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OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 21 AUGUST 2021 BAY 17H05

CONTENTS v SPRINGBOKS

SATURDAY 21 AUGUST 2021 / NELSON MANDELA BAY / 17H05

Message from the Chairman of SANZAAR 7 Message from the president of SA Rugby 9 Boks take first Test 11 Boks happy to be back in Nelson Mandela Bay 16

MATCH DAY DETAILS PAGE 22

Nelson Mandela Bay - always full of gees 24 Argentina Player Profiles 29 Springbok Player Profiles 35 First time in two years 41 National Anthems 46

Images: Gallo Images / Design: The Manning Equation (themanningequation.com)

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 5

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF SANZAAR

I am very happy to welcome you to the Castle Lager Rugby Championship (TRC), one of the best rugby tournaments in the world, and one that has continually prepared our teams to challenge for World Champions status.

These are difficult SANZAAR would times but in 2021 also like to recog- SANZAAR will hope- nise Los fully deliver a full for playing, for the four-team, 12-match second consecutive TRC – albeit in a year, all their games modified form in away from home: terms of its match that contribution to schedule locations. the tournament is The normal home recognized by all and and away format has we are sure that they been affected by the will represent their pandemic but I would country with the pas- like to thank all our sion that characteriz- member unions for es them. all their hard work in We now look for- ensuring we can now ward to the matches kick-off the latest in , edition of TRC. and New For this season, Zealand. Welcome to we are very happy to welcome the the best rugby in the world. Springboks back. We missed them so Marcelo Rodríguez much in 2020! Chairman, SANZAAR

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 7

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF SA RUGBY

It’s amazing to think the Castle Lager Lions Series wrapped up just a few days ago, and we’re already back in action in with Argentina goes , back many years and Mark Alexander and Jacques Nienaber. the Castle Lager Rugby it’s great that we can get Championship. together again and build on it. The journey to this point has been a long and complicated one; filled with I’d like to congratulate the Springboks for scenario planning, COVID contingencies winning a very tough series against the and great uncertainty. But it is a tribute British & Irish Lions, but that is in the past to the spirit of rugby that the teams are now and we’re looking forward to rekin- on the field today – unfortunately with- dling our relationship with our friends from out our supporters. Argentina, Australia and . I would like to welcome to our friends Last year, we missed out on defend- from Argentina here in South Africa for ing our Castle Lager Rugby Cham- the two Tests, and wish them well for the pionship crown, but I know Jacques rest of the Castle Lager Rugby Cham- Nienaber, and the rest of the pionship. We honour and thank you for players and members of management your determination to be here today. are ready for a big series against the I’d also like to thank our sponsors Pumas, Wallabies and All Blacks. and in particular welcome aboard today Good luck for what promises to be a Thirsti, Betway, Switch and Hyperice who challenging few weeks ahead until the all joined the family this week. final match against the All Blacks in New Thank you also to everyone who has Zealand in October. worked hard behind the scenes to make We kick off with two tough Tests these matches happen, the players and against the Pumas in Nelson Mandela staff and all other important stakeholders. Bay and I would like to wish both teams Mark Alexander well for this mini-series. Our relationship President, SA Rugby

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 9

BOKS TAKE FIRST TEST The Springboks scored three tries to nil in their 32-12 win in the opening Test of the 2021 Castle Lager Rugby Championship last weekend at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with , and Jaden Hendrikse crossed the Puma try-line. We look back at the action from last Saturday’s typically tough Test.

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 11 ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 12 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay

Jaden .....

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 15 BOKS HAPPY TO BE BACK IN NELSON MANDELA BAY It’s been 28 years since South Africa and Argentina played their first Test – in November 1993 in – but when the Springboks and Los Pumas clash in Nelson Mandela Bay in the opening two rounds of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, they will be back in the South African city where they first crossed swords on local soil. BOKS HAPPY THE Pumas’ first Test in South Africa was at the erstwhile Boet Erasmus Stadium on 8 TO BE BACK T October 1994, a Test the Boks won by 42-22 under the captaincy of . They returned to the Friendly City in 2003 when IN NELSON 1994 the Boks sneaked home by the tiniest of margins (26-25), courtesy of a late penalty goal by also at Boet Erasmus, and in 2017 the MANDELA Pumas last played here, their first match at the impressive new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, BAY where SA won 37-15.

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 17 “Argentina are very physical, so we need , , to stand up to that , , , , Siya Kolisi, challenge in every , and Damian de contenst.” Allende all featured on that day, with the Springbok captain scoring one of their JACQUES NIENABER four tries in the match. SPRINGBOK COACH And although the Boks are unbeaten against the Pumas in Nelson Mandela Bay, they realise that no Test against the need to stand up to that challenge in Argentineans are ever an easy affair. every contest,” said Nienaber. Springbok head coach Jacques Nien- “Their forward pack is renowned for aber said being physical and accurate in making their presence felt, so our set their execution were key factors going pieces need to be spot-on and it will be im- into these matches against Los Pumas. portant to dominate at the contact points. “Argentina are very physical, so we “All-in-all we need to deliver an accu- rate performance all around 2017 and it is vital that we capitalise on the opportunities we have to score points.” Nienaber said the Boks will try and manage the players’ workloads during their time in Nelson Mandela Bay, with seven more Tests scheduled until the end of the season, including four on the road against the Walla- bies and All Blacks. “It is a long season, so it’s important that we manage the players well and rotate our squad to ensure that everyone gets sufficient game time and rest,” said Nienaber. “We have a talented squad, Elton Jantjies and Malcolm Marx in action against and we are excited to see some of Argentina in 2017. the players get a chance to show what they

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 18 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay

can do against Metro we are fast a tough Argen- becoming known tinean outfit. as a sporting “Most of destination of the players in choice. this matchday 2003 “We have in squad have been recent months with us since our hosted many incident free conditioning camp sports fixtures at our world-class Nelson in in Mandela Bay Stadium, and look forward June, and they’ve been working hard at to doing so again. The hosting of these training and deserve this opportunity to matches is especially bitter-sweet as we take the field. mourn the recent loss of EPRU President “This is a big game for us, and we are Andre Rademan, a stalwart of rugby in looking forward to seeing what these our Metro and Province.” player combinations will deliver as we The Springboks have a very good re- begin our Castle Lager Rugby Champion- cord at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, ship campaign.” having won six and drawn one from their The Boks have always been very well seven matches at the venue. received in the and this The referees for the two Tests against time is no different. Cllr. Nqaba Bhanga, Los Pumas are Andrew Brace from Executive Mayor, said: “Nelson Mandela Ireland, and ’s Karl Dickson, while Bay is proud to host the Springboks Tom Foley (England) was appointed as and Argentina for these matches. As a the television match official (TMO).

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 21 ARGENTINA

Saturday 14 August 2021 / 17h05 / Nelson Mandela Bay

Juan Cruz Mallía 15 Ignacio Mendy* 14 13 Jeronimo de la Fuente 12 Santiago Carreras 11 Domingo Miotti 10 Gonzalo Bertranou 9 8 7 6 Tomas Lavanini 5 Matias Alemanno 4 FranciscoFrancisco Gomez Kodela 3 Julian Montoya (c) 2 1

Facundo Bosch 16 Facundo Gigena 17 18 19 Juan Martin Gonzalez 20 21 Nicolas Sanchez 22 Lucio Cinti* 23 On debut today *

HEAD COACH: ASSISTANT COACHES: Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Fernandez Miranda and Jose Pellicena.

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 22 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay SPRINGBOKS

REFEREE: Karl Dickson (England) ASSISTANT REFEREES: Marius vd Westhuizen (South Africa) and AJ Jacobs (South Africa) TMO: Tom Foley (Wales)

15 14 13 12 11 10 Handre Pollard 9 Cobus Reinach 8 Jasper Wiese 7 Franco Mostert 6 Siya Kolisi (c) 5 4 3 2 Malcolm Marx 1 Trevor Nyakane

16 Bongi Mbonambi 17 Steven Kitshoff 18 19 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg* 20 21 22 Jaden Hendrikse 23 * On debut today

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY: Rassie Erasmus HEAD COACH: Jacques Nienaber ASSISTANT COACHES: , Deon Davids, Daan Human and Felix Jones

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 23 NELSON MANDELA BAY

- ALWAYS FULL OF GEES

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 24 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay The 2010 FIFA World Cup not only gave South Africans the opportunity A 14-14 draw against England fol- to experience one of the lowed in 2012, but in four Tests thereafter, the Boks were unstoppable at the Nelson biggest sporting events Mandela Bay Stadium. in their own country, but In 2014, Handre Pollard made his Test debut at the stadium against Scotland on also a raft of new stadiums a day the Boks won by 55-6, their biggest built and others upgraded, victory at this ground. and when the Springboks Members of the current squad who are still involved with the Boks will also look and Argentina clash in back on that day with fondness – Lood the opening rounds of the de Jager scored two and Willie le Roux one try, while Pollard added five conver- 2021 Castle Lager Rugby sions and a penalty goal. Championship, one such Two years later, in 2016, the Boks stadium will host all the returned to the Nelson Mandela Bay Sta- dium for a series decider against Ireland, blood, sweat, tears and and Elton Jantjies kicked one conversion drama between two old foes. and three penalty goals as they beat Ireland by 19-13. Argentina played their first match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium the HE Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium following year, with the Boks recording a was purpose-built for the football 37-15 win in front of a near sell-out crowd, T spectacle 11 years ago, when with Siya Kolisi dotting down and Jantjies it hosted seven matches, including the adding 17 points with the boot through Netherlands’ 2-1 victory over Brazil in the three penalty goals and four conversions. quarter-finals, as well as the bronze med- The last time the Boks played here, al match, where Germany beat Uruguay was in 2018 against Australia, a match by 3-2. they won by 23-12 with scor- A year later, the Springboks made ing a try and Pollard kicking three penalty their debut at this 46,000-seat stadium, goals and two conversions. against the All Blacks, when Morne Steyn With an average attendance of 94% kicked five penalty goals and a drop to of the capacity, the Nelson Mandela Bay score all the Boks’ points in their 18-5 Stadium is one of the venues where the victory, which set the tone for what was Boks can always count on great support. to come. In fact, almost 260,000 people have

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 25

Handre Pollard made his Springbok debut against Scotland at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in 2014, and Lood de Jager capped a great perfor- mance with two tries for the Boks.

we’re excited to resume competition with Argentina, Australia and New Zealand attended the six Tests played here. after missing out in 2020, when we were Unfortunately, the Castle Lager due to defend the title.” Rugby Championship openers in 2021 will be played in an empty stadium due “We are very grateful to the COVID-pandemic, but the Boks will know they will have an army of to Argentina for green behind them. “We are very grateful to Argentina for having agreed to play having agreed to play their home match their home match against the Boks in the Castle Lager Rug- by Championship here in South Africa,” against the Boks in the said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby. Castle Lager Rugby “Unfortunately, there is no prospect that spectators will be allowed to attend Championship here in matches, but we are pleased to be return- South Africa.” ing to the Eastern Cape for these import- ant Tests, as they mark our return to the JURIE ROUX Castle Lager Rugby Championship, and CEO SA RUGBY

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 27

THE ARGENTINIANS

Nahuel Tetaz Julian Chaparro 1 Montoya (c) 2 PROP HOOKER

Born: 06/11/1989 Born: 29/10/1993 Height: 1.86m Height: 1.83m Weight: 120kg Weight: 113kg Club: Benetton Treviso Club: Leicester

66 TEST CAPS 67 TEST CAPS Francisco Matias Gomez Kodela3 Alemanno 4 PROP LOCK

Born: 07/07/1985 Born: 17/11/1994 Height: 1.84m Height: 1.94m Weight: 119kg Weight: 111kg Club: Lyon Club: Bordeaux-Begles

17 TEST CAPS 58 TEST CAPS Tomas Pablo Lavanini 5 Matera 6 LOCK FLANKER

Born: 22/01/1993 Born: 18/07/1993 Height: 2.01m Height: 1.92m Weight: 125kg Weight: 111kg Club: Clermont Club: Libre/Free

60 TEST CAPS 73 TEST CAPS Guido Rodrigo Petti 7 Bruni 8 FLANKER NO8

Born: 17/11/1994 Born: 03/09/1993 Height: 1.94m Height: 1.87m Weight: 111kg Weight: 111kg Club: Bordeaux-Begles Club: UAR

59 TEST CAPS 11 TEST CAPS

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 29 THE ARGENTINIANS

Gonzalo Domingo Bertranou 9 Miotti 10 SCRUMHALF FLYHALF

Born: 31/12/1993 Born: 22/05/1996 Height: 1.78m Height: 1.88m Weight: 82kg Weight: 91kg Club: Club: Glasgow

30 TEST CAPS 5 TEST CAPS Santiago Jeronimo Carreras 11 de la Fuente12 WING CENTRE

Born: 22/08/1989 Born: 24/02/1991 Height: 1.83m Height: 1.84m Weight: 88kg Weight: 97kg Club: UAR Club: Perpignan

12 TEST CAPS 60 TEST CAPS Santiago Ignacio Chocobares13 Mendy 14 CENTRE WING

Born: 31/03/1999 Born: 29/06/2000 Height: 1.88m Height: 1.80m Weight: 97kg Weight: 82kg Club: Toulouse Club: UAR

6 TEST CAPS ON DEBUT TODAY Juan Facundo Cruz Mallía15 Bosch 16 FULLBACK HOOKER

Born: 11/09/1996 Born: 08/08/1991 Height: 1.82m Height: 1.79m Weight: 90kg Weight: 104kg Club: Toulouse Club: La Rochelle

8 TEST CAPS 8 TEST CAPS

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 30 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay

Mario Ledesma HEAD COACH

Facundo Gigena 17 PROP

Born: 15/09/1994 Height: 1.83m Weight: 115kg Club: Irish

4 TEST CAPS Santiago Marcos Medrano 18 Kremer 19 PROP LOCK

Born: 06/03/1996 Born: 30/07/1997 Height: 1.86m Height: 1.95m Weight: 115kg Weight: 116kg Club: Force Club: Stade Francais

25 TEST CAPS 36 TEST CAPS Juan Martin Felipe Gonzalez20 Ezcurra 21 LOOSE FORWARD SCRUMHALF

Born: 11/11/2000 Born: 15/04/1993 Height: 1.92m Height: 1.79m Weight: 90kg Weight: 87kg Club: Marista Club: UAR

1 TEST CAPS 12 TEST CAPS Nicolas Lucio Sanchez22 Cinti 23 FLYHALF UTILITY BACK

Born: 26/10/1988 Born: 23/03/2000 Height: 1.76m Height: 1.90m Weight: 81kg Weight: 83kg Club: Stade Francais Club: La Plata

88 TEST CAPS ON DEBUT TODAY

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 33 930535 MTN rugby champs.indd 1 2021/08/12 18:31 THE SPRINGBOKS

Trevor Malcolm Nyakane 1 Marx 2 PROP HOOKER Born: 04/05/1989 Born: 13/07/1994 Height: 1.78m Height: 1.89m Weight: 121kg Weight: 116kg Province/Club: Province/Club: () 47 TEST CAPS › 5 TEST POINTS 37 TEST CAPS › 30 TEST POINTS Thomas Marvin du Toit 3 Orie 4 PROP LOCK Born: 05/05/1995 Born: 15/02/1993 Height: 1.90m Height: 1.98m Weight: 130kg Weight: 110kg Province/Club: Province/Club: Cell C DHL 12 TEST CAPS › - TEST POINTS 5 TEST CAPS › - TEST POINTS Lood Siya de Jager 5 Kolisi (c) 6 LOCK FLANKER Born: 17/12/1992 Born: 16/06/1991 Height: 2.06m Height: 1.88m Weight: 122kg Weight: 98kg Province/Club: Province/Club: (England) Cell C Sharks 49 TEST CAPS › 25 TEST POINTS 55 TEST CAPS › 30 TEST POINTS Franco Jasper Mostert 7 Wiese 8 FLANKER NO8 Born: 27/11/1990 Born: 21/10/1995 Height: 2.00m Height: 1.90m Weight: 106kg Weight: 110kg Province/Club: Province/Club: (Japan) (England) 43 TEST CAPS › 5 TEST POINTS 4 TEST CAPS › - TEST POINTS

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 35 THE SPRINGBOKS

Cobus Handre Reinach 9 Pollard 10 SCRUMHALF FLYHALF Born: 07/02/1990 Born: 11/03/1994 Height: 1.75m Height: 1.88m Weight: 84kg Weight: 98Kg Province/Club: Province/Club: Montpellier (France) Montpellier (France) 17 TEST CAPS › 40 TEST POINTS 52 TEST CAPS › 502 TEST POINTS Makazole Damian Mapimpi 11 de Allende12 WING CENTRE Born: 26/07/1990 Born: 25/11/1991 Height: 1.84m Height: 1.91m Weight: 91kg Weight: 105kg Province/Club: Province/Club: Cell C Sharks Munster (Ireland) 17 TEST CAPS › 75 TEST POINTS 50 TEST CAPS › 30 TEST POINTS Lukhanyo Cheslin Am 13 Kolbe 14 CENTRE WING Born: 28/11/1993 Born: 28/10/1993 Height: 1.86m Height: 1.71m Weight: 96kg Weight: 80kg Province/Club: Province/Club: Cell C Sharks Toulouse (France) 18 TEST CAPS › 20 TEST POINTS 17 TEST CAPS › 45 TEST POINTS Willie Bongi le Roux 15 Mbonambi 16 FULLBACK HOOKER Born: 18/08/1989 Born: 07/01/1991 Height: 1.86m Height: 1.75m Weight: 90kg Weight: 103kg Province/Club: Province/Club: (Japan) DHL Stormers 65 TEST CAPS › 60 TEST POINTS 40 TEST CAPS › 40 TEST POINTS

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 36 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay

Jacques Nienaber HEAD COACH

Steven Kitshoff 17 PROP Born: 10/02/1992 Height: 1.83m Weight: 118kg Province/Club: DHL Stormers 51 TEST CAPS › 5 TEST POINTS Frans Nicolaas Janse Malherbe 18 van Rensburg19 PROP LOCK Born: 14/03/1991 Born: 06/05/1994 Height: 1.90m Height: 2.00m Weight: 138kg Weight: 115kg Province/Club: Province/Club: DHL Stormers Montpellier (France) 42 TEST CAPS › 5 TEST POINTS ON DEBUT TODAY Kwagga Dan Smith 20 du Preez 21 LOOSE FORWARD LOOSE FORWARD Born: 11/06/1993 Born: 05/08/1995 Height: 1.80m Height: 1.96m Weight: 95kg Weight: 117kg Province/Club: Province/Club: Yamaha Júbilo (Japan) Sale Sharks (England) 11 TEST CAPS › 5 TEST POINTS 5 TEST CAPS › - TEST POINTS Jaden Damian Hendrikse22 Willemse23 SCRUMHALF UTILITY BACK Born: 23/03/2000 Born: 07/05/1998 Height: 1.84m Height: 1.87m Weight: 86kg Weight: 91kg Province/Club: Province/Club: Cell C Sharks DHL Stormers 1 TEST › 5 TEST POINTS 11 TEST CAPS › 5 TEST POINTS

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 39

It is with great pride and not a little relief that we welcome our friends from Georgia here in today.

First time in two years

Before last weekend’s match, the Boks last played against Argentina in 2019, winning both Tests in , where they sealed the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title, and – we take a look back at some of the action from those two matches.

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 41 Handre Pollard scored 31 points, including two tries, against Argentina in Salta in 2019.

Steven Kitshoff, who played off the bench in Salta, looks for support against the Pumas.

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 42 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay

Sbu Nkosi with some proper acrobatics for one of his two tries against Argentina at Loftus Verfeld in 2019.

Makazole Mapimpi and Cobus Reinach on the attack against Los Pumas in 2019.

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay 45 THE NATIONAL ANTHEMS

Oíd, mortales, el grito sagrado: Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika “¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!” Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo, Oíd el ruido de rotas cadenas Yizwa imithandazo yethu, ved en trono a la noble igualdad Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo

Ya su trono dignísimo abrieron Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, las Provincias Unidas del Sud O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, y los libres del mundo responden: O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba 𝄆 “¡Al gran puebl o argen tin o , sal ud!” 𝄆 sa heso, 𝄆 Y los l l ibres del mun do respo n den : Setjhaba sa South Afrika - “¡Al gran puebl o argen tin o , sal ud!” 𝄆 South Afrika.

Sean eternos los laureles, Uit die blou van onse hemel, 𝄆 que supimos co n seguir. 𝄆 Uit die diepte van ons see, Coronados de gloria vivamos Oor ons ewige gebergtes, ¡O juremos con gloria morir! Waar die kranse antwoord gee, 𝄆 ¡O juremos co n l g o ria mo rir! 𝄆 Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

ARGENTINA v SPRINGBOKS 46 21 August 2021 / Nelson Mandela Bay