Pumas vs Springboks: Team announcements and more.

The Argentina's head coach Santiago Phelan has confirmed the initial formation of the Pumas to face South Africa on the second match of Personal Rugby Championship

1- Rodrigo Roncero (50 games – 25 points)
2- Eusebio Guiñazú (19 games – 5 points)
3- Juan Figallo (10 games – 5 points)
4- Manuel Carizza (24 games – 5 points)
5- Patricio Albacete (47 games – 5 points)
6- Julio Farías Cabello (11 games – 5 points)
7- Álvaro Galindo (12 games – 10 points)
8- Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c) (44 games – 20 points)
9- Nicolás Vergallo (24 games)
10- Juan Martín Hernández (33 games – 89 points)
11- Horacio Agulla (35 games – 20 points)
12- Santiago Fernández (19 games – 8 points)
13- Marcelo Bosch (11 games – 11 points)
14- Gonzalo Camacho (12 games – 20 points)
15- Martín Rodríguez (16 games – 61 points)

As you can see Phelan chose this time Martín Rodríguez instead Lucas Amorosino.

Heyneke Meyer's press conference and SA training in Mendoza - Argentina.

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrqeLGHPWf0&feature=player_embedded

Images of Mendoza stadium: Capacity 40 K.

Spoiler:

Thanks for that Argie Fan.

I love that Roncero is the 3rd highest points scorer in the team!

Best of luck to Argentina. Gonna be tough.

I think Roncero is a tad fortunate to keep his place in the team as his replacement Ayerza did a better job in both loose and scrum but there you go. Amorosino had to go as he was dire last weekend and Argentina need more steel and a better tactical option at 15.

I enjoyed the game last weekend hoping for more of the same but a lot closer this weekend.

C'mon Argentina !!! Stadium looks fantastic ! What a dream trip for anyone lucky enough to make it there....

I would love to see them give South Africa a bloody nose !!!!

The Springbok team preparing for the second Castle Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday received a huge boost when Bryan Habana was declared fit to start on Wednesday.

Habana, the most experienced member of the squad with 78 Tests for South Africa, injured his left ankle against Argentina in Cape Town last weekend and passed a fitness test on Wednesday morning. That means the backline is unchanged from the one that beat Argentina by 27-6 at DHL Newlands.

The Springboks will start the match with a combined total of 412 Test Caps – 130 of those in the forwards and 282 in the backs.

“Having Bryan is obviously a big boost as we’ve lost a number of players with lots of experience after JP Pietersen, Pierre Spies and Bismarck du Plessis already had to withdraw from our squad,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

Upfront there are two changes and positional shift. Adriaan Strauss replaces the injured Bismarck du Plessis at hooker and takes over the vice-captaincy, while Jacques Potgieter is promoted from the bench to start at blindside flank. Willem Alberts moves to No 8 with Keegan Daniel on the bench.

New alongside Daniel on the bench is Tiaan Liebenberg (hooker), who will make his Springbok Test debut if he gets game time as a replacement.

Two forwards who were doubtful earlier in the week, Andries Bekker (lock) and Marcell Coetzee (flank), both passed fitness tests. Bekker left the field at DHL Newlands with an ankle injury and Coetzee suffered a slight twinge to his groin at training earlier in the week.

“It was a difficult decision between Jacques and Keegan, but we have gone with horses for courses this time,” said Meyer.

“We’re expecting it will be very physical early in the game and it might open up later, which perfectly suits the strongpoints of both Jacques and Keegan.

“The Pumas also mauled quite well in Cape Town and we were not happy with the defence of their mauls, so with the extra weight Jacques brings, we will have to ensure we stop their drives.

“Argentina played a very physical game in Cape Town – as we expected – and they will step it up this weekend in front of their home fans. It will be a very tough Test and we need to be 100% switched on.”

The Springbok team to face Argentina in Mendoza is:

Position Name Province Test Caps
15 Zane Kirchner Vodacom Blue Bulls 16
14 Bryan Habana DHL Western Province 78
13 Jean de Villiers (captain) DHL Western Province 76
12 Frans Steyn The Sharks 50
11 Lwazi Mvovo The Sharks 5
10 Morné Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls 38
9 Francois Hougaard Vodacom Blue Bulls 19
8 Willem Alberts The Sharks 12
7 Jacques Potgieter Vodacom Blue Bulls 2
6 Marcell Coetzee The Sharks 4
5 Andries Bekker DHL Western Province 25
4 Eben Etzebeth DHL Western Province 4
3 Jannie du Plessis The Sharks 34
2 Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain) Toyota FS Cheetahs 13
1 Tendai Mtawarira The Sharks 36
Replacements
16 Tiaan Liebenberg DHL Western Province 0
17 Pat Cilliers MTN Golden Lions 1
18 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 15
19 Keegan Daniel The Sharks 4
20 Ruan Pienaar Ulster, N Ireland 55
21 Pat Lambie The Sharks 13
22 JJ Engelbrecht Vodacom Blue Bulls 1

Last hour:
Bad news for Pumas.
Argentina lost their main man, Juan Hernandez has torn in his right leg and will not play saturday against the springboks, also doubt his participation in the tour of Australia and New Zealand. His replacement will be announced tomorrow.

Thats really no good.

Injuries are a plight on our game more than ever these days and probably because of the sheer pace and ferocity of the contact at this level.

No matter how much you try to manage it the one offs will always happen when you need it least.

After this series I'd expect a lot of sore and if not very tired Argie bodies as they wont have faced this sort of sustained level of rugby over 6-7 weeks ever before in their history. If theyre still competitive in the last two matches I'll be astounded.

Damn with El Mago I'd have picked the Boks by 8. Now I reckon 20 will be the margin.

Hernandez injured again seems as fragile as Kahui and Jonny Wilkinson was.
Boks by a land slide.

Goosen is going to play 30 minutes or so for the cheetahs on the weekend, I hope he comes back with a bang.

Vermeulen played for Western Province last weekend and had a decent return, I hope he can come in to replace Daniels and Potgieter.

I wonder what Ludick has to do to get a call up.

Alan, I don't think this is going to be a landslide to be honest. I would like it to be, but not so confident.

Earlier than I expected for Goosen. They need to tread lightly with that one. AIs at best but next year would be better. Get him into the sharks for next year.
An injury ridden start to his career could ruin him for good.

He has already signed with the Cheetahs for next year.

His dislocated shoulder was a freak accident though, how many guys dislocats a shoulder when diving for the tryline?

Colin Slade would be able to give it a crack if you´ll excuse the pun. Richard Kahui could probably do it as well.

So not so freaky then?

Mendoza to create The Rugby Championship history

In 1976 the famous Estadio Malvinas Argentinas was built, part of the preparation for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, which Argentina won for the first time to be announced on the world football stage.
This weekend General San Martin Park will play host to what will be Argentina’s maiden home match of The Rugby Championship, an event which will perhaps surpass the local hosting of Brazil back during that famous trophy win thirty-four years ago.

Close to 50,000 will be on hand to play witness to the Pumas run out, hosting the Springboks, who won 27-6 in the first round of The Rugby Championship.

This time the beautiful city of Mendoza, so close to the magnificent Andes plays host, and while rugby is the focus, the fans may break away from tradition, that is consuming beer at the match, to enjoying local vino, as the region is the largest wine producer in Latin America, and is famous for vintages that brings many far and wide as part of a thriving tourism trade.

The beauty of Argentina’s first match here is backed by its location, with the stadium located within the former ‘Parque del Oeste’ a near 1000 acre park with sculptures, a zoo and other picturesque aspects that encapsulate why famous conquistador Pedro del Castillo founded the city of Mendoza in 1561.

Some would regard the powerbases of rugby in Argentina to be Buenos Aires, Rosario and of late Cordoba (while Tucuman have been competitive in recent years) – but De Cuyo and Teque clubs and others are notable rugby institutions in the Mendoza region.

Secretary of Sports for the province of Mendoza, Marcelo Locamuz said that preparations have been intense for arguably the most important sporting event the region has seen.

“We are working on final details…so that all can enjoy Mendoza on August 25, an unforgettable day for our sport provincial. We expect the presence of all!”

Mendoza, well ingrained into the Argentine consciousness after the 1861 Earthquake, was hit by another major shake in 2006, which prompted landmark restructuring of the city, while the match is being played in the west as a deliberate effort to ensure that the Pumas can be celebrated all throughout the country.

Mendoza is some 1,000km from Buenos Aires (a two hour flight pending on conditions), while La Plata and Rosario will round out what UAR President Luis Castillo said will be a mammoth season for his team.

Already they have hosted Italy and France, and the Springboks are the first of the original Tri-Nations powers to arrive in Pumas territory.

“(The year is) an unprecedented one for rugby in Argentina, with the Pumas playing a total of 12 matches, including six at home, against the strongest nations in the world,” Castillo said.

It is not the first time Mendoza has welcomed international rugby opposition, playing Italy in 2007 and recording a 24-6 victory, while great local rivals Chile lost 57-13 here in 2002.

Springboks captain Jean de Villiers, alongside Bryan Habana, is one of just two South Africans to have played in Argentina, with the two involved in a thrilling 34-23 win for the tourists at Velez Sarsfield, where the Pumas scored the same number (three) of tries as the illustrious visitors.

De Villiers and the Springboks had touched down inArgentina, in Buenos Aires before heading west to Mendoza, and were wary about a passionate response from the home side.

"The travel has been good, we got some sleep on the flight and we're happy to be here in Argentina," he said.

"It will be the Pumas' first game in this new competition at home, so they will be out to prove a point. We know it will betough and they will be emotionally and mentally up for it, so we will be prepared for massive battle on Saturday."

SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said Mendoza was an ideal location for Argentina’s home debut.

“With the wonderful Andes as a dramatic backdrop, the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas will have its name etched in history as they host the Springboks,” Peters said.

“This great occasion, the Pumas first home match of The Rugby Championship, is one to be celebrated by not just the Argentineans but indeed the whole global rugby community.”

Nice one Argie fan. Bet you wish you were there for the buildup yourself. What altitude is Mendoza? If it's near the Andes I imagine it must be a bit above sea level. Never thought of it before but maybe playing at altitude in SA is not such a foreign thing for the Argentinians.

50 000 is a nice sized crowd. Great to see Argentina play 12 matches against quality opposition. Will be interesting to see how they cope with the fatigue and the injury front. Shame to see Hernandez out of the running.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Nice one Argie fan. Bet you wish you were there for the buildup yourself. What altitude is Mendoza? If it's near the Andes I imagine it must be a bit above sea level. Never thought of it before but maybe playing at altitude in SA is not such a foreign thing for the Argentinians.

50 000 is a nice sized crowd. Great to see Argentina play 12 matches against quality opposition. Will be interesting to see how they cope with the fatigue and the injury front. Shame to see Hernandez out of the running.

Mendoza city and his stadium is at 750 mts. (2460 Fts) sea level, not a great altitude because is at foothills of Los Andes.

Cheers Argie. A bit higher than Madrid then.

Not quite the high veld then. Gotta be a great place to watch rugby though with that backdrop. Like playing in Queenstown.

Nicolás Sanchez play instead injuried Juan Hernandez.
Thus, the Argentine team has two variants regarding the match played in Cape Town.
Martín Rodríguez instead Lucas Amorosino and Nicolás Sanchez instead Juan Hernandez.

Replacements:
22- Juan Imhoff
21- Lucas González Amorosino
20- Martín Landajo
19- Tomás Leonardi
18- Leonardo Senatore
17- Marcos Ayerza
16- Bruno Postiglioni

I like to see Juan Imhoff into the replacements list.

Disappointed for Hernandez. Sounds like an amazing place and I'll make sure I get there at some point.

Do you mind me asking what is the price range or these matches in Argentina?

Best of luck tomorrow will be screaming for you guys from Ireland (sorry again biltong)

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Disappointed for Hernandez. Sounds like an amazing place and I'll make sure I get there at some point.

Do you mind me asking what is the price range or these matches in Argentina?

Best of luck tomorrow will be screaming for you guys from Ireland (sorry again biltong)

The tickets are from 25€ until 80€. Plus 5€ parking.