Pumas change venue for Rugby C’ship match with Springbok

buenos Aires: Argentina relocated their Rugby Championship match with South Africa ater the field was declared unsuitable on Monday.

Their match on Saturday in Buenos Aires was to be at Joss Amalfitani Stadium, the home of soccer club Velez Sarsfield. But the field was cut up by a recent Copa Libertadores semi-final then damaged further by a Green Day concert on Sunday.

The match was moved 15 kilometers east within the city to Libertadores de America Stadium, the home of one of the country’s big five soccer clubs, Independiente. Its capacity is about 1,500 less at 48,000.

“A few days ago the field (at Jose Amalfitani) was in perfect condition, but later deterioration was noticed, a situation that they have not been able to solve, and it is essential to meet the requirements that a show of this level deserves and that SANZAAR requests,” the Argentine Rugby Union said on its website.

The UAR apologized for the late switch, and said the match will be played on Saturday at the same time, and ticket-holders will be accommodated.

JANTJIESSENTHOMEOVER‘PERSONALREPORTS’: Springbok fly-half Elton Jantjies was sent home from Argentina ahead of a Rugby Championship match, the South African Rugby Union said, ater media reports about an affair with the team’s dietician.

“The Springbok management are aware of reports regarding Springbok fly-half Elton Jantjies and team dietician Zeenat Simjee,” SA Rugby said in a statement.

“No team protocols were breached, but the individuals are returning to South Africa to atend to these personal reports and to eliminate any distractions to the team’s preparations for the Test against Argentina.”

South Africa are currently tied on points (9) in second place with Australia and Argentina, with all three teams trailing New Zealand who lead with 10 points.

South African media reported Jantjies, who is married, spent time at a guesthouse with a woman last month, as the team was in Mbombela, South Africa, to play New Zealand.

Jantjies, 32, is not new to making news off the pitch.

In May he was arrested on charges of malicious damage to property of an airline he had flown with from Dubai to Johannesburg. The case against him was provisionally withdrawn in June.

Jantjies made his professional debut in 2011 with the Johannesburg-based Lions and was loaned to French Top 14 club Pau in 2021 before joining Japanese oufit NTT Red Hurricanes this year.

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