The Springboks will make some brave calls when they name their team for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Salta.
That’s the word from the camp, with assistant coach Matthew Proudfoot hinting that they will continue to experiment with the squad in the hope of finding the right formula ahead of next month’s World Cup.
One of those brave calls might see Stormers hooker Bongi Mbonambi starting the match ahead of Malcolm Marx.
Mbonambi wore the No.2 jumper when South Africa beat Australia 35-17 in the first Rugby Championship clash, with Marx returning to the starting XV in their 16-16 draw with the All Blacks.
Mbonambi, though, knows that if he cracks the nod for this weekend’s match, he will have to get the better of Argentina’s Agustin Creevy, who epitomises the Pumas’s style of play, a strong scrummager, who likes to get into the faces of his opponents.
YSTER: Puma Creevy. Photo: Samuel Shiavmbu/BackpagePix.
Mbonambi says of Saturday’s battle: “It’s going to be a big challenge. They’ve got home crowd advantage and will have their tails up.
“It’s going to be a maul and scrum battle - they’ve got good forwards, Creevy is there so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Of the crowd having an impact on the match, Mbonambi adds: “We travelled here quite a lot and the crowd is very passionate.
“It’s nice to see that rugby is also growing here. They love the sport”
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus will name his match 23 on Wednesday as the Boks go in search of their first ever Rugby Championship title.