Rassie Erasmus, Springboks wary of Los Pumas’ rise ahead of Kings Park showdown

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus admits to being uneasy about Saturday’s crunch Rugby Championship clash with the Pumas at Kings Park, knowing the South Americans believe they can emulate their heroes of a decade ago — when they shocked the Boks at the very same venue.

The Pumas are a different beast under Felipe Contepomi, a coach Erasmus admires from their playing days, when the Argentine ran the show at flyhalf and Erasmus patrolled the flank for South Africa. Already this year, Contepomi’s side have beaten the British and Irish Lions, Australia, and New Zealand.

“I have watched Felipe’s coaching career with interest,” Erasmus said of his opposite number. “He has put together a coaching staff with an international flavour. Their lineout coach, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, is exceptional; they have a high-ball coach from Ireland, and their attack coach is New Zealander Kendrick Lynn.

“They have a lot of experience and different cultures, and their players are based all over the world. Felipe has got them organised. They are energetic, fearless, and well-balanced.

“We think that with the youth they have, the willingness to play from deep, and how good they are in the air, they resemble how we used to play. But they’ve also got cutting-edge speed.”

South Africa and Argentina share a close rugby kinship, dating back to when South African coaches helped develop the game in the South American nation in the 1960s. Erasmus acknowledges the similarities between the two rugby cultures.

“Our countries are very similar in certain ways,” he said. “I know their club system is getting better. Their players sacrifice a hell of a lot. They didn’t even go back home from Australia — they came straight to South Africa, and before that they were scattered across the world before coming into camp.

“There are people in Argentina who are desperate, not just on the rugby field. You can see what they’ve done this year. You know they can beat any team. They beat us last year, and they are one of the teams that — since I’ve been involved in 2018 — gave us one of the biggest hidings away from home.”

The match Erasmus referred to was in Mendoza, where the Boks slumped to a 32-19 defeat. Last year, they also faltered in Santiago, losing 29-28.

“It was one of the hottest places in the world,” Erasmus reflected. “It was just the passion of the whole stadium and how Argentina feels about their country. When they sing the national anthem and then bring that passion onto the field, we feel it’s a lot like South Africa.

“We were surprised. The city is small, but it was very intense for us there, and we learned a lot. They outplayed us on the day, and it was a humbling experience. We got a bit of a reality check.”

Erasmus added that Contepomi is overcoming the challenge of moulding a squad of players scattered across the rugby world — much like the Boks themselves have had to do with their overseas-based stars.

“They’re getting it right, and they are getting closer to the top teams in the world,” Erasmus said. “It actually makes me nervous how close they are getting.”

Kick-off: 5.10pm.

Springbok Team

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.