Time to restore self-belief

South Africa has a dominant recent record against Argentina, but that still doesn’t allow room for complacency ahead of next week’s Rugby Championship finale between the two teams at Ellis Park.

The Boks go into that match needing to win — the tournament itself may still be up for grabs, but perhaps more importantly, their own self-belief could do with a lift after the defeat to the All Blacks.

“They have a specific game plan and skill set that is different to New Zealand, and different to Australia,” head coach Jacques Nienaber said of the Pumas. “So firstly we must pick the right team to combat that and maybe any potential weaknesses they have.”

The outcome at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland was a reality check for the world champions. The joy and optimism of Loftus Versfeld a week earlier was obliterated in 20 minutes of All Black dominance that has put added pressure on what will be the Boks’ farewell match before they head overseas for the first of three warm-up games ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France.

Nienaber remained cautious about making whole-scale changes, reiterating the need to maintain their ambitions in the Rugby Championships, but balancing that with plans for the World Cup.

“When there is a player who hasn’t had game time and might provide the same thing (as some of the players who have played), we might give them game time. But it is not to say that guys who have not played yet will definitely play against Argentina. Hopefully they get a chance in the next two games, but it isn’t a given, and we’ve explained that to the players.”

Manie Libbok is set to be restored to the No 10 jersey, while Jesse Kriel is also champing at the bit for some game time, having played his last Test in November. Following his difficulty under the high ball, Makazole Mapimpi could make way for Kurt-Lee Arendse. 

Among the forwards, those who got blitzed by the All Blacks will be desperate to prove they are better for having had that run. A sharper mental and physical approach will certainly be in the offing, and with Nienaber placing a far greater emphasis on the start, the Boks will expect to get on the front foot in those opening 20 minutes. 

Argentina showed in Sydney, where they beat the Australians, that they are not to be underestimated, and in Michael Cheika they have a coach every bit as antagonistic as his good mate Eddie Jones. Their meaty pack of forwards remain their main strength but they have aligned that power with nifty and crafty athletes from 9 to 15. 

The Boks have won the last six matches against the Pumas, the majority fairly comfortably, and Argentina have to go back to a 32-19 win in Mendoza in 2018 for the last time they emerged triumphant against South Africa.

It would be nice, said Nienaber, if the match also doubled up as a Rugby Championship decider, because a win in such circumstances would provide the kind of momentum he believes is crucial going into the World Cup. 

However, that is beyond the Boks’ control. Or at least that will be the case unless Australia can somehow beat the All Blacks in Melbourne. Stranger things have happened — but you would have to believe that Joburg councillors can fix Bree Street in a week if you reckon this generation of Wallabies can beat the All Blacks. 

Rather, with reality at the forefront, Nienaber’s perspective was broader. The Boks head to Buenos Aires the week after next for the first of those three warm-up matches. 

For those encounters, some critical work needs to take place as the team’s management seeks to provide much needed game time for as many players as possible ahead of South Africa’s opening World Cup match against Scotland on September 10. 

Nienaber described the Boks’ campaign in France as a series of knockout matches, such was the difficulty of the opponents they will face in the pool stages. And he is keenly aware of the need to have players up to speed from the start — a lesson painfully learned in Auckland.

“We could see, last week, the guys who had that game against Australia, the impact they made indicated they were more used to the pace of the game. The others took a while to get going.”

We could see, last week, the guys who had that game against Australia, the impact they made indicated they were more used to the pace of the game. The others took a while to get going

—  Nienaber

After Buenos Aires they fly to the UK to play Wales in Cardiff on August 19 and New Zealand a week later at Twickenham. Following that, they have a training camp on the island of Corsica. 

“We have to keep that in the back of our minds; if we don’t play our best players against New Zealand, then potentially it’s that one week of New Zealand, then Corsica... Then you could have guys who would go without game time for three to four weeks, and that is something else for us to consider,” said Nienaber.

With the exception of the still injured Handre Pollard, Nienaber was not keen that anyone else — including skipper Siya Kolisi — go into the World Cup cold. 

What Nienaber will have at his disposal this week, will be desperation. While he had talked of the objective analysis that was used in unpacking last week’s defeat, the players were left furious about their display and their egos were badly bruised. 

There is only one treatment that will work and erase any doubts before they leave these shores — and that is to win on Saturday.