‘We learned our lessons’: Springboks refuse to underestimate Argentina

Despite an overwhelmingly positive record against Argentina, and the narrative of their one-off Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday being a “warm-up” for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, the Springboks refuse to underestimate their mercurial opposition. palladian.co.za

Instead, they are focusing on their most recent defeats and tough clashes with the South American nation.

The Springboks are on an 11-Test winning streak. They have also won their last three matches against Argentina and 11 of their last 12 meetings.

‘Quality side’

However, coach Rassie Erasmus strongly opposed the idea that the game was a warm-up for the series against the All Blacks.

He referred to their 32-19 away defeat to Argentina in 2018 as “the biggest hiding our coaching team had here”.

Erasmus also said their most recent meeting, a 29-27 Springbok victory in London in October, pointed to a tough contest on Argentina’s turf on Saturday night (kick-off 9pm).

Flanker Elrigh Louw likewise reflected on South Africa’s 29-28 defeat in Argentina in 2024, which he was part of.

“They are a real physical, quality side. So I think we learned our lessons, and we were well prepared,” Louw said.

Both teams will be without key players as South Africa left a contingent behind to train for the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series – starting with the first Test in two weeks – and Argentina are without several core players due to European club commitments.

Argentina will field four debutants in the game.

Inexperienced Springboks front up for Argentina

Erasmus has named five Springbok players returning from injury, including Siya Kolisi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morné van den Berg, Eben Ezebeth and Lood de Jager.

The last two have each only played one match for their franchises in 2026.

Furthermore, eight Springbok players have fewer than 10 caps, and 11 have 14 caps or fewer under their belts.

Cobus Wiese, the second-least capped Springbok with just four Tests two his name, said he had learned much from the vastly more experienced Etzebeth and De Jager, who have 141 and 73 caps respectively.

Elrigh Louw giving his all for the Boks

Louw, with just 14 Tests, scored a try in his only Test for the Boks so far this year – against Scotland in the Nations Championship.

He said he was glad to be back in the Springbok picture after a career-threatening knee injury that kept him out of action for 10 months.

“It was quite a big injury and devastating for me at the time,” he said.

“But there was a lot of support behind me. At home, the family helped me get back. Obviously, medical staff, etc, helping me at rehab.

“The motivation to be back in the Springbok squad was more than enough for me to continue working hard and [then] play rugby to the best of my ability.”

Patrick Tuipulotu is relishing the prospect of facing the legendary Ma’a Nonu, while All Blacks boss Dave Rennie confirms wholesale changes for Tuesday’s clash against the Sharks.

New Zealand beat the Stormers 38-21 in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour opener at Cape Town Stadium on Friday, and now travel to Durban to battle the Sharks in the second tie of their eight-match tour.

A 103-Test All Black and two-time World Cup winner, the 44-year-old Nonu is set to battle his countrymen off the Sharks bench at Kings Park next week, after recently linking up with the club.

ICYMI: Nonu to tackle All Blacks

“I didn’t expect him to be named, but I’m looking forward to it,” All Blacks skipper Tuipulotu said. “A lot of the boys are close to him, so it’s no secret how long he’s played.

“His career’s been this long because he’s a true professional, and he’s blessed to keep playing. It’ll be quite a spectacle to see him come up against us, and we’ll certainly look forward to that.

“Might catch up with him midweek and give him a jab or two …”

RENNIE: We got rewards from SA introduction

Rennie confirmed a heavily rotated match 23 will take on JP Pietersen’s Sharks, with the short turnaround forcing his hand.

“There’ll be a handful of guys tonight who will back up, but there’ll be an enormous amount of changes,” the Kiwi added. “Likewise when we play the Bulls four days later.

“We wanted to be flawless tonight, and we know we can be better. We’ve only got to wait four days to get another crack at it.”

He, too, was pleased with Rieko Ioane’s impact at Cape Town Stadium after the All Blacks outside back’s recall.

“He finished off a good try, and was a handful with the ball in hand. Started on the wing, ended up playing a fair chunk of the game as centre; versatility like his on this tour will be important for us.”

ALSO: Dobbo ready to feed Rassie intel

Asked whether enough players had staked a claim to suggest his squad boasted similar depth to Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks, Rennie pointed to the early stages of his own project.

“Rassie’s been doing that for eight years – we’re a couple of months into it,” he said. “We’ve brought over a good squad, and not a lot of the guys who played tonight had big minutes in the Nations Championship. We’ve got some tough footy into them tonight.

“Tours like this are great for us to test and build depth.”

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images

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