It will be frenetically fast and furious in Saturday’s deal-clinching Castle Rugby Championship showdown between the Springboks and Argentina, SA flyer Kurt-Lee Arendse says.
He warned the Boks must stay switched on for the full 80 minutes if they want to subdue a streetwise Los Pumas outfit capable of delivering a pulverising knockout blow in Mbombela (Nelspruit) (kickoff 5pm).
The Boks discovered how potent the Pumas are on attack when they were pipped 29-28 in Santiago del Estero last week.
Though pundits have labelled the Boks as favourites to win the return in front of a capacity 43,000 crowd, Arendse says there is no complacency in the Bok ranks.
Argentina are hoping they can win the match with a bonus point and deny the Boks a point, which would see them claim the title for the first time in their history.
The Boks enter the match as favourites with home ground advantage and their five-point buffer at the top of the standings placing them in pole position.
“Argentina played really well last week, and we know they like to run with the ball, so we are expecting the same from them this weekend, and are up for it,” Arendse said.
“We definitely want to rectify the things we did wrong last week and hopefully finish the competition on a winning note.”
Bok wing Cheslin Kolbe said: “Argentina have certainly developed as a team over the years, and this year they’ve shown the style of rugby they want to play.
“So it is going to be a massive challenge on Saturday.
“There’s a lot of confidence and excitement in their team, especially after beating Australia, New Zealand and us this season.
“But that said, we need to focus on ourselves and be ready for them because they can create something out of nothing.
“It’s a final this weekend, and it is going to be a huge game.
“We may have played in a few finals, but one can never bank on what happened in the past.
“This is going to be a big game against a determined team, so we must be at our best for the full 80 minutes.”
Kolbe said while the coaches still had to decide on their goal-kicking plans, he was ready to step up to the plate if the need arose.
“I’m comfortable kicking for goals,” he said.
“I’ve been working on it throughout the season, and the kickers and Tony [Brown, Bok assistant coach] have been giving me tips.
“One never knows what will happen on the day, so if they need me to kick, I’ll be ready to do so.
“I’m not sure who will take over the kicking yet, but we back that person 100%.
“Argentina is a phenomenal side, and they have many players with an X-factor, and many of them come from a Sevens rugby background.
“Some of the guys who played last week also gave me advice, so I know what to expect this week.”
Arendse, on the brink of possibly winning his first Rugby Championship title, was thrilled about the possibility of adding this accolade to his Rugby World Cup winners medal.
“Personally, it would be special to win it for the first time and for us as a whole,” he said.
“We’ve been building towards achieving that, so it would be great.”
HeraldLIVE
All to play for in deal-clinching Mbombela finale
Favourites Boks wary of streetwise Los Pumas
Rugby writer
Image: MATT ROBERTS/GETTY IMAGES
It will be frenetically fast and furious in Saturday’s deal-clinching Castle Rugby Championship showdown between the Springboks and Argentina, SA flyer Kurt-Lee Arendse says.
He warned the Boks must stay switched on for the full 80 minutes if they want to subdue a streetwise Los Pumas outfit capable of delivering a pulverising knockout blow in Mbombela (Nelspruit) (kickoff 5pm).
The Boks discovered how potent the Pumas are on attack when they were pipped 29-28 in Santiago del Estero last week.
Though pundits have labelled the Boks as favourites to win the return in front of a capacity 43,000 crowd, Arendse says there is no complacency in the Bok ranks.
Argentina are hoping they can win the match with a bonus point and deny the Boks a point, which would see them claim the title for the first time in their history.
The Boks enter the match as favourites with home ground advantage and their five-point buffer at the top of the standings placing them in pole position.
“Argentina played really well last week, and we know they like to run with the ball, so we are expecting the same from them this weekend, and are up for it,” Arendse said.
“We definitely want to rectify the things we did wrong last week and hopefully finish the competition on a winning note.”
Bok wing Cheslin Kolbe said: “Argentina have certainly developed as a team over the years, and this year they’ve shown the style of rugby they want to play.
“So it is going to be a massive challenge on Saturday.
“There’s a lot of confidence and excitement in their team, especially after beating Australia, New Zealand and us this season.
“But that said, we need to focus on ourselves and be ready for them because they can create something out of nothing.
“It’s a final this weekend, and it is going to be a huge game.
“We may have played in a few finals, but one can never bank on what happened in the past.
“This is going to be a big game against a determined team, so we must be at our best for the full 80 minutes.”
Kolbe said while the coaches still had to decide on their goal-kicking plans, he was ready to step up to the plate if the need arose.
“I’m comfortable kicking for goals,” he said.
“I’ve been working on it throughout the season, and the kickers and Tony [Brown, Bok assistant coach] have been giving me tips.
“One never knows what will happen on the day, so if they need me to kick, I’ll be ready to do so.
“I’m not sure who will take over the kicking yet, but we back that person 100%.
“Argentina is a phenomenal side, and they have many players with an X-factor, and many of them come from a Sevens rugby background.
“Some of the guys who played last week also gave me advice, so I know what to expect this week.”
Arendse, on the brink of possibly winning his first Rugby Championship title, was thrilled about the possibility of adding this accolade to his Rugby World Cup winners medal.
“Personally, it would be special to win it for the first time and for us as a whole,” he said.
“We’ve been building towards achieving that, so it would be great.”
HeraldLIVE
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