Preview: Springboks vs Argentina
16 Aug 2012
RYAN VREDE analyses the key match ups and picks the winner from the Test at Newlands this weekend.
The Pumas are a breath of fresh air to a competition that had become stale and uninspiring. They also benefit the Springboks in the sense that their involvement eliminates Australia and New Zealand’s travel advantage, which has been the point of much lamentation in the South African rugby fraternity. No more one-Test hit outs for the Wallabies and Blacks in the Republic. Now they will be tested in a manner they are unaccustomed to. This will make for fascinating viewing.
But while the Springboks will privately be thankful for the effect the Pumas’ inclusion will have, their appreciation and hospitality will be reserved for the after-match function. The Springboks will start their campaign with a comfortable victory. Certainly there are areas of their game that continue to be worrying, and we’ll discuss those shortly, but the Pumas don’t have the personnel or tactical intelligence to exploit those areas in a manner that would facilitate a victory.
Their scrum will be imposing but those who believe it will be so dominant that it will be decisive to the outcome are deluded. The Springboks have a world-class front row and their scrum stood up to stern examination against England, widely regarded to be one of the best scrummaging units in the game. Don’t underestimate the influence the Springboks’ scrum coach Pieter de Villiers will have on readying his forwards for this challenge. He is an astute coach whose influence has already been lauded by the coaching staff and players.
It is the only phase of play they may hold an advantage, with the lineouts being dominated by Andries Bekker and co. The Pumas will look to get their powerful maul rolling at every opportunity. Bekker’s reading of the defensive lineouts will be central to ensuring this doesn’t become a point of concern for his side. He needs to assert himself in a manner he hasn’t managed at any stage of his Test career. I have a gut feel he’ll do so, and take the confidence gained from there through the remainder of the tournament. The lineout is also crucial in the context of the Springboks’ attacking game plan. Don’t be surprised if the bulk of the tries they score are birthed from this set piece.
The gainline and breakdown will be hotly contested but bossed by the hosts. Defensively the Springboks are sound and should stifle the Pumas’ advances at the tackle point, making it difficult for them to execute their attacking strategy and nullify the influence of flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez. Furthermore, in Willem Alberts, Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira, Marcell Coetzee and Frans Steyn the Springboks have the strike runners on attack to generate the momentum they need to control the match and provide their halfback pair the space and time they need to execute the tactical kicks that will seek to gain favourable field positions.
Francois Hougaard’s kicking game will again come under intense scrutiny and the Pumas are sure to have analysed the manner in which England pressured him into errors in June. With Heyneke Meyer unconvinced about Hougaard’s ability to improve his tactical kicking to the required standard and leaning towards installing Ruan Pienaar, Hougaard needs a performance that will be rewarded with a stay of execution.
Morné Steyn’s situation is not as desperate but Meyer has noted his poor form of late. Meyer does, however, believe that an extended break for Steyn, his first in three years, will rejuvenate him. I hope he is right because a confident Steyn will be essential to their cause in this tournament.
Overall, the Springboks will lack a little synergy but will still be far too good for the Pumas. The margin will narrow in Mendoza next weekend, though.
VREDE’S CALL: Springboks by 18
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby on Twitter
73 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
16 Aug 2012, 13:46 pm
@Hurricane-49:
Oh boy, i need typing skills as well.
” lol oh is that what is was ”
Boy is that confusing or what?
It is suppose to read ” lol oh is that what it is. ”
or you could go ” lol oh is that what it was. “……..trupisero help with my typing skills please.
16 Aug 2012, 13:46 pm
@Hurricane-49: shall we start on the illegal tactics employed by some antipodean teams? Sure Bakkies will be glad to help out.
16 Aug 2012, 13:47 pm
@poppa69-48:
what is racist about calling you out as a sick f.uck who needs help?
16 Aug 2012, 13:48 pm
SA kakking in the cricket.
Time to go do some work. Got some travelling to do tomorrow.
16 Aug 2012, 13:49 pm
@gunther-53:
At least we now know we’re dealing with the real poppa69.
16 Aug 2012, 13:50 pm
The revolution was short but effective at least.
16 Aug 2012, 13:50 pm
@gunther-53: yet still, not one word on your countryman who posted the stats..
hahaha whatafucken hypocrite…
again, I never made mention of this , yet you feel it necessary to have a dig?
keep going big boy, you certainly is the man..
16 Aug 2012, 13:50 pm
@trupisero-52:
lol you mean cut and paste Bakkies?
Bakkies aka record is stuck wait for it, wait for it?
He has those made up stats on tap. Can turn it on instantly.
16 Aug 2012, 13:51 pm
@trupisero-54:
I thought if SA won this game they will be #1 in all forms of cricket. Is that correct?
16 Aug 2012, 13:52 pm
@WP-Forever-55:
indeed.
you can smell him from far.
my work here is done.
16 Aug 2012, 13:56 pm
@gunther-60: again
attacking me for no valid reason, and now your “work” is done hahaha
whatafckenloser…
cant admit you got it wrong aye? still havent said a word about your countryman..
thanks for showing that you are a gutless, spineless w@nker who has an axe to grind…
run along boy…
16 Aug 2012, 13:58 pm
@Hurricane-59:
We only need to draw this Test to regain the No. 1 Test ranking.
16 Aug 2012, 13:59 pm
@Hurricane-58:
watch it….
16 Aug 2012, 13:59 pm
By the way, I’m WP Till I Die.
My username’s always been WP-Forever, with my nickname WP Till I Die.
The only reason I changed my nick to WP Till I Die about six or seven years ago is because Pietman asked me nicely to, since there was already a “wpforever” on the site.
16 Aug 2012, 14:00 pm
i was born & bred in Auckland … learnt the cannibalism lifestyle when i turned 2
16 Aug 2012, 14:15 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-63:
@grant100-65:
Whatever.You are just an idiot that no country wants.
As if anyone on here gives a fck where you were born. Kiwi or South African, still a loser.
16 Aug 2012, 14:21 pm
@WP-Forever-64:
Pietman…………………………………….asked you nicely.
Pietman……………………………………………….never ever asked nicely.
16 Aug 2012, 14:44 pm
re nic theft.A vote of thanks to UFO
16 Aug 2012, 14:45 pm
@ryecatcher-68:
Yeah yeah!!!
16 Aug 2012, 14:52 pm
@WP-Forever-62:
Welcome! Are you new?
16 Aug 2012, 15:01 pm
@grant100-65:
Thought you told everyone you were a Sa provincial fly half in the day thats why you appropriated the Grant10 nic…….tossa
16 Aug 2012, 16:58 pm
The Pumas have a very good strong record against all three nations in the SH! at home they are incredible and they have almost always pushed us in SA. in fact it was theie fitness that saw them lose in 08 not because the boks were better coz we were shown up badly. i think that will be the same thing here. fitnes will be their biggest issue but they will finish on home soil so that wont help australia and new zealand. i will be surprised if they finish bottom of the championship. i just hope the trend of increased ref interference doesnt hamper the tourny. the pumas were robbed in the world cup against new zealand and if they can not lose a lot of players to injuries then i think they can realistically hope to do well. they have a way better scrum than ours and are much better at the breakdown. they are better on defence i think as well and are solid tactical kickers. big, physical and great in the set piece they wont be pushed over at all. our only edge is speed and better play in the backs. or locks are kak and our front row okay, our loosies not good at all. our pack will be bettered for certain.
17 Aug 2012, 02:12 am
The odds on the Boks to win are 1:9!
And it has not been affected by the extraordinary test capabilities of Kirchner and Mvovo, it merely confirmed that Steve Walsh is on the taking and SARU put some small fortune into his off shore
But there will be plenty of great moments, and there will be few Boks injuries too
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.