Saturday’s highly anticipated Rugby Championship match between South Africa’s Springboks and Argentina will now begin 10 minutes later than initially planned.
The game, taking place at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero, will kick off at 23:10.
This unexpected delay has sparked mixed reactions, with night owls welcoming the change, while others are contemplating whether to stay up late or simply catch the replay.
Springboks Defend Their No. 1 Ranking
This weekend’s match holds high stakes for the Springboks, who are currently ranked No. 1 in the World Rugby standings.
Coached by Rassie Erasmus, the team will face Argentina, ranked seventh, in the first of two back-to-back Tests in this year’s Rugby Championship.
The second fixture is scheduled for September 28 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
South Africa has a dominant track record against Argentina, having won 14 out of 17 previous games played in Argentina.
The Springboks’ only loss in the country came in 2016 and 2018, while a draw occurred in 2012.
Their overall record against the Pumas is even more impressive, with 32 wins out of 36 matches.
Odds Favor the Springboks
Leading betting agency Hollywoodbets has listed the Springboks as the clear favorites to win on Saturday, with odds of 1/4.
Argentina, on the other hand, is seen as the underdog at 3/1, while a draw is a long shot at 25/1. The handicap sees the Springboks as 9.5-point favorites.
Impact on World Rugby Rankings
Heading into the match, South Africa holds 93.58 ranking points, while Argentina sits at 82.49.
If the Springboks win by 15 points or fewer, their ranking will improve slightly by 0.19 points.
A loss for Argentina by the same margin will result in the same point deduction.
However, if the Springboks win by a margin of 16 points or more, they’ll gain 0.29 points, while Argentina’s total will decrease similarly.
A draw could shake things up, as South Africa would lose 0.81 points but maintain their top spot, while Argentina would move up to sixth place ahead of Scotland.
If Argentina wins by 15 points or fewer, they’ll earn 1.81 points and rise to sixth, while South Africa would drop to second.
A bigger victory for Argentina, by 16 points or more, would result in a gain of 2.71 points, further cementing their move up the ranks.
Current World Rugby Rankings
Here’s how the top 10 teams currently stand:
- South Africa – 93.58
- Ireland – 92.12
- New Zealand – 88.25
- France – 86.96
- England – 85.40
- Scotland – 82.82
- Argentina – 82.49
- Italy – 79.98
- Australia – 79.78
- Fiji – 78.43
Referee for the Match
Christophe Ridley from England will make his Rugby Championship refereeing debut in this match.
Notably, he has never officiated a game involving the Springboks before, adding an element of intrigue to the contest.
Teams for the Match
The final lineup for Argentina has yet to be confirmed.
As for South Africa, their starting XV will include players like Aphelele Fassi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, and Handre Pollard.
The team will be led by captain Salmaan Moerat, with Malcolm Marx starting as the hooker and Ox Nche as the loosehead prop.
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