Springbok prop Ox Nche said the team’s theme for the week in the set pieces ahead of their penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on Saturday was to “expect the unexpected” as they brace themselves for an epic encounter at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades in their penultimate match of the competition.
Both teams are still in the running for the title, although a victory for the Springboks would see them clinch the title for the first time since 2019 before the closing match of the tournament at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit next week Saturday.
Defeat for South Africa, however, would result in next week’s Test turning into a tournament final – the Boks currently hold an eight-point lead over Argentina on the standings.
“The theme for us when it comes to their set pieces is to expect the unexpected,” said Nche.
“They have certainly grown in their forward play, and they are trying new things in the lineouts, where they can play at the front and back, and they maul as well, so they are a well-rounded team. We know it’s going to be a massive challenge.”
Springbok lock Ruan Nortje, who will start in the engine room next to captain Salmaan Moerat, also expected a massive forward battle and he emphasised the importance of matching the hosts physically.
“They are similar to the Springboks as they also pride themselves on their physicality, so we know they are not going to shy away from that in the game,” said Nortje. “But we prepared well this week, and we are excited about the challenge.”
At 26, Nortje may be one of the younger players in the team, but he relished the challenge of calling the lineouts in this crucial encounter.
“Calling the lineouts comes with its own pressure, but I enjoy it,” said Nortje.
“We know the quality of the pack we are coming up against and the standard of their game in general, but the systems we have in place takes care of what we want to do, so it’s vital we stick to our structures on Saturday.”
Asked if he knew what to expect from the home crowd this weekend given all the talk about the hostile environment at the Argentinean stadiums, Nortje said: “The more senior guys have certainly prepared us for what to expect, so it’s important to get our mindsets right for a hostile environment and one of the toughest games one can play.”
With the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title on the line, Nche said it would be special if they were to come away with a victory and snatch the title this weekend.
“It would really mean a lot to the team,” said Nche. “It would give more credit to what the squad has built up over the last few years.
“A lot of teams have a tendency to be inconsistent at times, but after winning the Rugby World Cup, we feel we are getting better and tighter as a unit, and winning the competition would amplify what we want to achieve as a team.”
The match kicks off at 23h00 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Source: SA Rugby
