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Springboks favourites to edge out Pumas
By Sasha Distel October 11 2007
South Africa will be favourites to beat Argentina and earn a place in the Rugby World Cup Final when they meet in Sunday’s semi-final in Paris. But, of course, France were favourites to beat the Pumas in the opening game of the tournament, and we all know what happened then. Argentina won to set the tournament alight at the earliest possible opportunity, and since then they are unbeaten.
Argentina fans celebrate victoryArgentina have already won a few unofficial prizes in this year’s Rugby World Cup – the best underdogs, most surprising success story, the tournament’s top player in fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez, and of course, the special Unofficial RWC award of Most Decorative Fans (right).
Now they are hoping the passion they’ve shown in every game (the players, not the fans – that’s another story) will see them surmount the biggest obstacle they have faced so far.
The Pumas director of rugby is former England fly-half Les Cusworth, and he has not been surprised by the form shown by the team. He says: "What no one should under-estimate is the collective will of the Argentina players.
"They have a real pride in playing for their country. I have been involved in rugby for 40 years and I have never seen anything like it.
"We also have a base of players that other countries would die for. We go into the semi-final with a side that has been developed over the last six or seven years and that gives us every chance. The players are warriors."
Hernanadez (leg), skipper Agustin Pichot (back) and kicking star Felipe Contepomi (flu) have all missed training this week, but are expected to be fit for the big game.
jake white SA CoachMeanwhile, South Africa coach Jake White has a fully fit squad to choose from, with flanker Juan Smith passing himself fit. Front row pair Bismarck du Plessis and CJ van der Linde are also fit after missing the quarter-final win over Fiji.
White said: "We decided against using them in the quarter-final as it was too risky. "We saw how playing injured players can have a negative impact in some of the other quarter-finals, and in the end I faced a difficult situation where either way I might lose.
The Boks have hardly been untroubled so far, and Fiji showed in the last game that they are beatable. But at this stage of the competition, they must be strongly favoured to make it to the Final.
As one of the millions who tipped Australia and New Zealand to be in the semi-finals, I reserve the right to get it all wrong again, but I say it’s the Boks for the big one next weekend, while the Pumas will have to settle for their best showing ever in the World Cup and a place in the third-fourth place game.

And, just in case you were wondering, I reckon the Boks will play France in the final.
Or should that be England? Yes, that’s it, England.
No, hang on, I mean France. Don’t I?
Err, hang on , Frengland…
And, just in case you were wondering, I reckon the Boks will play a Six Nations team in the final. 

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Re: Springboks favourites to edge out Pumas
Posted by: hurrah there are new world champs (IP Logged)
Date: 2007:10:12:07:22:50

démuni du sud de l'Afrique examiné avec la haute boule encore, je sens ce qui pourrait être une bonne option

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