The Springboks are extra motivated heading into Saturday’s must-win Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Nelspruit. 

The Test in the Lowveld will cap off the series and the Springboks as well as the Los Pumas can still win the 2024 title and this will just add some extra spice to what will be a fiery affair.

Eben Etzebeth and Deon Davids. Photo: Morgan Piek

As the back-to-back World Champions, South Africa will be hunting for a first Championship title since 2019. The Argentines, in turn, want to create history by winning the tournament for the first time. While winning the Championship should be motivation enough on its own for the Boks, they also want to win for their seasoned lock, Eben Etzebeth.

The enforcer will become South Africa’s most capped rugby player on Saturday when he takes to the field and in doing so, will break Victor Matfield’s long-standing record of 127 Test caps.

Matfield played in 127 Tests over a period of 14 years and 122 days. Etzebeth in turn will set the new benchmark in what is just 12 years and 111 days into his international career and he is well on track to become the first South African to reach the 150 mark, provided there are no major problems for him going forward.

The Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, who has played with Etzebeth since he was 18 years old, said they would target the win in honour of the colossal enforcer. “I’ll never forget my first game – it was a special one against Scotland and it was tough too, so it’s fantastic for me to share this moment with Eben and mark this milestone with him together,” said Kolisi.

“I met Eben when I was 18 years old and we’ve been friends for a long time, even when he went overseas. So, for us as a team, the best way to show how special he is to us will be to win tomorrow. He doesn’t want this week to be about him, winning the Test would mean so much more to him.”

Siya Kolisi. Photo: Morgan Piek

“A lot of people see him as playing an enforcing role and being a good leader, but he’s also very intelligent, so there’s so much more to him than his physicality. He also plays a crucial role in ensuring that the team’s values are kept intact.”

Saturday’s Championship deciding Test between the Springboks and Los Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium kicks off at 17:00.

Springboks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Replacements – 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Lukhanyo Am

Argentina – 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo

Replacements – 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Lucio Cinti, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh