KEY POINTS:
PARIS - South Africa will seek to re-establish a bit of order to rugby by ending the run of World Cup gatecrashers Argentina and propel themselves to within 80 minutes of winning their second Webb Ellis Cup.
While the Springboks acknowledge that their task in the semifinal here on Sunday is no easy one, the Pumas for the first time look vulnerable with several players injured and captain Agustin Pichot admitting they were tired.
Stunning wins over hosts France - which upset the whole balance of the tournament as it all but condemned the French to playing the All Blacks at the last eight stage instead of keeping them apart - and the Irish at the group stage, have shown they do deserve their place at the top table on a regular basis.
South Africa coach Jake White knows, however, that having got this far the Pumas will give their all as for several of the team it will be their last chance at playing in a final.
And White doesn't put much store in the fact that the last time the two sides played each other back in 2005, the 'Boks came out 34-23 winners in Buenos Aires to make it 11 wins from 11 matches played between the two countries.
"They kick more than any other team and they have (Juan Martin) Hernandez at first five-eighth who controls the whole game with his boot," said White, who is a close personal friend of his opposite number Marcelo Loffreda.
Springbok lock Bakkies Botha certainly expects a tough battle up front in what promises to be a war of attrition between two great packs - though both sets of backs are class acts too, even if the Pumas appear reluctant to really get them opening up.
"Everyone knows that we must turn it up a notch higher this weekend and we know if we lose this weekend it's all gone," said 28-year-old Botha, who has formed one of the most feared second row partnerships with Victor Matfield.
"I am going to prepare like it is the last Springbok game of my life."
Matfield denied there was more pressure on South Africa than the Argentines, with many people saying they are favourites to go all the way and emulate their compatriots from 1995 in lifting the Cup.
"Not really. There's just as much pressure on them (Argentina). It's a great opportunity for them to win the World Cup, so there's pressure on both them and us," he said.
However, if one thought it was all sweetness and light between the two camps then one can think again as the burly figure of a Pumas fullback Ignacio Corleto - scorer of the only try in the victory over France - opted to stir the pot.
"Their weakness could be their arrogance. They are always saying they are the best," said Corleto.
"They could be messy like they were against Fiji and we know they are no France, New Zealand or Australia when they kick the ball out.
"But we are going into the match to win. This team is not going to let anyone step over them."
Teams:
South Africa: Percy Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Dannie Roussouw, Juan Smit, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Os du Randt. Reserves: Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Johannes Muller, Bobby Skinstad, Ruan Pienaar, Andre Pretorius, Wynand Olivier.
Argentina: Ignacio Corleto, Lucas Borges, Manuel Contepomi, Felipe Contepomi, Horacio Agulla, Juan Martin Hernandez, Agustin Pichot (capt), Gonzalo Longo, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Lucas Ostiglia, Patricio Albacete, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Martin Scelzo, Mario Ledesma, Rodrigo Roncero. Reserves: Alberto Basualdo, Omar Hasan, Rimas Kairelis, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, Federico Todeschini, Gonzalo Tiesi.
- AFP
