Full-strength Springboks, Pumas out to end on a high
LONDON: The Rugby World Cup thirdplace play-off is often regarded by teams as a match too far but South Africa and Argentina have good reason to try to end the year on a winning note.
The Pumas meet the Springboks at the Olympic Stadium in east London today looking to beat them for the second time in less than three months and first at a World Cup after their 37-13 defeat in the 2007 semi-final.
Argentina beat South Africa for the first time ever in a Rugby Championship match in Durban, winning 37-25 in August and they can expect a second backlash from a virtually full strength Springbok side.
The Springboks avenged that defeat by beating the Pumas 26-12 in their final World Cup warm-up in Buenos Aires a week later and now want to rebound from their 20-18 semi-final loss to New Zealand at Twickenham last weekend.
Under-pressure South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer knows he can ill-afford another defeat in a year when he has already lost five Test matches including their World Cup opener to Japan.
Demoralised by the semi-final loss to the All Blacks, he has selected his strongest possible side with scrum-half Fourie du Preez unavailable through injury and replaced by Ruan Pienaar.
Lock Victor Matfield will play his 127th and last game for the Springboks as captain with impressive youngster Lood de Jager dropping to the bench.
“This is a critical match for us and we owe it to ourselves and our supporters to end the season on a high note,” Meyer said on Wednesday.
Argentina have lost four leading players to injury from the bruising 29-15 semi-final defeat by Australia, with captain Agustin Creevy, centre Juan Martin Hernandez, wing Juan Imhoff and full-back Joaquin Tuculet all ruled out.
Coach Daniel Hourcade has made nine changes to a team in which some veterans of the 2007 World Cup could be making their last Pumas appearance.
“We know some are likely never to play again, not just at a World Cup but also for the Pumas,” he said. “Each one of them will be emotionally charged up and we hope that will be a plus.”