Former Argentina centre Marcelo Bosch has backed Los Pumas to add the Springboks to their impressive list of scalps and take a step closer to winning the 2022 Rugby Championship.
Argentina go into Saturday’s clash with the Boks in Buenos Aires having already beaten Australia at home, before claiming a historic win over the All Blacks in New Zealand.
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South Africa, meanwhile, bounced back from successive losses to New Zealand and Australia by beating the Wallabies in Sydney.
Despite the Boks getting a first win over the Wallabies in Australia since 2013, Bosch was circumspect about the quality of the performance in an interview with TimesLive.
“I don’t think SA were incredible in their last performance against Australia and were way better against the All Blacks in the first Test,” said Bosch, who works as a commentator and analyst in Argentina. “The pressure they built from their defence, their set piece and aerial contest made the day very tough for Australia.”
Bosch was part of the Los Pumas side that beat the Springboks in South Africa for the first time in 2015.
He said Argentina will know exactly what to expect from the Springboks and will be able to match the visitors’ arsenal.
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“Argentina know what it is coming up against SA, but of course you always have to be prepared,” he said. “If Los Pumas are not good enough at the set piece, in the aerial contest and in terms of their discipline, the Boks will kick three points or into the corner.
“I believe Argentina can do it — they have the weapons as they are a team that has confidence nowadays, but we’ll have to see.”
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Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
