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Cape Town - Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss
has defended his team's inexperience ahead of their Rugby Championship clash
with Argentina.
Only five players in the starting XV have
20 or more Test caps, which means Strauss will rely heavily on players like
Eben Etzebeth, Beast Mtawarira, Francois Louw and Bryan Habana to take on more
responsibility as the senior players in the side.
However, speaking at a press conference on
Friday, Strauss downplayed the lack of experience at Test level of most of his
players.
"The younger guys bring a lot of
energy to the party," the Bok captain said. "Many of them have
already shown that they belong at this level in the recent series against
Ireland.
"That puts my mind at ease. I know
they will produce the goods on Saturday. Having said that, I know that the
senior guys will help to ease the pressure."
Strauss also dismissed the notion that
Argentina will be weaker because most their players played for the struggling
Jaguares in Super Rugby.
"You can’t compare the Jaguares and
the Pumas. This is a Test rugby side, and we are expecting something very
different from them in the Rugby Championship," Strauss said.
"They’re a good mauling and
scrummaging side. They’re also really effective at those chop-tackles, taking
your legs out from under you. They attack the rucks, often joining from the
side, and look for turnover ball.
"You have to be so careful against a
side like that,’ Strauss added. ‘In the past, they have won penalties at the
scrums and rucks and it has really disrupted out momentum. We will be looking
to start well in these departments, to settle early and take control of the
game.
"They play with a lot of passion. Their captain Agustin Creevy is playing his 50th Test this Saturday, so that will fuel them even more."
