The Springboks will be focusing on their defence and the breakdown in their crucial Rugby Championship Test against the Pumas in Argentina on the weekend.

The Springboks are on the verge of winning the Championship for the first time since 2019, and for this, only a victory is required.

Kwagga Smith. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Pumas in turn are still on for a chance to claim a first-ever title if they can upset the world champions over the next two Tests. The Argentines have already proven that they can be a handful to deal and for the Springboks it will be important to focus on getting the basics right.

Apart from the scrum, the notion in the Bok camp is that their ball protection on the ground as well as the defence has to be on-point.

The Bok flanker, Kwagga Smith, said there are work-ons after the back-to-back wins against the All Blacks. “After playing the All Blacks twice we have quite a few learnings.”

“Defensively we wanted to stop momentum better after the first Test match. Personally, for me at the breakdown in the second Test match, we lost a lot of ball. New Zealand got a lot of turnovers and the broke the momentum for us when we were wanting to attack.

“Those are definitely two aspects that we’re working hard at. Argentina has a few good stealers and fetchers, and it’s going to be a big battle at the breakdown this coming weekend.”

Saturday’s crunch Test between the Los Pumas and Springboks in Santiago del Estero kicks off at 23:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh