[RWC19 Warm-Up] - South Africa vs Argentina

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Time: 17:05 CAT (SA, GMT+2)
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Teams

South Africa: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 S'bu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Schalk Brits (captain), 1 Thomas du Toit

Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Frans Steyn

Argentina: TBA

 

[Oliver Madden]

Well the Boks seem to be mixing it up this week. Good move I would say. Is that a mistake in the header post regarding Kolisi not being captain?. Seems strange that Brits is captain even though Kolisi is back. Unless Erasmus is just experimenting. I don’t know how competitive Argentina will be in this one. They got embarrassed at home last week.

 

[unrated]

Well the Boks seem to be mixing it up this week. Good move I would say. Is that a mistake in the header post regarding Kolisi not being captain?. Seems strange that Brits is captain even though Kolisi is back. Unless Erasmus is just experimenting. I don’t know how competitive Argentina will be in this one. They got embarrassed at home last week.

Rassie said that he might take Kolisi off before half time. He first needs to regain fitness. So maybe he plays 50 max then we need captain again. I think scarra will only come on in last five mins so expect brits to play most of the game unless injury intervenes.

 

[mania]

rassie is a genius

 

[TRF_heineken]

Rassie said that he might take Kolisi off before half time. He first needs to regain fitness. So maybe he plays 50 max then we need captain again. I think scarra will only come on in last five mins so expect brits to play most of the game unless injury intervenes.

This will be Kolisi's 2nd game coming back from injury, and Rassie wants his captain to be fit and ready going to the World Cup. Makes sense to name Brits as captain as Kolisi might only feature for one half, And because Scarra is uncapped and on the bench, I think It's just a back-up should Brits get injured. I have a feeling that Brits might go the full 80.

Anyway, that is still a very strong team Rassie has put out, Just imagine how strong we could be if a guy like Jan Serfontein was also there...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Makes me nervous to see all those changes in context it makes sense to give all your horses a hit out while resting your starters. IMO RG and Marcel should've started a game or two already.

Only change I'd have liked here is Steyn in for Esterhuizen. Sure, Steyn is there for his utility but its not as if he can't move from 12 to 10/15 if needed on the field rather than from off of it?

Expecting an entertaining match regardless. This team doesn't look poor on paper and shouldn't come into this overconfident seeing as this is a new lineup but I expect the Pumas will be looking to get back at us here.

Anyway, that is still a very strong team Rassie has put out, Just imagine how strong we could be if a guy like Jan Serfontein was also there...

I keep having to stop myself lamenting Serfontein's absence >_<

 

[TheOvalBall]

Schalk Brits captain ? That's a surprise.

 

[TheOvalBall]

I am so happy Argentina is part of the Rugby Championship. I love that country, even though I've never been there.
I wish they will do well at the Rugby World Cup.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Holy ****!

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

How bout that!!!!

 

[unrated]

So Marcell Coetzee is out of the World Cup

 

[unrated]

Sbu Nkosi never disappoints me

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Whenever I want a laugh I look back at the stable of wingers AC insisted on using.
Raymond rhule lol.

South Africa is probably 7 deep right now at that position.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

In what parellel universe is that obstruction? What is he supposed to do, disappear?

 

[rugga658]

In what parellel universe is that obstruction? What is he supposed to do, disappear?

Koch did a good acting job

Pumas were okay

Defence let them down at key moments: Moyano & Tucalet were terrible for the 2 tries
Pumas conceded

Mensa impressed

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Canceliere had one of those days. Never seen him so bad. He missed a couple of key tackles, missed at least one try, and almost got red carded on the stpingboks last try.
Appalling stuff.

 

[Rinkadink]

Tough luck for Argentina there, so much better than last week though so shouldn't be too disheartened. South Africa have quality in depth and are looking pretty good.

 

[Johnny Storm]

Scrappy game. The Boks are still unbeaten this year though. Some exciting talent in the backs. Stadium was half empty, have the SA public lost interest?

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Nkosi reminds me of a springbok, like an actual one. Anyone else see that?

He’s springy, he has a long neck, he’s fast, I even reckon he runs with the gait of a springbok at times. I mean, it’s not like he gets down on all fours, but...
He’s the ultimate springbok, he has to either start for them or be their mascot

 

[saulan]

Stadium was half empty, have the SA public lost interest?

There are factors to support this. This game was a friendly where we were putting forward a second string team (that had only had two practices together) to test players for the squad. Then the tickets were priced at the high rates they normally charge for Springbok games.

However, just a couple of weeks ago there were 50,000 in the stadium vs Australia, which was also not our best team. I did some looking at the stats though and it does look like the Pumas games just generally pull in smaller crowds than other home games for us in the Championship (granted, sometimes we do play the game at smaller stadium). Looking at the last time the game was at Loftus (2014) it's still around the same figure (30,453 then).

Pumas games at home attendance:
2014: 30,453 Pretoria
2015: 27,447 Durban
2016: 27,357 Nelspruit
2017: 42,513 Port Elizabeth
2018: 26,800 Durban
2019: ~29,500 Pretoria