South Africa v Argentina LIVE: Teams, score and latest updates from the Rugby Championship decider

South Africa homeowner Argentina Today for a decisive showdown in the final match Rugby Championship.

The final match of the championship is a stark contrast to the match Los Pumas played in South America last week. Stunning 29-28 win against Springboks Carrying the tournament to the final day.

Argentina will be aware that repeating this result on the road will be an incredibly difficult task and will enter the final match knowing this. They need a bonus point victory If they want to win, they must fight against their hosts. The competition was held for the first time. Meanwhile, Springboks With lock Eben Etzebeth becoming the country’s most capped player, they know all they need is a single bonus point to secure the title.

Follow all the action from the Rugby Championship match on our live blog below:

South Africa – Argentina LIVE

• South Africa and Argentina face off in Rugby Championship decider | 16:00 BST live on Sky Sports

• Springboks favorites to win match and tournament despite dramatic loss last weekend

• Pumas need to win by more than seven points as they make three attempts to clinch the historic title

All Blacks seal Rugby Championship in style with win over Wallabies

15:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There is just one more game left in this year’s Rugby Championship after the All Blacks earlier sealed the season in style by beating the Wallabies in Wellington.

All Blacks seal Rugby Championship in style with win over Wallabies

Team news – Argentina

15:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Argentina introduced the changes, making eight changes to Felipe Contepomi’s starting squad for the Mbombela match. Marcos Kremer injured his knee ligament and Pablo Matera remained on the bench. Santiago Carreras starts at full-back, Matias Moroni in the centers and new Harlequins signing Rodrigo Isgro on the wing following his efforts in the sevens Olympics.

Argentina XV: 1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 3 Joel Sclavi; 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Tomas Lavanini; 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Santiago Grondona, 8 Joaquin Oviedo; 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 10 Tomas Albornoz; 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Matias Moroni, 14 Rodrigo Isgro; 15 Santiago Carreras.

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Pablo Matera; 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Lucio Cinti, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia.

Team news – South Africa

15:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Eben Etzebeth became the most capped Springbok of all time, surpassing Victor Matfield’s record of 127 caps in second place. Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cheslin Kolbe also returned to the starting 11 after being rested last weekend, while Manie Libbok remained at fly-half despite a costly late miss in Santiago del Estero.

South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortje; 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 10 Manie Libbok; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Aphelele Fassi.

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, ​​18 Vincent Koch, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith; 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Lukhanyo Am.

South Africa – Argentina

14:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

With just over an hour until kick-off in Mbombela, let’s take a closer look at the two sides as they prepare to do battle for the last time in this year’s Rugby Championship…

The remarkable rise of Argentina, rugby’s greatest outlier, on the brink of history

14:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Their chances of winning their first Rugby Championship are remote, but it is remarkable that a country like Argentina is in contention given the many disadvantages they have had to endure. Here’s a look at the Pumas’ story and why continued support is so vital:

The remarkable story of rugby’s biggest outlier, Argentina

Argentina’s transformed discipline is key to development

14:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Argentina had a well-deserved reputation for indiscipline on the rugby field and it often cost them dearly in Test matches, but they turned that around in the Rugby Championship this year.

In the past, the Pumas could be counted on to award unnecessary penalties through reckless play and give their opponents the chance to pick up easy points.

This year, however, they are the only team in the annual southern hemisphere championship yet to receive a red or yellow card and have conceded the fewest penalties (50) of any team in the competition.

Coach Felipe Contepomi said this turnaround was not due to a concerted effort to clean up their game, but a result of polishing their approach to matches.

“We don’t talk directly about discipline, but we want to be the best team we can play and maybe that’s the result of insisting on doing the right things,” he said at a press conference on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s meeting. against South Africa in Nelspruit to decide the Rugby Championship.

“We don’t take any shortcuts in training and we continue to improve our method and the style of play we want to play, we work hard especially defensively.

“And you know, we don’t cheat. I know it’s part of our values, it’s part of our behavior and we’re proud of it, and the result may be less fines and no cards.

“But it’s not about avoiding the cards, it’s about doing the right thing and working hard.”

Argentina have not had a player sent off the field or given a red card in their last 12 tests.

Argentina seeks stability after important win

14:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The win in Santiago del Estero last weekend meant that Argentina had beaten all their Rugby Championship opponents in a single edition of the tournament for the first time. It’s a significant achievement, but winger Juan Martin Gonzalez was clear that, regardless of the result, it won’t matter much unless the Pumas back up the display with a strong win at Mbombela.

“We had a good game but we want to be consistent in our performances,” Gonzalez told reporters. “Of course we want to win every game but what we want to do is play good rugby. Sometimes we do that, sometimes we don’t.

“If we win, we win, if we lose, so be it. But we are training very well. We are only thinking about the present, not what might happen after the Rugby Championship game.”

Eben Etzebeth avoids the spotlight during milestone week

14:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

South Africa’s impressive forward Eben Etzebeth has avoided the spotlight this week despite being set to become his country’s most-capped international with his 128th Rugby Championship decider against Argentina.

Etzebeth, 32, was included in the squad for the match at Mbombela Stadium earlier this week but there was an almost deliberate effort to downplay the achievement.

He hasn’t attended any press conferences this week, and when the team was announced on Tuesday, the accompanying press release briefly detailed Etzebeth’s achievement but took another 17 paragraphs before quoting coach Rassie Erasmus on the record-setter.

“As a former Springbok, I can attest to what an achievement it will be for Eben to become the most capped Springbok ever and we are all so proud of him and want to make this a special and memorable occasion for him,” Erasmus said. .

“He didn’t want the focus to be on him in a way that would overshadow the team,” a team official said. Reuters on Friday.

But that didn’t stop the double World Cup winner from being mentioned, whose intimidating man-mountain-like presence in attack symbolized the power and might of the Bok pack.

“If you talk to Eben about the Springbok environment, it’s a place he loves to be in. He’s given so much to this environment and this sport,” hooker Bongi Mbonambi said of his teammate this week.

“A lot of people who don’t know Eben think he’s a serious guy. But actually he is one of the jokers of the team. It relaxes the mood when there is too much tension. “He’s also the guy who gives up when it’s time to get serious.”

Eben Etzebeth to break Springboks record as fly-half props up Manie Libbok after costly miss

13:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Eben Etzebeth It is preparing to become the country with the most closures South Africa all-time player after being selected Springboks Starting squad to face Argentina in Mbombela.

Lock will make his 128th appearance in the final round of the season. Rugby Championshipsuperior Victor Matfield’s tally on one side at full strength.

Eben Etzebeth to break Springboks record backed by Manie Libbok after costly miss

Rugby Championship permutations: What do South Africa and Argentina need to win the title in the final round?

13:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

South Africa And Argentina They’re both still after something rare Rugby Championship won the championship title as the two sides prepare to meet again in Mbombela.

Pumas’ extraordinary win on springboks In Santiago del Estero, Felipe Contepomi’s team kept their victory hopes alive as they continued a fine season that saw them defeat All three are their enemies in the tournament.

But lifting a trophy that has never been won before will require Argentina to pull off a shock final-round victory over their title rivals.

Rugby Championship permutations: What do South Africa and Argentina need in the final round?

South Africa v Argentina

Friday 27 September 2024 17:02 , Lawrence Ostlere

Follow all the action as South Africa take on Argentina in the Rugby Championship.