Springboks will kick off on a high
THE Springboks begin their Rugby Championship campaign against the Pumas on Saturday boosted by the return of three doubtful starters.
It must have been music to the ears of coach Heyneke Meyer when Springbok doctor Craig Roberts gave the green light for prop Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira, lock Eben Etzebeth and captain Jean de Villiers to play at Loftus.
Only Victor Matfield, who has been ruled out with a knee injury, will play no part in the Championship opener.
Meyer should waste no time in putting the Beast straight into the firing line, where he will team up with the Du Plessis brothers, Jannie and Bismarck, to form an all-Sharks front row that know and understand each other.
Meyer will also need to look for experience to bolster the lock position, and Bakkies Botha should be the natural choice to partner rookie Lood de Jager.
The coach will lose no sleep over the absence of the mercurial JP Pietersen, who is contract-bound to play in Japan. Jean de Villiers will slot in perfectly for Pietersen.
With the dynamic Jan Serfontein at half back, Meyer’s only concern should be who to start off with at scrum half and fly half – Ruan Pienaar or Morne Steyn.
Judging on recent form, Pienaar seems to be the front runner.
Another plus for the Springboks is having quality players they can call on. Patrick Lambie, who can play at 10, 12 or 15, and the rising star Handre Pollard should make an appearance at some stage of the match.
Although the odds are heavily stacked in favour of the Springboks to start their campaign on a winning note, one can never underestimate the Argentines, who have quietly accepted the underdog tag.
They have been together on a month-long training camp and would have done their homework. Expect a crushing battle when the two teams run out at 5pm.
r CURRIE Cup newcomers, the Pumas got off to a fairytale start when they beat the Cheetahs 28-21 at home in Nelspruit.
However, the boys from Mpumalanga will find it a bridge too far when they travel to the Shark Tank to take on the reigning champions on Friday at 7pm.
Although the Sharks had to dig deep to register a 31-24 win over Griquas in Kimberley, the home ground advantage will weigh heavily in favour of the Sharks.
WIN! WIN! WIN! Win double tickets to the Currie Cup match between the Sharks and the Pumas on Friday night.
SMS POSTRUGBY followed by your full name and the area you live in to 33963 by 10am on Thursday. Winners will be notified telephonically. SMSes are charged at R1.50.