The Star E-dition

Props fight fire with beefy fire

ASHFAK MOHAMED ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za

THE Springboks will be going all out to claim the Rugby Championship title when they square off against Argentina at Kings Park tonight (5.05pm kick-off).

Los Pumas won’t just roll over, though, as they showed in fighting back to within two points of the South Africans in Buenos Aires in last week’s 36-20 loss.

Here are five key battles that can decide the Durban clash…

Canan Moodie v Juan Imhoff

The 19-year-old Bok wing has made a top-class start to his Test career, scoring a try on debut against the Wallabies in Sydney.

In Buenos Aires, Moodie was up against 22-year-old Lucio Cinti – and it will be a different story against Juan Imhoff.

The 34-year-old strike-runner loves Kings Park, having produced a hat-trick in Los Pumas’ victory over the Boks in 2015.

Imhoff has a devastating step and straight-line speed, so perhaps Jaden Hendrikse must launch an early boxkick for Moodie to flatten his opponent!

Jesse Kriel v Matias Moroni

Kriel had a forgettable last outing at Kings Park against Argentina in 2015, where Imhoff terrorised him on the wing.

Kriel is now in his preferred No 13 jersey. He has 55 Test caps, and must set the tone in midfield. His battle with Matias Moroni will be one to savour, as the Los Pumas No 13 never stops having a go at the defence. Tackling him is one thing, but Kriel would want to put his opponent under pressure with ball-inhand as well.

Frans Steyn v Santiago Carreras

While he has the booming boot and is a strong defender, can Steyn be the playmaker that the Bok backline thrives on?

When he was younger, we saw the audacious skill that Steyn possesses, so it is within his make-up.

Argentinian pivot Carreras is more of a utility back who is filling in for the injured veteran Nicolas Sanchez.

He needs to get his speedy outside backs into the game, and also take on Steyn with ball-in-hand.

Jasper Wiese v Pablo Matera

The two No 8s had a go at each other last weekend. Wiese smashes into defenders and never goes backwards, while Matera is the classic loose forward who is equally influential with and without the ball.

Wiese can be so much more effective if he had to try an offload now and again, as it’s something that won’t be expected by the Argentinians.

Matera will lead the charge for the visiting pack, but will also be a nuisance at the breakdowns.

Frans Malherbe v Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

This one is going to be a tasty contest! It was a scrum battle for the purists at the Estadio Libertadores de America between the two props.

Malherbe has been in outstanding form in 2022, and won’t want to concede scrum penalties again at Kings Park.

Chaparro knows all the dark arts of the front row from his 70-odd Tests, so Malherbe will have to find another way to get the edge.

Sport

en-za

2022-09-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestar.pressreader.com/article/281964611586229

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