South Africa vs. Argentina: Live Stream, Preview for Rugby Championship 2018
South Africa host Argentina in their opening game of the 2018 Rugby Championship on Saturday and will be hoping for a repeat of their 37-15 win over the same opponents in the first match of last year's competition.
The Jonsson Kings Park Stadium will be packed to the rafters, with the Springboks trying to win the tournament for the first time in its current format. South Africa last prevailed in the then-Tri Nations in 2009.
Argentinian rugby has grown over the past two decades, and the national team has consequently improved.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
However, the Pumas have lost 29 of their 33 games in the Rugby Championship and will continue to struggle to make their mark against their elite opponents in this competition.
Date: Saturday, Aug. 18
Time: 11:05 a.m. (ET), 4:05 p.m. (BST), 5:05 p.m. (local time)
TV: Sky Sports Action (UK)
Stream: Sky Go (UK)
Preview
The Rugby Championship has been dominated by New Zealand, with the All Blacks winning five of the past six tournaments.
Australia claimed victory in 2015, but South Africa have not been winners since the competition was rebranded in 2012.
Argentina's entry has offered something different over the past six campaigns, but they will find it a difficult visit to Durban on Saturday and remain huge outsiders in the championship. The Pumas are 80-1 to win the competition, per OddsShark. The Springboks, meanwhile, are 7-1.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus will be especially confident ahead of Saturday's encounter as Eben Etzebeth returns to the fold after a 10-month absence.
Sky Sports reported the captain had been suffering from shoulder and back issues, but he is ready to once again represent the Springboks.
Erasmus said the following about the player, per Sky Sports:
"His match fitness is a concern, and it is for that reason that we won't see him playing much more than 60 minutes this week.
"We just received the clearance from the specialist. He has been training full on with us ever since the end of the Stormers Super Rugby campaign, but we have been waiting on this (medical clearance).
"I would prefer to start a player who is in this situation than play him from the bench. If we start someone else and then there is an injury in the first minute, we might be in trouble."
Argentina's strong pack will seek to put the hosts under considerable pressure, and this challenge will dictate the ebb and flow of proceedings.
The home team remain the more naturally talented collective, but if the match turns into a war of attrition, a shock could be looming.
Argentina have been as high as third in the world rankings, but this team does not have the depth of previous vintages.
Erasmus will make sure his men tread carefully in this contest, and an early try will settle the nerves and point South Africa towards victory.
The Springboks need a win in Durban if they want to harbour any thoughts of Rugby Championship glory, and they must dispatch the visitors with little fuss.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
