Rugby Championship
Mvovo out to cement Bok spot
2012-08-15 07:48
Johannesburg - The electrifying pace of Springbok wing Lwazi Mvovo could be a crowd-pleasing feature of Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against Argentina at Newlands.
In only his second Bok appearance, Mvovo stole the show at Twickenham when he tore a packed England defence to shreds en route to the tryline for his debut Test try.
Saturday's Bok Test team will be named on Wednesday and Mvovo is the front-runner for the leftwing berth, which in seasons past has belonged to Bryan Habana.
However, the injury to JP Pietersen has created a right wing opening, and in the absence of an obvious replacement, Bok coach Heyneke Meyer has been experimenting with Habana running at rightwing in training, while Mvovo was on the opposite side of the field.
The Boks were out training on Tuesday in a 'closed' session and Meyer would have had another look at the two wingers before finally deciding.
"To put on that green-and-gold jersey is really a special thing," said Mvovo. "To finally get another chance to contribute to the (Bok) team's success is what I've worked hard for.
"I just [want] to be given a chance to contribute to the team's success.
"The pressure you feel comes about because you want to cement your place in the team.
"It's a great opportunity to play for the Boks. You just have to play your game and enjoy it in the Bok jersey.
"I'm more relaxed since the time I made my debut against Scotland. I've learnt more things and the learning is ongoing."
Together with Habana and Mvovo, Zane Kirchner at fullback is expected to complete the Boks' back three.
"The combination with Zane will be fine because I've played two or three times with him in the past."
Mvovo's Sharks team-mate Marcell Coetzee is also fancied to make Saturday's starting XV.
He has been the find of the 2012 Super Rugby season and he's champing at the bit to get stuck into Los Pumas.
"I love the tackles, the physicality (of rugby)," Coetzee said. "Tackles is one time when the action is one-on-one. I just want to be involved in the game all the time.
"That's why I don't care where the Boks play me."
Teams:
South Africa:
TBA
Argentina:
15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Horacio Agulla; 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (captain), 7 Alvaro Galindo, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Rodrigo Roncero
Substitutes: 16 Bruno Postiglioni, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Tomas Leonardi, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Martin Rodriguez