THE Springboks will split their squad for the remaining two Rugby Championship Tests against Argentina.
After the 18-12 triumph over the All Blacks in Cape Town this past Saturday, the world champions have one hand on the Championship and could clinch it by getting two points against Los Pumas.
The Boks will enjoy a short break after the double win over New Zealand over the past two weekends – they also won 31-27 at Ellis Park – before going into camp in Stellenbosch later this week.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed he would mix things up with his team again for the two Argentine matches just as he did in Australia, where the Boks won the Nelson Mandela Plate, and recently against the Kiwis when they claimed the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009.
“The guys who are playing against Argentina already know. We’ve already announced that internally,” said Erasmus. “They’ve been practising together already.
“We will send one group over to Argentina and keep one group back here for the home leg.”
“We’ve got three days off and Wednesday night we will get together in Stellenbosch and then we'll (start to) prepare. We will send one group over to Argentina and keep one group back here for the home leg. That is how we'll manage that.”
After Los Pumas' massive 67-27 win over the Wallabies this weekend, they are the only side in the tournament who can still catch the Boks in the last two clashes.
The first, in Santiago del Estero (on September 21) will provide Erasmus and his coaches with another opportunity to test their rookies like fullback Aphelele Fassi, scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, loose forward Ben-Jason, utility front rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels, and captain-lock Salmaan Moerat in a pressure situation.
At the same time , it will pave the way for experienced guys like centre Lukhanyo Am, flyhalf Manie Libbok, and wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Canan Moodie to get another Test under their belt in 2024, alongside someone like prop Steven Kitshoff who hasn’t yet played international rugby this year.
Thank you Cape Town, you showed up in your numbers and the boys felt it 🧬🇿🇦
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 8, 2024
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Looking back at the All Black victory, Erasmus said he was pleased with the Springboks’ defensive effort – they kept the visitors try-less and reduced them to only three points in the second half. But the Boks also need to sharpen up their lineouts and breakdown play.
“On the attack, it was maybe not the most beautiful tries, but it’s five points. But when a guy like Handre (Pollard) is at 10, he is a demon on defence, tackles like a 12 and that channel is closed. Grant (Williams, scrumhalf) is quick, so he covers both sides of a set phase. Last week they scored four tries.
“When Cheslin (Kolbe, winger) kicked the drop goal, we were going for the bonus point (a third try). We were looking for a third try and that would have put us away in the Rugby Championship. So when Cheslin kicked the drop-goal there, we were almost like ‘ag nee man, let’s keep the ball in hand’.
“But then you think about it, we scored two tries and had one disallowed which was not a try. It was really close, and the All Blacks also came close. So well done to Jerry (Flannery, defence coach) and the boys.”
Erasmus says the main goal is winning the Rugby Championship and it’s also important to the Springboks to remain the number one team in the world.
They want to keep winning and simultaneously bring the young players through and spare the older guys to keep them in contention for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.