Argentina vs South Africa Preview & Prediction | 2024 Rugby Championship | Round 5
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
An ever-improving Argentina team face the ultimate test as they take on reigning world champions South Africa, who are on the brink of winning the 2024 Rugby Championship.
START DATE/TIME: Saturday 21st September, 2024: UK – 10:00pm / US ET – 5:00pm / US PT – 2:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / US – FloRugby
ARGENTINA FORM: COMPETING WITH THE BIG BOYS
Argentina have had an excellent tournament overall and head into the penultimate round having thrashed Australia 67-27 two weeks ago in a result that sent shockwaves around the rugby world.
Felipe Contepomi’s entertaining side even have a chance of winning the Rugby Championship for the first time should they win back-to-back matches against South Africa, but that is a tall order given how impressive the world champions have been throughout the tournament.
LAST FIVE: WWLLW
SOUTH AFRICA FORM: TITLE WITHIN THEIR GRASP
Victory over the Pumas would guarantee South Africa’s first Rugby Championship title since 2019 and end New Zealand’s four-year grip on the trophy.
The world champions have won all four of their matches in the tournament, including back-to-back wins over the All Blacks, and they are in with a chance of becoming the first team to win every game in a six-match Rugby Championship event since 2017.
LAST FIVE: WWWWW
ARGENTINA TEAM NEWS: THREE CHANGES FROM WIN OVER WALLABIES
SQUAD: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Thomas Gallo
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Gudio Petti, 20 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Matias Moroni
SOUTH AFRICA TEAM NEWS: TEN CHANGES FOR THE SPRINGBOKS
SQUAD: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Manie Libbok
ARGENTINA VS SOUTH AFRICA PREDICTION
South Africa have rung the changes since their 18-12 victory over New Zealand two weeks ago, but such is the considerable strength in depth of their roster, they are still the clear favourites in this contest.
Argentina have been steadily improving for some time now and they will relish this contest against the world’s best side. They certainly won’t lie down but South Africa can withstand anything the Pumas throw at them and should wrap up the championship with a game to spare.
ARGENTINA VS SOUTH AFRICA TIP: SOUTH AFRICA TO WIN
