MOST of the players in Argentina's national rugby team play in the cultural melting pot that is the French Top 14.
There is also a heavy South African flavour to arguably the most diverse domestic competition in the world, which makes sense of why Heyneke Meyer put his trust in Juan Smith and Gurthro Steenkamp to help quell the Argentine threat.
A greenish Springbok pack will lean on the pair's experience in tomorrow's Rugby Championship match in Salta (kickoff 9.40pm SA time).
When the 110 caps of Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis are subtracted, the rest of the starting pack only have 79 caps between them, even though experienced campaigners Bakkies Botha, Adriaan Strauss and Tendai Mtawarira are on the bench.
Argentina, who made only one change - with Juan Martin Hernandez coming back after being a late injury withdrawal last week - boast 225 caps in their hardy pack.
The cap statistic paints a picture of who should rise to the occasion but South Africa's foreign legion, especially comeback kid Smith, will have a lot to prove with competition for places in the World Cup set to hot up.
Meyer affectionately refers to the 2007 World Cup star as the "Meneer".
"It has been a long and lonely road to get back to the Bok green and gold and now I am very happy. It is always a bonus when you get experienced guys back who have been around the park and have played in a few World Cups," Smith said.
"My approach to the game is still the same, even though there is a bit more urgency. Back in 2010, I enjoyed my rugby but now I enjoy it even more. I have three or four more years left in me. I can actually sit back and relax and enjoy each and every game that I take part in."
Old hands prop up Bok pack
MOST of the players in Argentina's national rugby team play in the cultural melting pot that is the French Top 14.
There is also a heavy South African flavour to arguably the most diverse domestic competition in the world, which makes sense of why Heyneke Meyer put his trust in Juan Smith and Gurthro Steenkamp to help quell the Argentine threat.
A greenish Springbok pack will lean on the pair's experience in tomorrow's Rugby Championship match in Salta (kickoff 9.40pm SA time).
When the 110 caps of Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis are subtracted, the rest of the starting pack only have 79 caps between them, even though experienced campaigners Bakkies Botha, Adriaan Strauss and Tendai Mtawarira are on the bench.
Argentina, who made only one change - with Juan Martin Hernandez coming back after being a late injury withdrawal last week - boast 225 caps in their hardy pack.
The cap statistic paints a picture of who should rise to the occasion but South Africa's foreign legion, especially comeback kid Smith, will have a lot to prove with competition for places in the World Cup set to hot up.
Meyer affectionately refers to the 2007 World Cup star as the "Meneer".
"It has been a long and lonely road to get back to the Bok green and gold and now I am very happy. It is always a bonus when you get experienced guys back who have been around the park and have played in a few World Cups," Smith said.
"My approach to the game is still the same, even though there is a bit more urgency. Back in 2010, I enjoyed my rugby but now I enjoy it even more. I have three or four more years left in me. I can actually sit back and relax and enjoy each and every game that I take part in."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos