Captain Siya Kolisi says the Springboks are treating Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against Argentina as a semi-final.

With two rounds to go, the Rugby Championship title race is wide open. The Wallabies lead the standings on 11 points, while the Springboks and All Blacks have 10 each, and Los Pumas sit on nine.

The Boks face Argentina in back-to-back clashes – at Kings Park on Saturday and at Twickenham a week later – while New Zealand and Australia collide in the Bledisloe Cup.

Kolisi underlined the magnitude of the Kings Park clash, stressing that the Boks will be measured by results rather than spectacle.

“For us, it’s not about putting on a show. We are playing Test rugby, and this match is basically a semi-final for us because Argentina, the All Blacks and Wallabies can also still win the Championship. The focus is on getting the desired result.”

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Kolisi praised Argentina’s professionalism and warned against underestimating their blend of structure and flair.

“They are a team that brings physicality and skill, so they are certainly not going to just give this game to us. The Pumas are extremely professional on and off the field, and they always play with passion, so we are under no illusions about the challenge ahead.

“But we want to do something we’ve never done before, and that’s to win back-to-back Rugby Championship titles in a row, so we have a lot of motivation within this group as well.”

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Kolisi expects a fierce breakdown contest, highlighting the synergy in the Boks’ loose trio.

“They have physical and very experienced loose forwards and we’ve been playing against them for years. But Jasper [Wiese], Pieter-Steph [du Toit] and I complement one another really well, and we know who needs to fulfil each role according to our strengths.”

Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick echoed Kolisi’s focus on process over hype.

“The main aspect for us is to keep improving. We’ve had a few inconsistent performances this season, and Argentina are also in a good space, with players who have been together for a few years. They’ll give everything, so we need to respect that.”

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Both Kolisi and Stick admitted they would keep half an eye on Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash in Auckland but insisted the Boks’ fate depends on their own execution.

“The other match may have an influence at the end of the competition,” said Kolisi. “But our focus is on what we have to do on the day because we need to win this match to give ourselves the best possible chance to win the trophy.”

Stick added: “We’ll watch the game for sure, but regardless of what happens, it could still come down to the last match next weekend, so we’ll treat Argentina with the respect they deserve.

“They are a very disciplined team, they have threats all around the park, and similarly to us, they play with immense passion for their country and people, so it’s going to be a tough match without a doubt.”

Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images