The Rugby Championship gets underway this weekend as the world champion Springboks welcome Australia and the powerhouse All Blacks make the trip to Argentina.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has named a strong side to do battle with the Wallabies, who seemingly arrive in rude health after a spirited 2-1 series defeat to the British and Irish Lions.
Los Pumas are likewise riding a wave of optimism and will look to test an evolving New Zealand outfit still finding their feet under Scott Robertson.
South Africa vs Australia
Springbok speedster Edwill van der Merwe highlighted the visitors’ threat while admitting his personal excitement over earning a starting berth for the tournament opener.
“Ellis Park is one of my favourites stadiums along with Danie Craven Stadium [in Stellenbosch], so Saturday will be very special for me and also facing Australia is a bigger challenge than I have faced before,” the Lions star confessed to Supersport.
“As a youngster, I remember watching the Rugby Championship and thinking of it as the place I wanted to be, so there is a big focus going into this competition.
“Australia are a big team. I will be up against more experienced opponents. They have been building momentum and beat the British and Irish Lions in their last game.
“They’ve improved a lot and we are expecting a tough game, with the breakdowns a big focus for both teams.”
On the other hand, Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has predicted that his team will have to be at their best as they go in search of a first win at Ellis Park since 1963.
“The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude here in Johannesburg,” the Kiwi claimed at the pre-match press conference.
“There’s not many bigger tests than playing South Africa on their home turf and we know we’re going to need to be at our best on Saturday night.”
South Africa team
Starting: 1. Ox Nché, 2. Malcolm Marx, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Lood de Jager, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Siya Kolisi (c), 9. Grant Williams, 10. Manie Libbok, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12. André Esterhuizen, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. Edwill van der Merwe, 15. Aphelele Fassi
Bench: 15. Bongi Mbonambi, 16. Boan Venter, 17. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 18. Franco Mostert, 19. Kwagga Smith, 20. Cobus Reinach, 21. Canan Moodie, 22. Damian Willemse
Australia team
Starting: 1. James Slipper, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Nick Frost, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Tom Hooper, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson (c), 9. Nic White, 10. James O’Connor, 11. Dylan Pietsch, 12. Len Ikitau, 13. Joseph Suaalii, 14. Max Jorgensen, 15. Tom Wright
Bench: 16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Jeremy Williams, 20. Langi Gleeson, 21. Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22. Tate McDermott, 23. Andrew Kellaway
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Argentina vs New Zealand
Over in Córdoba, the All Blacks’ Will Jordan is confident in his side’s preparations but nevertheless feels that the home team will provide a stern test.
“We know the first 20 [minutes] is going to be important,” he told local media.
“They’ve come hard at our breakdown in the past and they’ll be confident again. If they play their best, they’ll back themselves to beat us.
“They’ve got a huge amount of energy, extremely skillful players across the backs, and real physicality up front.”
Los Pumas flanker Marcos Kremer, meanwhile, revealed the growing confidence around a fast-improving Argentine Test set-up ahead of the clash with Robertson’s charges.
“The team has been doing things very well, the staff has been doing things very well,” Kremer explained, according to Supersport.
“We have to put nerves aside and dedicate ourselves to playing rugby – we know how to do it and what to do with the players [we have].
“The work that the forwards have to do is to try to give those opportunities to the three-quarters, those fast balls or those balls advancing.
“We know that if the forwards work and are going well, then behind we have things to fly a little more.”
Argentina team
Starting: 1. Mayco Vivas, 2. Julian Montoya (c), 3. Pedro Delgado, 4. Franco Molina, 5. Pedro Rubiolo, 6. Pablo Matera, 7. Marcos Kremer, 8. Joaquin Oviedo, 9. Gonzalo Garcia, 10. Tomas Albornoz, 11. Bautista Delguy, 12. Santiago Chocobares, 13. Lucio Cinti, 14. Rodrigo Isgro, 15. Juan Cruz Mallia
Bench: 16. Ignacio Ruiz, 17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Guido Petti, 20. Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21. Simon Benítez Cruz, 22. Santiago Carreras, 23. Justo Piccardo
New Zealand team
Starting: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Damian McKenzie
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