Bok newcomer set for big opportunity at expense of Vermeulen?

The Bok squad got back to business on the training field in Buenos Aires on Wednesday to prepare for the task of attempting to win their two remaining Rugby Championship matches against Argentina.

The Springbos made the journey from Australia to Buenos Aires via Auckland on Sunday, travelling with the Pumas to the Argentinean capital for next Saturday’s encounter at Estadio José Amalfitani.

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According to Rapport, any thoughts of possibly experimenting with player selections have been put on the backburner, with the Bok side going all out to try and achieve Rugby Championship success.

Interestingly, the article also suggests that the Springboks are likely to bring talented youngster Elrigh Louw onto the bench for the games against Argentina as they see particular value in his ability to cover lock and loose forward.

As a result, veteran Duane Vermeulen – who is still working his way back fitness and form – could dramatically drop out of the squad.

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With the Springboks and Argentina still in with a chance of competing for the Rugby Championship title, Pumas coach Michael Cheika revealed the squad for the final two Tests of the Rugby Championship.

Argentina will welcome the Springboks to Buenos Aires on 17 September, before travelling for the reverse fixture in Durban a week later.

Notably, there are four experienced players who return to the squad, including 37-year-old hooker Agustin Creevy, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Juan Imhoff and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Creevy, who missed the two Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand, has the opportunity to set a new appearance record for Argentina.

Argentina squad: Tomás Albornoz, Matías Alemanno, Lautaro Bazán Vélez, Eduardo Bello, Gonzalo Bertranou, Emiliano Boffelli, Rodrigo Bruni, Santiago Carreras, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Cordero, Agustín Creevy, Tomás Cubelli, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Bautista Delguy, Thomas Gallo, Juan Martín González, Santiago Grondona, Juan Imhoff, Marcos Kremer, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Cruz Mallía, Pablo Matera, Santiago Medrano, Julián Montoya (c), Eliseo Morales, Matías Moroni, Matías Orlando, Joaquín Oviedo, Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo, Ignacio Ruiz, Joel Sclavi, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Benjamín Urdapilleta.

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With a two-week turn-around from their last match, Bok coach Jacques Nienaber opted to give the players two days off to rest and recuperate following their arrival in Argentina before wrapping up their campaign with back-to-back matches against the Pumas.

The Bok team are still in the hunt for the Rugby Championship title

Meanwhile, a look at the Rugby Championship log suddenly shows the All Blacks leading the way with 10 log points, while Australia, South Africa and Argentina are just one point behind.

Interestingly, though, it’s the Boks who might suddenly fancy their chances of claiming back-to-back wins over the Pumas, with the final game in Durban certainly presenting a possible chance for a bonus-point victory.

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Australia will host New Zealand in Melbourne before travelling to Eden Park for a rematch, and it really wouldn’t be all that surprising to see these games being very closely contested.

Ultimately there is everything to play for in the final two rounds of Rugby Championship fixtures, but after the Boks fell to the bottom of the log last weekend, they will suddenly be feeling a lot more optimistic about their chances.