Jantjies: Boks will have to be sharp

Cape Town - Flyhalf Elton Jantjies has stressed that the Springboks cannot afford to rest on their laurels when they open their Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina in Port Elizabeth.

Jantjies was speaking at a press conference in Port Elizabeth ahead of Saturday’s Test at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (17:05 kick-off).

The Springboks boast a healthy 21-2 win-loss record against Argentina, but Los Pumas’ two wins came recently.

In 2015, they beat the Boks for the first time when they won 37-25 in Durban, while they followed that up with a 26-24 win in Salta last year.

2017 was however a disappointing year for the Jaguares in Super Rugby, with the team only seven of 15 games to finish second from bottom in the Africa 2 Conference.

Their discipline let them down as they conceded more penalties than any other team in the competition, while also receiving the second-most yellow cards.

The Argentine Test side is close to the same outfit that played as the Jaguares in Super Rugby, but that does not mean the Boks will be underestimating them.

"We're going to have to be very sharp because their captain makes quick decisions, like if we're not ready he'll throw the ball in quickly (into the lineout) and their scrumhalf will take a quick tap. So we have to be very alert," Jantjies was quoted as saying on the KweséESPN website.

"Their first two phases on defence are also very good, so we'll have to be sharp in terms of our momentum with our first and our second launch. I think that's going to be key."

Both coaches will name their line-ups on Thursday.