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The 2023 Rugby Championship has come and gone. Champions New Zealand were unbeaten with South Africa finishing second, Argentina third, and the winless Australia fourth. Attention now turns to the Rugby World Cup.
In a match played outside of the Rugby Championship, Argentina host South Africa on Saturday. The match is the Springboks’ first of their three road matches before the World Cup. The match is Argentina’s farewell home fixture. Los Pumas final match before the World Cup will be against Spain in Madrid on August 26.
Saturday’s clash in Buenos Aires is an opportunity for revenge for Argentina. The visitors lost by one point in Johannesburg last weekend. The 22-21 match has both teams underlined as teams to watch out for at the World Cup.
Julián Montoya leads a team with few changes. He will again be joined by Thomas Gallo and Francisco Gómez Kodela in the front-row. This is how Los Pumas are expected to take to the field against England in the World Cup.
The second-row sees one change. Having been knocked-out in Johannesburg, Lucas Paulos has been rested. He was replaced by Pedro Rubiolo who will now start alongside Tomás Lavanini. It is to be Rubiolo’s first test start.
The back-row is unchanged as are centers. The back-three, however, is entirely different. Juan Cruz Mallia’s forthcoming suspension sees a test debut for Martín Bogado. The Highlanders flier will join Emiliano Boffelli and Santiago Cordero in the back-three. It will mark Cordero’s first test of 2023 and his 50th test cap. Gonzalo Bertranou returns ahead of Lautaro Bazán Vélez at scrum-half.
There are three notable talking points among the replacement forwards. First, Agustín Creevy will become the first-ever Puma to 100 caps. Second, Joel Sclavi is covering loose head rather than tight-head. Third, second-rower Guido Petti comes in for his first appearance of the year. In the backs, Tomás Albornoz is ahead of Nicolás Sánchez as the deputy fly half.
Argentina will debut their new alternate strip for the match. Los Pumas will pay tribute to Argentine independence by playing in the jerseys inspired by the Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo. The Springboks will also wear their alternate strip which is predominantly white.
South Africa have rotated heavily for the match. Fly half Mannie Lubbok retains his starting places from last week. The fourteen others are changes. They include hooker Bongi Mbonamabi who will become the 64th Springboks captain.
There are four notable choices. First, in his first start, 36 year old flanker Deon Fourie comes in to the line-up for Marco van Staden. Second, Ireland RWC 2019 lock Jean Kleyn starts. Third, Andre Esterhuizen starts at inside center. Fourth, Damiam Willemse, who has previously started in multiple positions, in for Willie Le Roux at fullback.
The replacements bench included a spot for the uncapped Gerhard Steenekamp. He will be the understudy to loose head Trevor Nyakane. With Willemse playing fullback there is no specialist fly half on the replacements.
Every player involved in the match has the World Cup to play for. The rosters of Argentina and South Africa will be confirmed following the match. Players will need to overcome nerves and be at their very best in order to avoid missing out on the dream of representing the country they grew up in on the biggest stage of them all.
ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Santiago Grondona, 8 Juan Martín González, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Santiago Cordero, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 15 Martín Bogado
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Tomás Albornoz, 23 Matías Moroni
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi (capt.), 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Deon Fourie, 7 Franco Mostert, 8 Jasper Wiese, 9 Cobus Reinach, 10 Manie Libbok, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 14 Canan Moodie, 15 Damiam Willemse
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Jesse Kriel, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse
RUGBY WORLD CUP – WARM-UP
Date: Saturday, August 05
Kick-Off: 4:10pm (AR)
Venue: Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires (AR)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GE)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IE); Chris Busby (IE)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IE)
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COMPLETE RESULTS
Jul 29, 2023 – South Africa 22-21 Argentina (Johannesburg, ZA)
Sep 24, 2022 – South Africa 38-21 Argentina (Durban, ZA)
Sep 17, 2022 – Argentina 20-36 South Africa (Buenos Aires, AR)
Aug 21, 2021 – South Africa 29-10 Argentina (Port Elizabeth, ZA)
Aug 14, 2021 – South Africa 32-12 Argentina (Port Elizabeth, ZA)
Aug 17, 2019 – South Africa 24-18 Argentina (Pretoria, ZA)
Aug 10, 2019 – Argentina 13-46 South Africa (Salta, AR)
Aug 25, 2018 – Argentina 32-19 South Africa (Mendoza, AR)
Aug 18, 2018 – South Africa 34-21 Argentina (Durban, ZA)
Aug 26, 2017 – Argentina 23-41 South Africa (Salta, AR)
Aug 19, 2017 – South Africa 37-15 Argentina (Port Elizabeth, AR)
Aug 27, 2016 – Argentina 26-24 South Africa (Salta, AR)
Oct 20, 2016 – South Africa 30-23 Argentina (Nelspruit, ZA)
Oct 30, 2015 – South Africa 24-14 Argentina (London, UK)
Aug 15, 2015 – Argentina 12-26 South Africa (Buenos Aires, AR)
Aug 08, 2015 – South Africa 25-37 Argentina (Durban, ZA)
Aug 23, 2014 – Argentina 31-33 South Africa (Salta, AR)
Aug 16, 2014 – South Africa 13-06 Argentina (Pretoria, ZA)
Aug 24, 2013 – Argentina 17-22 South Africa (Mendoza, AR)
Aug 17, 2013 – South Africa 73-13 Argentina (Johannesburg, ZA)
Aug 25, 2012 – Argentina 16-16 South Africa (Mendoza, AR)
Aug 18, 2012 – South Africa 27-06 Argentina (Cape Town, ZA)
Aug 19, 2008 – South Africa 63-09 Argentina (Johannesburg, ZA)
Oct 14, 2007 – South Africa 37-13 Argentina (Paris, FR)
Nov 05, 2005 – Argentina 23-34 South Africa (Buenos Aires, AR)
Dec 04, 2004 – Argentina 07-39 South Africa (Buenos Aires, AR)
June 28, 2003 – South Africa 26-25 Argentina (Port Elizabeth, ZA)
June 29, 2002 – South Africa 49-29 Argentina (Springs, ZA)
Dec 12, 2000 – Argentina 33-37 South Afica (Buenos Aires, AR)
Nov 16, 1996 – Argentina 21-44 South Africa (Buenos Aires, AR)
Nov 09, 1996 – Argentina 15-46 South Africa (Buenos Aires, AR)
Oct 15, 1994 – South Africa 46-26 Argentina (Johannesburg, ZA)
Oct 08, 1994 – South Africa 42-22 Argentina (Port Elizabeth, ZA)
Nov 13, 1993 – Argentina 23-52 South Africa (Buenos Aires, AR)
Nov 06, 1993 – Argentina 26-29 South Africa (Buenos Aires, AR)
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OVERALL RESULTS
South Africa Wins 31
Argentina Wins 3
Draws 1
