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

The Springboks are in for a big test against Argentina on Saturday. Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images 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. 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. However, coach Rassie Erasmusstrongly opposed the ideathat 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.

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“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 arewithout several core playersdue to European club commitments. Erasmus has named five Springbok players returning from injury, includingSiya Kolisi,Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu,Morné van den Berg, Eben Ezebeth and Lood de Jager.

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