The Springboks have not given up hope of winning the Rugby Championship, despite their 35-20 defeat to the All Blacks in Auckland last weekend.
Heading into next week’s final round of matches in the shortened tournament, South Africa are four points behind log leaders New Zealand.
They could, however, overtake the Kiwis on the final hurdle if coach Eddie Jones’ Wallabies win their first match of the year in Melbourne against the All Blacks, coupled with a Bok win over the visiting Argentina at Ellis Park.
The #Springboks are back in business after a short break, with all eyes on their final home Test for 2023 - more here: https://t.co/WqZ5W7LF3T 🔥#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/0wlK6z88H5
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 19, 2023
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is clinging to that hope, saying: “We have four matches left before the international showpiece and we are still in the race for the Rugby Championship title so we intend getting down to business immediately and making the most of the time we have on and off the training field to get the squad where we would like them to be mentally and physically.”
The Boks pulled together in Pretoria last night to prepare for the visit from the Argies.
Stand-in captain Eben Etzebeth, whose father died in the build-up to the New Zealand Test, will only join the squad on Sunday, while scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, “who was given time off following a family bereavement”, is back in the squad.
With it being the Springboks’ last match on home soil before they leave for the World Cup in France later this year, Nienaber adds: “Playing such a vital match in front of our supporters is always special. This match may not only be the decider of the Rugby Championship, but it’s also the last match we play at home before the World Cup.
“That passionate support almost serves as an extra player for us, so we’d like to appeal to SA’s rugby faithful to come out in their green and gold and make this a memorable send-off for us.”