WE CAN BE KINGS

THE Springboks are out to claim top spot in this year’s Rugby Championship title race when they tackle Argentina in Saturday's 5.10pm Test match at Kings Park.

South Africa enter the contest sitting pretty in second place on 10 points in the most competitive Rugby Championship to date.

All four teams have won two and lost two games, but a win for captain Siya Kolisi en sy Bokke will be a huge shot in the arm for the defence of their Rugby Championship crown.

It will be the fourth time that the Boks face the Pumas at Kings Park, with coach Rassie Erasmus’ manne winning the previous two meetings.

However, Argentina, coached by Felipe Contepomi, have good memories of the Durban venue.

In 2015, they made history by becoming the first Argentinian team to beat the Boks (37-25) away from home.

Knowing just how gevaarlik the Pumas can be, Erasmus said ahead of Saturday's clash: “This is a vital match for both us and the Pumas, and if one takes into consideration that they beat New Zealand and Australia in the first four rounds of the competition, as well as the British & Irish Lions earlier in the season, there’s no doubt we’ll treat them with the respect they deserve.

“They boast a strong forward pack and extremely talented backs, so they pose threats all around.”

However, the Boks know a win and trying to get another bonus point will be vital in their quest of becoming the first SA span to successfully defend their Rugby Championship title.

But of making sure they win first before chasing an extra punt, Erasmus wysed: “Chasing the bonus point... it can come back to bite you.

“Two years ago, also against the Pumas in Durban, we needed to win by a big score to have a chance of winning the title. We started too fast and chased our own tail. We won’t make that mistake again.”

BOKS: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche BENCH: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen

PUMAS: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (capt), 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Mayco Vivas BENCH: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 22 Simon Benitez Cruz, 23 Tomas Albornoz