassi's spot, shifting to centre and moving Damian Willemse to fullback. Siya Kolisi will lead the team as captain once again.

Springboks Starting XV:

Backline:

    Fullback: Damian Willemse

• Wings: Cheslin Kolbe and Ethan Hooker

• Centres: Canan Moodie and Damian de Allende

Forwards:

• Loosehead Prop: Boan Venter (replacing Ox Nche due to injury)
• Hooker: Malcolm Marx

• Tighthead Prop: Thomas du Toit

• Locks: Ruan Nortje and Eben Etzebeth

• Flankers: Siya Kolisi (captain) and Pieter-Steph du Toit 

• Number 8: Jasper Wiese

Argentina is determined to end their Rugby Championship campaign on a high note when they face South Africa in Durban. After losing their first two matches against New Zealand and Australia, Los Pumas staged an impressive comeback with historic victories over both teams. A win over the Springboks would not only prevent them from ending the campaign on a losing note but also give them back-to-back test wins for the first time since last September.

This would be significant for Argentina, as it would mark the second consecutive year they've defeated all other participating nations in the championship, a feat they've never achieved before. Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi has emphasized the physicality of the match, particularly in the forwards, and has opted for a strategic 6-2 split between forwards and backs on the bench.

The teams are evenly matched, with Australia leading the table with 11 points, followed by South Africa and New Zealand with 10 points each, and Argentina with nine points. The Springboks are looking to capitalize on their momentum after a record 43-10 victory over New Zealand, while Argentina aims to cause an upset in Durban.

Argentina's coach Felipe Contepomi has announced a team with three changes to the starting lineup for the Rugby Championship match against South Africa. The changes are all in the forward pack, with Franco Molina and Lucas Paulos forming a new lock pairing, replacing Guido Petti and Pedro Rubiolo. Pablo Matera returns to the starting lineup at flank, replacing Juan Martín González. Experienced hooker Julián Montoya will captain the team.

Argentina's Starting XV:

Front Row:

• Loosehead Prop: Mayco Vival

• Hooker: Julián Montoya (captain)  

• Tighthead Prop: Joel Sclavi

Second Row:

• Lock: Franco Molina

• Lock: Lucas Paulos

Back Row:

• Flank: Pablo Matera

• Flank: Marcos Kremer

• Number 8: Joaquín Oviedo

• Scrum-half: Gonzalo García

• Fly-half: Santiago Carreras

• Centers: Santiago Chocobares and Lucio Cinti

• Wings: Mateo Carreras and Rodrigo Isgró

• Full-back: Juan Cruz Mallía

Replacements:

• Front Row: Ignacio Ruiz, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti

• Second Row: Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo

• Back Row: Juan Martín González

• Backs: Simón Benítez Cruz, Tomás Albornoz

Head-to-Head History

The Springboks have dominated recent head-to-heads against Argentina, winning 9 of their last 10 encounters. They also have a strong record at home, winning 18 of their last 19 tests against Los Pumas, with the only loss coming in Durban in 2015.

Hot Stats and Streaks

South Africa's Alternating Wins and Losses: The Springboks have alternated between wins and losses in their last seven Rugby Championship games, with a record of 4 wins and 3 losses.

South Africa's Home Test Dominance: In their last seven home tests, South Africa have scored first, led at half-time, and gone on to win five times, showcasing their strong home performance.

Argentina's Game Trends: Six of Argentina's eight games this year have finished under the pre-match total points handicap, indicating a potential trend for lower-scoring matches.

Argentina's Defensive Performance: Argentina have conceded 30+ points in just one of their last six away matches, highlighting their improved defensive performance on the road.

Key Players to Watch and Team News

Pieter-Steph du Toit: South Africa's dynamic flanker is known for his relentless running and tackling, and he previously scored two tries against Argentina when the teams last met.

Tomás Albornoz: Argentina's talented flyhalf, returning from injury, could have an immediate impact off the bench, having scored tries in his last two tests against South Africa and being directly involved in three of his last four tests away from home.

Team News: 

South Africa's Grant Williams is nursing a niggle, and Marnus van der Merwe has been left out of the matchday 23. Argentina's changes to their lineup appear to be tactical, with new lock pairing Franco Molina and Lucas Paulos and Pablo Matera starting at flank.

Betting Analysis

A potential betting opportunity exists in the total points market, with a trend emerging that suggests the match could finish between 50-55 total points. This range is supported by two of South Africa's last three tests and all three of Argentina's last games, as well as the previous head-to-head match between the two teams.