The Springboks are determined to win the 2024 Rugby Championship at all costs on Saturday when they face the Pumas in Argentina.

The Boks have rested several key players such as the captain Siya Kolisi, while the x-factor flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is out due to surgery to his knee. The world champions have still, however, gone with a very strong squad, but they know that it will not be an easy day at the office.

The goal for the Springboks is to add the Rugby Championship trophy to their collection after claiming the Freedom Cup for the first time in many years. In the time that Springboks have won back-to-back Rugby World Cups, they have not managed to win the Championship. In doing so they will no doubt silence their critics.

Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit will start in the front-row against Argentina. Photo: Morgan Piek

The influence of Tony Brown has led to the Boks playing a much more exciting brand of rugby and they have truly become a threat in all aspects of the game. This said, being able to beat Argentina on their home turf always remains a challenge and in their last Test in their own backyard they thrashed the Wallabies 67-27. They also managed to beat the All Blacks 38-30 in Wellington during round one of the Rugby Championship.

The former Cheetahs loosehead prop, Ox Nche, told OFM Sport that winning the Championship would mean the world to them.

“It will mean a lot and it will just give credit to the squad that we brought over,” said Nche.

“Like a lot of teams, we have had inconsistency in how we played, and now we are actually showing the consistency we want. Even after we won the World Cup last year we have just kept on growing and getting tighter as a team.

“It will mean a lot and it will just amplify the goal we want to achieve and allow us to just keep moving forward.”

Saturday’s Test in Santiago del Estero kicks off at 23:00, while next week they will lock horns in Nelspruit.

Argentina – TBA

Springboks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 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

Morgan Piek OFM Sport