Rugby Championship - South Africa vs Argentina - 5 Key Battles

South Africa have the privilege of hosting Argentina's historic first-ever appearance in a Tier One southern hemisphere tournament this Saturday, as Heynecke Meyer's Springboks take on Santiago Phelan's Pumas in the newly formed 'Rugby Championship'.

While Santiago Phelan and his Argentinian squad will ride on a tide of emotion following years of strong campaigning (by stalwarts such as Agustin Pichot) for the right to regularly test their mettle against the best on offer, the rest of the world will look on with  a sense of intrigue. Just how competitive are these Pumas going to be?

Rugby World Cup winning All Black coach has been brought in to assist the Argentinian coaches this year and it will be fascinating to see how much his presence impacts on the South Americans too. While the Pumas have experimented with a flatter back-line on attack this year, don't expect them to veer to far from their intimidating forwards based game.

Below, Dumptackle Rugby Blog runs through the 5 key battles which should define the final result in Cape Town this weekend.


FIVE KEY BATTLES


Juan Figallo vs Tendai (Beast) Mtwarrira

Pumas' tighthead Juan Figallo may be largely unheralded outside Argentina and France, but the Montpellier prop is quickly building himself a reputation for having a huge appetite for scrummaging among the front row fraternity of the Top 14. As we know, the French know a fair bit about that department too. Figallo had only been capped 4 times by his country at the start of RWC 2011 last year, but astoundingly left the tournament regarded as the player of Pool B. As Argentina's game plan largely relies on the dominance of their pack, Figallo's performance will be integral to their chances of gaining victory against the Boks this weekend. He needs to be a cornerstone. Unfortunately for him, it's no easy task when you find yourself facing Tendai (the Beast) Mtwarrira, arguably the form loose head prop in world rugby at the moment, The Sharks man was highly influential in his side's run to the Super 15 final this year and will be aiming to shut down his opposite early to prevent any hope of a memorable upset by the Pumas.


Patricio Albacete/ Manuel Carizza vs Eben Etzebeth/ Andries Bekker

Much has been said of the Boks' young enforcer Eben Etzebeth, who was sensational for the Stormers in Super Rugby and his team mate, wide ranging lock, Andries Bekker. In tandem, they have the potential to be just as devastating as outgoing legends Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, but they are still yet to prove it at international level. They have an interesting pair to face in Patricio Albacete and Manuel Carizza though. The duo forged a strong partnership during RWC 2011 and look to be mainstays in the team with no obvious backup selected in the squad. The Argentinian's traditionally have a strong line out and this year is no different, with five different line-out options in the pack to add variety. With a tactical battle most likely in Cape Town this weekend, as both sides like to play a relatively risk-free game plan, focusing on territory and possession, the line out will clearly be a deciding factor in the game.


Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe vs Keegan Daniel

Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe is Argentina's captain, talisman and heartbeat. Much like Sergio Parisse and Italy, stop Lobbe and you will go a long way to stopping Argentina. If the Pumas are to exert some pressure on the Boks, Lobbe will have to enoy an influential match in the back row and thankfully for the Pumas, the Boks will be missing usual suspects Juan Smith, Schalk Burger and Pierre Spies injured. When you play the Boks on their home turf though, you have to be prepared to tackle, tackle, tackle and it will be the same as he faces off against the Sharks' juggernauts of  Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts and Keegan Daniel. The latter in particular as been in scintillating form and will be looking to replicate it at international level. With under-performing Bulls captain Pierre Spies out injured for the whole Championship too, Daniel has a chance to cement his place at number eight in the starting lineup if he impresses Heynecke Meyer against the Pumas.

Morne Steyn vs Juan Martin Hernandez

Morne Steyn's kicking radar has been woefully off this year, compared to his usual impeccable standards and the pressure will be on him to improve against the Pumas, considering tactical kicking is such a fundamental part of Heynecke Meyer's tactics as Springbok coach. The Bulls flyhalf was even booed by his own crowd during his last outing for the Springboks against England in June and while young Pat Lambie's name is being espoused as the future for South Africa at 10 by some, Steyn has a lot to do to prove his critics wrong. For Argentina, Juan Martin Hernandez, the Pumas' glamour boy has a chance to showcase his attacking talent. The Racing Metro fly half cruelly missed RWC 2011 through injury and will be looking to dispel any fears from SANZAR nations that Argentina are just a pack of forwards. It's showtime for Hernandez.


Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino vs Zane Kirchner

Pat Lambie was a shoe-in at full back under previous coach Peter DeVilliers, but Heynecke Meyer has different ideas, quickly installing the often maligned Bulls favourite, Zane Kirchner, in the 15 jersey when he was named coach of South Africa. Kirchner may not be flash and doesn't have the pace to burn of an Israel Dagg or Kurtley Beale but he is safe under the high ball and runs the ball back with intent. Under Meyer's gameplan, little more is needed. Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Argentina's fullback most probably faces a more daunting task. While this weekend's game isn't being played on the high veldt were altitude can wreak havoc, the Pumas full back will still face a barrage of high bombs from the world's best kick chase team. Francois Houggard and Morne Steyn are typically accurate in their aerial assaults from 9 and 10, while flyers such as Bryan Habana will be waiting to pounce on any mistakes. How Amorosino deals with the pressure will be significant.




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