South Africa is determined to capitalize on an opportunity to secure the Rugby Championship title in Argentina this Saturday, even as they remain cautious of a motivated home team that is still in contention, according to Springboks loose forward Kwagga Smith.
The world champions currently hold an eight-point lead over second-placed Argentina, and a win in Santiago del Estero would grant them their fifth title, marking their first since 2019. However, Argentina has showcased their strength in recent matches, defeating New Zealand 38-30 and overwhelming Australia 67-27, which has sharpened the Springboks’ focus on the upcoming challenge.
Smith emphasized the importance of staying grounded. “It is a huge opportunity to win the Rugby Championship, but we can’t look too far ahead,” he remarked in a press briefing on Monday. “They will be desperate to secure five points to set up what would be a final in Nelspruit next week.”
Argentina’s impressive performance includes a total of 15 tries this season, the most in the Rugby Championship thus far. Smith recognizes the need for his team to maintain a tight game against the South Americans. “They have many players who come from Sevens and possess x-factor in their backline,” he explained. “They also have the experience in the forwards to gain dominance. We need to show up physically and perform our roles.”
He also emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “When there’s a loose ball on the ground, we need to clean it up, and when they attack from loose ball, we must stay united as a team. It’s easy to fall into the trap of playing as individuals.”
Smith noted the caliber of Argentina’s forwards, highlighting players like Pablo Matera who bring a wealth of experience to the game, with many players nearing 100 caps.
He added that South Africa needs to improve their performance at the breakdown, where they struggled against New Zealand in their narrow 18-12 victory in Cape Town. “New Zealand gained many turnovers that disrupted our momentum when we intended to attack. Argentina also has proficient stealers and fetchers, making the battle at the breakdown crucial,” he stated.