The Rugby Championship: Springboks targeting revenge with glory on the line

By Sports Desk September 27, 2024

South Africa had the chance to clinch their first Rugby Championship title since 2019 last Saturday, only to be edged out by Argentina, setting up a grandstand finish.

Rassie Erasmus' side had a perfect record to that point, but that narrow 29-28 defeat now means the Pumas have a slim chance of getting their hands on the trophy for the first time.

Argentina will be backing themselves for another upset after impressing in the tournament, and they will look to overturn the odds with one more big win.  

Meanwhile, Australia will be aiming to finish their underwhelming tournament on a high, though they face another stern test against the All Blacks.

Ahead of the final round of fixtures, we look at the best Opta facts and figures to preview both games.

NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA

After succumbing to the record-breaking 67-27 defeat against Argentina in the fourth round, Australia failed to turn their luck around despite a spirited fightback against New Zealand last time out.

Joe Schmidt will endeavour to finish the tournament on a high after seeing his side struggle for much of it, though they face an uphill task having won only one of their last 13 Tests against the All Blacks (D1 L11).

The Wallabies have also won only one of their last five Test matches (L4), and have lost their last two, though they have scored more points in those defeats (55) than they managed in the three Tests prior (39 – W1 D2).

New Zealand will still feel fairly confident though, having won their last eight matches against Australia, although their last two victories in that run have come by a three-point margin.

In Wellington, the All Blacks are undefeated in five Tests against their hosts (W4 D1), conceding only 10.8 points per game in that streak.

 

However, overall, they have won just one of their last seven trips to the city (D2 L4), beating France 26-13 in June 2018, going winless in their last five Tests since in Wellington (D2 L3).

It is likely that Australia will need to take advantage of any opportunity they get, with their success of stealing opposition line-outs an obvious strength.

They have won the joint-most of any team in the tournament so far (nine, level with New Zealand), though they will need to improve on the one they managed against Scott Robertson's side in the last match.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New Zealand – Rieko Ioane

Rieko Ioane has made dominant contact on 64% of his 35 carries (18/35) in the Rugby Championship – the best rate of any player in the tournament (min. 10 carries).

He has made three line breaks across his last three Test matches, more than he logged in his seven games prior for the All Blacks (two).

Australia – Hunter Paisami

Hunter Paisami has scored three tries in his last four Test matches, including one against New Zealand last time out.

He had not crossed the try line in his 26 career appearances for the Wallabies prior to that run.

SOUTH AFRICA V ARGENTINA

South Africa had one hand on the trophy last weekend, and though they have opened the door for Argentina, they still have a great chance of winning the trophy.

The Springboks will be confident they can bounce back from that loss, having won 17 of their 18 Test matches against Argentina on home soil (L1), with their only such defeat coming back in August 2015 in Durban.

Their record in Nelspruit is even stronger, winning all four of their Tests in the city, overcoming half-time deficits in three of those victories. South Africa defeated New Zealand 26-10 in their last match there, which is their largest margin of victory at Mbombela Stadium.

However, Argentina's confidence will be sky-high after snapping an eight-match losing streak against South Africa – they have never won back-to-back games against them before.

The Pumas have also won their last two Tests against Tier One opposition, as many as they managed in their seven such fixtures before that (W2 L5). If they can beat South Africa again, they will register their longest such winning streak since the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

And Felipe Contepomi will be urging his side to maintain their high discipline level as they aim to overturn the odds.

Argentina are the only team yet to receive a red or yellow card in the tournament and have conceded the fewest penalties (50) of any team in the campaign. In fact, they have not received a red or yellow card across their last 12 Test matches.

Only a win by a bonus point, without South Africa picking up one of their own, will be enough to hand Argentina their first title, but they have scored 96 points in their last two outings, so they cannot be overlooked.

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Africa – Ruan Nortje

Ruan Nortje has won 31 lineouts (including two steals) in the Rugby Championship – seven more than any other in the tournament.

In addition, he has been the first to arrive at 63 of the Springboks' rucks, the second most of any player for a team in the campaign (Carlo Tizzano – 64 for Australia).

Argentina – Mateo Carreras

Mateo Carreras has been directly involved in six tries in his last six Test matches (five tries, one try assist), including two tries and a try assist in his last two Tests.

He has scored a try in each of his two career appearances against South Africa, as well as a try assist in his most recent meeting against the Springboks.

Related items

  • 'World-class' Scotland will provide Wallabies' sternest test – Skelton 'World-class' Scotland will provide Wallabies' sternest test – Skelton

    Australia will face their sternest test to date when they continue their autumn tour against a "world-class" Scotland team at Murrayfield on Sunday.

    That is the view of forward Will Skelton, who believes the Wallabies' victories in England and Wales have brought a new energy and confidence to their camp.

    Having crashed out in the pool stage at last year's World Cup in France before finishing last in the Rugby Championship, Australia have looked a team reborn in recent weeks.

    A first victory at Twickenham since 2015 and a 52-20 rout of Wales – their biggest-ever away win in matches between the teams – have made it an excellent tour to date for Joe Schmidt's side.

    But La Rochelle lock Skelton feels their toughest assignment is to come this week, saying: "We've won two games, we're very aware of that.

    "The Test against Scotland is going to be the hardest one yet. We're excited about this weekend and we're looking forward to ripping into it.

    "Physically they're up there with the top five in the world. I think set-piece wise they're really strong.

    "You've got a guy like Finn Russell who's a maestro at the back there. I think it's going be a close one and we'll be up for it.

    "There's some class players in the Scottish team and, when they're at it they're world-class, so we're going to have to be on top of our game."

     

  • Wales must 'show courage and front up' against South Africa, says Gatland Wales must 'show courage and front up' against South Africa, says Gatland

    Warren Gatland has urged Wales to "show real courage and front up" in their final Autumn Nations clash against South Africa.

    Gatland's side bring the curtain down on a disappointing year when they welcome the reigning world champions to the Principality Stadium on Saturday. 

    Wales have lost an unprecedented 11 straight Tests, and could go an entire calendar year without tasting success for the first time since 1937.

    Gatland has made four changes from last weekend's 52-20 defeat to Australia, with Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer, Christ Tshiunza and Taine Plumtree all coming into the starting XV.

    Gareth Anscombe, Aaron Wainwright and Cameron Winnett drop out of the squad, while Adam Beard misses out through injury.

    And Gatland wants his players to demonstrate fighting spirit against the Springboks.

    "Last week's result hurts, and we are just as disappointed by it as the fans," he told reporters during his pre-match press conference.

    "Our focus now is on training and preparing well for our final game of this Autumn Nations Series.

    "There were good elements that we can definitely build on going into Saturday, but we have to improve our accuracy.

    "We know what a quality side South Africa are and the physicality they bring. This week, we need to show real courage and front up against the world champions."

  • Argentina 1-0 Peru: Martinez matches Maradona to snatch qualifying win Argentina 1-0 Peru: Martinez matches Maradona to snatch qualifying win

    Lautaro Martinez equalled Diego Maradona's scoring record for Argentina as his strike secured a 1-0 win over Peru in their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier.

    The Albiceleste bounced back from a shock defeat to Paraguay, with the Inter striker's 55th-minute effort enough to extend their lead at the top of the table to five points.

    Argentina started brightly and almost took the lead with their first real opportunity, only for Julian Alvarez's powerful strike to rebound off the outside of the post.

    Alexis Mac Allister also came close moments later and rose high to meet Alvarez's cross, though he could only glance his header wide.

    Martinez, who netted his 32nd Argentina goal to go joint-fifth in the all-time scoring chart, proved decisive in the second half, acrobatically volleying Lionel Messi's cross into the back of the net.

    Lionel Scaloni's side are one place above Uruguay, who they face next. They are on 25 points at the top of the qualifying table, while Peru are rooted to the bottom with just seven. 

    Data Debrief: Equalling a great

    Martinez took 70 appearances to go level with Maradona in the Argentina record books, though he is still a long way off matching Messi's 112-goal tally for his country.

    The captain, meanwhile, registered his 58th assist, matching former United States forward Landon Donovan's record for most international assists.

    It was a needed win for the hosts, but they had to edge a cagey affair to get it. There were just three shots on target in the whole game, with all three falling to Argentina.

    Peru failed to attempt a shot on target for the first time in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers since facing Argentina in October 2023.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.