THE Springboks will be out to fix what went wrong last weekend when they face Argentina in the Rugby Championship decider in Mbombela on Saturday (5pm kick-off).
One player who will be keen to repay the side will be wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, who copped a yellow card in last weekend’s first Test against the Argentinians, which swung the momentum in Santiago del Estero after the Boks led 17-0 in the first quarter, only to lose 29-28 after a missed last-gasp penalty by Manie Libbok.
Kurt-Lee Arendse’s yellow card… really? 🟨🤨
— All Things Rugby (@AllThingsRugbyX) September 24, 2024
Feels like a questionable call—was that really enough for a yellow, or just a bit too soft? You’ve got to wonder if the refs are reaching here. 🏉👀#GamesGoneSoft #KurtLeeArendse #ControversialCalls #LetThemPlay #AllThingsRugby pic.twitter.com/D7IZBxioi9
The home side scored two tries in the absence of Arendse and found gaps on the field, with the visitors defending with 14 players.
Those two tries were enough for them to kick on and build on the momentum they’d gained to upstage the world champions.
Other areas of the Boks’ game-plan, like the lineouts and their defence, also let them down, and they are keen to set things right in the Championship finale at Mbombela Stadium.
The South Africans need only a single log point from the clash to make the title theirs, in what will also be the 128th Test for record-breaking lock Eben Etzebeth.
But they are also wary of the Los Pumas attack, knowing their visitors are chasing an elusive first Championship title.
Should coach Felipe Contepomi’s team win with a bonus point for tries and prevent their hosts from gaining any log points from the clash, they will be crowned champions by virtue of beating South Africa twice in the competition.
According to Arendse, they are bracing themselves for an onslaught from Los Pumas, but the focus will be to improve on the performance they delivered in the first game.
“We just want to rectify where we went wrong last weekend,” Arendse said frankly yesterday.
“Our first half went well, we started good, and it’s the yellow card that cost us a bit.”
“Our first half went well, we started good, and it’s the yellow card that cost us a bit.
“They made use of that advantage and played really well. We know that they like to run the ball, and we expect them to do the same this weekend, but we will be up for it.
“We were a bit down after the loss (after also having to share a flight with the Argentina players), but when we landed here, it was back to zero and the focus shifted to what we have to do this coming Saturday.
“I think it would be special to win the Rugby Championship as a group and just build on that.”
The 28-year-old Bulls star added that he enjoys playing alongside fellow wing Cheslin Kolbe, and the hot-stepping duo will be reunited after the latter received a deserved break last weekend.
Kolbe returns with the likes of centre Damian de Allende, utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi.
Arendse will hope he can continue his try-scoring feats in the Bok jersey after being restricted last weekend against Los Pumas.
He’s scored 17 tries in 21 Tests, two more than Kolbe has after 37 caps.
“It’s really special playing with Cheslin. He has so much experience, and I can just learn from him. I am happy to be on the same team as Ches. It also doesn’t matter which side of the field we play on – we just want to play and represent our country.
“It has been a good season (at the Boks) for me, but I am only thinking about giving my best each and every game, and to focus on what’s coming now.”