Rugby World Cup Schedule 2015: Fixture Info for Bronze-Medal Match
Their race for a winners' medal may be over, but Argentina face South Africa on Friday as both teams hope they can claim a consolatory third-place finish at the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
The two southern hemisphere rivals have met only once before in a Rugby World Cup, and it was the Springboks who prevailed 37-13 at the Stade de France back in 2007.
It's once again a European setting that will see the pair collide as London's Olympic Stadium prepares for a tantalising encounter, even if first place is no longer on the cards.
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Read on for all the vital viewing information needed to ensure you don't miss a second of Friday's bronze-medal meeting, along with match preview.
Date: Friday, October 30
Time: 8 p.m. GMT/4 p.m. ET/(Saturday, Oct. 31) 4 a.m. AEST/8 a.m. NZDT
Venue: Olympic Stadium, London
Live Stream: ITV Player (UK), Universal Sports (U.S.), Fox Sports (AUS), Sky Go (NZ), SuperSport (SA)
TV Info: ITV (UK), Fox Sports 2 (AUS), Sky Sport 1 (NZ), SuperSport 1 (SA)
Springboks' Pride Takes on Pumas' Passion
Argentina will be remembered as one of the most entertaining teams to light up this year's tournament, showing tremendous resolve to the very last minute of their 29-15 semi-final defeat at Australia's hands.
The Pumas have come a long way since the aforementioned loss to South Africa eight years ago, and it was only two months ago Daniel Hourcade's side beat the Springboks, fuelling his nomination for Coach of the Year:
After keeping New Zealand close in their 20-18 defeat last Saturday, Heyneke Meyer's side will feel they're capable of overcoming Argentina's threat this week in what will be just their second bronze final.
Their task has been significantly eased by the absence of a long list of Pumas stars, too, confirmed by Planet Rugby's Ben Coles earlier this week:
One thing for certain is that after seeing four southern hemisphere teams make up the semi-finals for the first time in a Rugby World Cup, Argentina are on the rise as a major player of the Test arena.
Still, to finish behind the South Americans in London would be a big disappointment for the Boks, who have more pressure on their shoulders to ensure they finish with a bang.
Super Rugby Precursor
This year's third-place playoff has an added touch of spice in that many of the players involved will be facing off against one another when the new Argentina Super Rugby franchise joins South Africa's conference.
Toulon back row Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe won't be involved in the new franchise, but he believes his countrymen will be capable of competing with the more established teams, per the official Super Rugby website:
"I am very excited. They are going to play Super Rugby, they are going to play the Rugby Championship and they are going to be together the entire year. I'm not saying we are going to win it, I am saying you are going to enjoy a lot of good rugby from Argentina.
We're happy to make people proud of the way we play, because that is how rugby should be played -- with a lot of heart, passion, enjoyment and throw the ball around.
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Many featuring on Friday may already have built up rivalries over the course of Argentina's participation in the Rugby Championship, which is still in its infancy, but 2016 will be a major step in their evolution.
Players like Santiago Cordero, Nicolas Sanchez and Jeronimo De La Fuente will all join Argentina's team for their inaugural Super Rugby campaign and have a chance to make their presence felt with the South Africans early.
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