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Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza (24/08/2013, 20:10 GMT)
Referee: Steve Walsh
Assistants: John Lacey
Television match official: Vinny Munro
Argentina
TBD
South Africa
TBD
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3821_8878387,00.htmlArgentina captain Felipe Contepomi is hoping that his team can show some character and turn things around when they face the Springboks on home soil this weekend.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3821_8878259,00.htmlSpringbok number eight Duane Vermeulen says the team can still improve as tougher challenges lie ahead in the Rugby Championship.
Playing in Argentina is different from playing anywhere else in the world. Reason being, no team has enough experience with playing there. New Zealand, South Africa and Australia have a lot of experience playing against each other home and away and play in the other countries in Super Rugby as well.
Especially Mendoza is a tricky place to go to. I wouldn't be surprised if Argentina wins at least 1 this year at hoime.
Well, I guess we won't know until Saturday. I don't expect the Boks to lose, but Australia is really one to beat for the Pumas, especially since they play in Rosario.
Mendoza however, is the worst location to play the Pumas. La Plata, Rosario and Buenos Aires are much easier to settle as a visiting team.
Australia this year is also the team that still needs to gel and was on the receiving end of the biggest Lions win ever in history. They have 16 players in the squad with 10 tests or less. Playing in Argentina will be tricky.
It will be difficult, but it will not be worse than last year. Do you remember the Australian squad that presented last year in Rosario?...
Wallabies last year in Rosario:
1 James Slipper
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau
3 Ben Alexander
4 Kane Douglas
5 Nathan Sharpe
6 Sitaleki Timani
7 Michael Hooper
8 Radike Samo
9 Nick Phipps
10 Kurtley Beale
11 Digby Ioane
12 Pat McCabe
13 Ben Tapuai
14 Nicks Cummins
15 Michael Harris
They didn't have their best players, Robbie Deans had to improvise with Kurtley Beale at 10, Nick Phipps, Tapuai, Nicks Cummins and Michael Harris. IMO the worst Australian team that I can remember for a test. And yet they won, I don't think that Australia can provide a team worse than that, they will win in Rosario again.
Regards
Australia is a very different team than last year, they have players like: Will Genia, James Horwill, James O'Connor, Leali'ifano and Israel Folau. Players who for various reasons were not last year and Pumas don't have their best forwards. Don't stay with the second half of the game in Sydney, remember the first half. Australia is a stronger team this year, I think they are going to beat Pumas in home and away
Regards
The Springbok team that played in Mendoza last year had 7 players who played their first match on away in Springbok colours. Those players were:
Jacques Potgieter
Marcel Coetzee
Eben Etzebeth
Tiaan Liebenberg
Pat Cilliers
Keegan Daniel
JJ Engelbrecht
This time all the guys are more settled in, and we certainly have a better team than last year. One big difference is at Hooker, with Bismarck back. Tiaan Liebenberg is the 5th/6th best hooker in SA. Also at prop I think we have a much better group of props than last year.
My prediction is that SA will win with 4 or more tries.
That was a bad and/or inexperienced team fresh with a new coach and playing badly. Settled guys like Bekker also didn't perform on the day. We were very lucky to draw IMO. Man, what a difference a year makes and then we have some guys out that will come in to strengthen the team as well.