Springboks: Lood de Jager says the team wants to ‘do the country proud’
Springboks second-row Lood de Jager says his team are looking to “do the country proud” as they push for the Rugby Championship title in the final round of the 2022 edition.
This year, the tournament has been fiercely contested, with only five points separating top-placed New Zealand and bottom-placed Argentina.
All to play for
The Springboks are level on points with the All Blacks but sit second by virtue of points difference, meaning a bonus point win against Los Pumas this weekend is essential to their title hopes.
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De Jager knows that Argentina are a different beast this year, having created history with impressive wins against Australia and New Zealand.
“Argentina have a chance to win the competition as well if Australia beat New Zealand, so their mind-set is that of a team that could make history by becoming the first Argentinean team to win the competition,” said De Jager.
“It’s a big game. We haven’t won a full Rugby Championship tournament in a long time. But it’s a privilege to contest for the title, and it’s like a Rugby World Cup for us. As a child one simulates playing in a World Cup and Rugby Championship, so hopefully we can go out and do the country proud.”
The towering lock sees Argentina as a proud and passionate team who will put their body on the line for the full game, making it critical for the Springboks to produce an 80-minute performance.
“Argentina are a tough team, and they play for the full 80 minutes. They are also proud of their nation and always play with passion. So, it is vital that we maintain our concentration for the entire match, and not have any soft moments,” he said.
Hooker Bongi Mbonambi returns to the fold for the Springboks this week after recovering from a knee injury he sustained before the Ellis Park Test against the All Blacks in Round Two.
The Sharks star is excited to be back and will have to work hard to get his starting spot back from the rampaging Malcolm Marx, who has been in fantastic form in 2022.
“I’m fortunate to be back with the Boks and we are using every opportunity available to prepare well. We’re looking forward to the weekend,” Mbonambi said.
“I’ve done my rehabilitation and completed my return to training protocol, so it’s great to be back. Malcolm is playing really well and the competition in the squad is tight, but it’s really great to be back.”
Mbonambi insists the Springboks are doing everything in their power to push for the title whilst also commending the Los Pumas pack.
“It’s important for us to win the Rugby Championship. We are ticking all the boxes at training, and we’ll do everything we can to win it at home,” he said.
“Argentina have a good front row and pack. They also have a player like Agustine Creevy, who is a good player, and he knows all the tricks in the scrums.”
Set piece battle
De Jager believes the set-piece battle will be key in determining who comes out on top in the crunch Test.
“They have good lineout jumpers, and we expect the nothing different from them this week. We looked at our scrum and we want to apply pressure in that department. As a team that is a big pressure point for us,” the lock said.
The 29-year-old claims the team is not looking at this tournament as World Cup preparation, but the intensity of it can only do the Springboks good in the build-up to the showpiece tournament in France next year.
“We don’t necessarily see this as preparation for the World Rugby Cup, for us it is about winning the Rugby Championship,” De Jager added. “But that said it will be good to expose us to high-pressure games that could be compared to a World Cup knock-out game.”