Boks will want to build on 2013 form
The Springboks will aim to start their 2014 Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign like they did in 2013 when they host Argentina at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday (kick-off 17h00).
SANZAR – in conjunction with Opta Sports – has compiled the following list of interesting stats and facts for this match in Pretoria – this will be the 18th meeting between these nations with Argentina still searching for their first victory (L16, D1).
o Argentina have lost 11 of their 12 matches since joining the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, a draw against South Africa in 2012 the only positive result in their record.
o South Africa have lost just two of their last 16 home internationals (W13, D1) with both of these defeats coming at the hands of New Zealand.
o Four players have featured in all 12 of Argentina’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches so far, Horacio Agulla, Julio Farias Cabello, Eusebio Guinazu and Martin Landajo. Only Agulla and Landajo are in the Pumas’ squad for this tournament.
o In their nine home matches since the start of 2013 South Africa have scored at least three tries in each match, averaging 5.4 tries per game in this run.
o Argentina completed just 81% of their tackles in last year’s tournament, the lowest success rate of any side; they also missed more tackles (22) per game than any other team.
o South Africa had the best set piece in the 2013 edition of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, winning 100% of their scrums and 90% of their lineouts, both tournament high figures.
o The Springboks also had the best goal kicking success rate of any nation in 2013 (81%), with Morne Steyn the only player to take a shot at goal for them (35/43).
o Nicolas Sanchez made (69) and missed (17) more tackles than any other player from any nation at the 2013 Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
o The Springboks had a number of leading players in the 2013 tournament; Jean de Villiers beat the most defenders (20), Willie le Roux made the most metres (430) and Duane Vermeulen made the most carries (55).
Courtesy of SARU
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