Preview: Argentina vs Springboks

Preview: Argentina vs Springboks

24 Aug 2012

RYAN VREDE analyses the key match-ups and picks the winner in Saturday’s Test.

Nothing that happened at Newlands was a surprise – not even the fact that the Springboks were patchy on attack and failed to bag the bonus-point. I don’t think that is going to be as decisive in the final analysis. That school of thought assumes that the Springboks will be close to New Zealand points-wise going into the final Test of the tournament in Soweto. This won’t be the case. The Blacks will already have bagged the title by then.

The Pumas will undoubtedly be buoyed by passionate home support and you can expect a reasonably strong challenge from their forwards. Their heavies would, however, have to make an exponential improvement in this facet of play to stand a chance of victory. That level of improvement is beyond them in a seven-day turnaround. One can also reasonably confidently assume the Springboks’ forwards would have made gains towards greater synergy.

Defence will be the root of their success, with their dominance there in general play ensuring consistently poor ball for a backline shorn of their most potent attacking weapon, Juan Martin Hernandez. Furthermore, the Springboks defied expectations that they would struggle at the set pieces and I don’t believe the Pumas will improve markedly in this regard. Halting the rolling maul will be a priority and much of this responsibility rests with Andries Bekker, whose reading of the defensive lineouts made the Pumas’ hookers resemble tanked-up darts players at times last week.

On attack, the inclusion of Jacques Potgieter at blindside flank will amplify the Springboks’ punch at the gainline, an area they dominated in Cape Town. This is important in light of what they lose in this regard with the absence of Bismarck du Plessis. The likes of Marcell Coetzee, Eben Etzebeth, Beast Mtawarira, Willem Alberts and Frans Steyn will be central to getting the Springboks the momentum they need in the collisions to ensure the back division has the space and time to execute the course of action they deem most appropriate. That said, the ball protection at the breakdown was inconsistent at Newlands and they must remedy this shortcoming.

The Springboks’ halfback pair played well in their opener and Francois Hougaard in particular must replicate his largely accurate tactical kicking for the Springboks’ game plan to work as envisioned. I think it will, and while this victory won’t be as comfortable as what they achieved last week in terms of the physical examination they face, the scoreline will reflect the Springboks’ superiority.

VREDE’S CALL: Springboks by 12


369 Comments

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  • 351.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:41 am

    @Heavens Game-348:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6JNN10FNWg
    hope I never see you again
    I hope I never touch you again
    Sometimes I wonder, what’s fuked in my heart
    Won’t let your fingers tear us apart

  • 352.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:42 am

    @Hurricane-351:
    now thats a Kiwi metal band

  • 353.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:43 am

    @poppa69-350: Lol… I like you little sheepshaggers sometimes…

    Quite endearing little farkers.

  • 354.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:44 am

    @Hurricane-351: Hurri… you flirting with me? :lol:

  • 355.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:46 am

    @Heavens Game-354:
    lol
    I saw those lyrics after i posted it and thought surley he wouldnt think
    like that……So i am surprised you took it that way.
    Just watch the damn song you big hunk of a man

  • 356.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:47 am

    enjoy the rugby lads, supposed to start work during the second half of the game, so going to hit a pub next to work to watch it all..

    good luck to all teams tonight..will no doubt catch everyones “analysis” afterwards….

  • 357.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:48 am

    I dont know why, but everytime I see a Haka I just imagine it been done by a whole lot of Mogwais…

    You know… the little furries from Gremlins :lol:

    So sweet… So appropriate

  • 358.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:50 am

    @Heavens Game-357:
    lol
    Showing your age HG.
    That is soooo the 80s

  • 359.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:50 am

    HG you bangbroek

    Take the bet

  • 360.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:51 am

    @Hurricane-355: Yeah… you big hairy Fa’afafine, you :lol:

  • 361.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:53 am

    @Dawn-359: You mad, Dawny… I wont give Poppa a sniff… Not one bit

    Btw, how’s your 50 shades of grey?

  • 362.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:54 am

    @poppa69-356:
    hahaha the analysis??

    I will tell you right now.
    Scene if Abs win:
    The ref was terrible, McCaw cheated the whole game. ABs offside…. I could go on

    Scene if ABs lose:
    About time the ref pinged the ABs for cheating. Ozzie just too good.
    ABs cheating… Abs offside. McCaw is cheating
    :-)

  • 363.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:54 am

    @poppa69-356: Cheers… Enjoy, you scallywag

  • 364.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 08:55 am

    @Hurricane-358: I admit… quite bizarre… But imagination sometimes has its uncontrollable foibles

  • 365.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 10:37 am

    Sonny Bill Williams! Amazing.

  • 366.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 11:21 am

    Deans in trouble. 22-0 Not good enough.

  • 367.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 12:11 pm

    What times the Bok/Puma match guys? 7 pm ?

  • 368.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 12:13 pm

    @rossoneri-366:
    Deans is gone.
    No doubt about it.
    But then again, if next game he wins….who knows

  • 369.dquinn25: Reply to this comment
    25 Aug 2012, 18:57 pm

    Hi guys whats the site that you can stream the match live on again and what time does it kick off gmt?

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