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2024 Rugby Championship
Argentina v South Africa
Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades
Santiago del Estero, Argentina
Saturday, 21 September 2022
Kick-off is at 23h00
Despite being one win away from a first
Rugby Championship title since 2019, South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has heavily rotated his squad for the clash with Argentina at the Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades on Saturday, September 21.
The Springboks maintained their 100 per cent record in the 2024 edition after coming from behind to beat New Zealand 18-12 in Cape Town on September 7.
Erasmus' side are eight points clear of the second-placed Pumas with two rounds remaining and victory in Santiago del Estero will see them dethrone the All Blacks.
However, Erasmus isn't about to play it safe and has made 10 changes to the team that defeated their arch-rivals for the second time in the space of seven days.
Salmaan Moerat will captain the Boks in the absence of Siya Kolisi and he is brought into the starting XI alongside Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, Marco van Staden, Ben-Jason Dixon, Cobus Reinach, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Aphelele Fassi.
Erasmus is building towards the 2027 World Cup and wants to see how the younger players will handle the pressure in testing circumstances.
"It would be amazing to wrap up the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title this weekend, but it won't be easy, and we have a bigger picture in mind as well, which is to build squad depth with an eye on the 2027 World Cup," he said.
"The only way we can do that is to expose the younger players to tough opposition under difficult circumstances, and so far, all of them have risen to that challenge.
"We're excited about this squad and to see what the younger players can do in pretty tough playing conditions with such a passionate support base in Argentina and also at a new stadium.
"The fact that Los Pumas are still in the running for the title for the first time ever will drive their team and supporters even more. We have no doubt we will be tested to the limit both as a team and the players as individuals, and we are excited to see how they deal the pressures that comes with playing here."
Argentina will relish the challenge of taking on the world champions after routing Australia 67-27 in Santa Fe on September 7 which took them three points clear of New Zealand in the table.
Felipe Contepomi's had already achieved the unthinkable when they beat the All Blacks 38-30 in Wellington in round 1, but their recent record against the Boks doesn't bode well.
The Pumas have lost their last nine encounters with South Africa since emerging 32-19 victors in Mendoza on 25 August 2018.
The loss of Eduado Bello also doesn't help their cause after the prop suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against the Wallabies a fortnight ago. Lucio Sordoni and Ignacio Calles was been brought into the squad to fill the void.
"The Rugby Championship final is coming up and it is a very important moment for us given that we are going to face the two-time world champions," Contepomi said.
"Without a doubt, these are going to be two great matches and we will face them with a lot of responsibility. We are not measured by results but by our actions and our behavior, and that is where we will put our focus in the next two weeks.
"I would like to thank all the Argentine fans for all their affection for the team and tell them that we are very happy to meet again in Santiago del Estero in the next few days."
Head-to-Head:
Matches - 36
Argentina wins - 3
South Africa wins - 32
Draws - 1
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