Erasmus says Argentina will provide ideal comeback test for returning Springboks

Rassie Erasmus believes South Africa’s Test against Argentina on Saturday will offer the perfect opportunity for several returning players to rediscover their international match sharpness.

The Springboks coach expects the Pumas to provide a demanding challenge in Buenos Aires, where Argentina’s physical style, fighting spirit and passionate home support will test the visitors from the outset.

Players including Siya, Eben, Lood, Sacha and Morne are expected to use the fixture to prove their readiness after injury, with Erasmus confident that facing a strong Argentina side is the best way to assess their progress.

“This match is the perfect occasion for players like Siya, Eben, Lood, Sacha, Morne and the other players returning from injury to get a tough Test under the belt and get back into full swing at international level, as Argentina are a formidable team, who will push us to the limit,” said Erasmus.

“The guys have been working very hard to return from injury and there is no better test to measure where they are than facing the Pumas in Argentina.

“The other players in the squad also all deserve their places and have been waiting patiently as we tested combinations in the last few matches, and one can sense the excitement in the group to get back onto the field.”

The squad selected for the match combines a number of Rugby World Cup winners with younger players who have been pushing for greater involvement. Erasmus said the group had responded well to the demands of preparing for the trip and had shown the required commitment in training.

“This squad includes a bunch of Rugby World Cup winners and extremely talented young players who have been looking forward to playing again for a while, and others who have been working hard week in and week out to play more regularly.

“They have all adapted very well to the time zone and showed true grit at training, so we have full faith that they will rise to the occasion.”

Erasmus regards Argentina as an opponent with many similarities to South Africa, particularly in the pride and determination displayed by both nations when representing their countries.

“The Argentinians are very similar to South Africans in many ways. Their passion and patriotism for their country and people, and the way they give everything on the field and keep fighting is a testament to the type of Test match we are expecting this weekend.

“They have beaten us twice in Argentina before and they delivered brave performances in their Nations Championship matches, and will have a point to prove on Saturday, so we are fully aware of the challenge ahead.”

The Pumas are coached by Felipe Contepomi and feature players competing across several different competitions and countries. Erasmus said South Africa would need to begin well, execute accurately and make the most of every scoring opportunity.

“They are a quality team with players who play in several different competitions and countries, and they are well coached under the guidance of Felipe Contepomi, so we have to be sharp from the outset, accurate in our execution, and convert the chances we create into points if we want to get the desired result.

“They have a strong forward pack and dangerous backs, and they will have a very passionate crowd behind them, so we will have to be at our best to win this match.

“We’ve had to grind out results against them on several occasions in the past, so it will take a proper 80-minute effort this weekend, and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

The Test will be played at Estadio Jose Amalfitani in the Argentine capital. It will kick off at 21h10 South Africa time and be broadcast live on SuperSport.