Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith emphasised the importance of the team sticking together and playing for one another as they attempt to register their fifth win a row in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and secure their first title since 2019 when they line up against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on Saturday, saying the hosts will have everything to play for as the only other title contenders.
The Springboks currently lead the standings with 18 points, with Argentina trailing on 10 points with two matches left – this weekend and next weekend in Nelspruit – and with the Pumas already having created beaten New Zealand and Australia, by a record margin, in the Rugby Championship and facing their first real opportunity to possibly win the competition this year, the Boks are not taking anything for granted.
The match will play out at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades and will be broadcast live on SuperSport at 23h00 on Saturday (SA time).
“This Argentinean team have proven that they can beat any side with their victories against Australia and New Zealand, so we certainly cannot go out there with the mindset that we can just pitch up and win,” said Smith.
“We really have to play as a tight team and play for one another, and hopefully if we can do that, we can get the desired result.”
The Boks may be in pole position to win the title with the team needing only three more log points to guarantee the title, but Smith adopted a cautious approach to this.
“This is a huge opportunity for us to win the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but we cannot look too far ahead,” said Smith.
“They are a tough side, and they are also in the running to win the title, so they’ll want to get five points from this match, which will make next weekend in Nelspruit a final. The key for us is to focus on one game at a time.”
Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids also spoke highly of Los Pumas and expected a brutal battle up-front and well-balanced performance from the home side all around on Saturday.
“They are a well coached team, with a local coach (in Felipe Contepomi), and they are on an upward curve in terms of their performances,” said Davids.
“They have their usual tough customers up-front, so we expect a big set-piece challenge, and then they have backs who are fast and talented – many of whom come out of their sevens structures. So we’ll be facing a balanced and settled team.
“That said, the important thing for us will be to stick to our plans and structures and be ready for any challenges they throw at us on the day.”
Smith also singled out the breakdowns and forward battle as key areas for both teams, saying: “They have a few good stealers and fetchers, so it will be a massive battle this weekend. They have players there with a lot of experience and passion, so the breakdowns are going to be tough, and it will be a physical battle in the set pieces.”
While the Boks were under no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge ahead for their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign and for the individual players who will play in Argentina for the first time, they looked forward to the match.
“We are really excited about the opportunity top play against Los Pumas here,” said Davids.
“We know it’s going to be tough, and they are a on a high after beating New Zealand and Australia, while they also know they have a chance to win the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, so it’s going to be a very tough encounter.”
Davids justified the decision to begin their training week in Buenos Aires and then travel to Santiago del Estero on Wednesday night where they will wrap up their preparations for the clash: “We are quite familiar with the surroundings and training facilities here, so it allowed us to settle in well without any disturbances. The positive is that we will still have sufficient time in Santiago del Estero to adpat there before the game.”
The Boks returned to the training field on Monday after arriving in Argentina late on Saturday night. They had Sunday off to recover from the long journey to Buenos Aires.
Source: SA Rugby
