Having captured the hearts of their soccer-mad nation and rugby fans in general with their World Cup bronze medal in 2007, Argentina have grown as a rugby nation, writes DYLAN JACK in his SA Rugby magazine preview.

Their main strength? Unpredictability.

No matter how well prepared a team’s defence is, the Argentinians find a way to catch their opponents off-guard, be it by muscling the ball through their forwards or suddenly transitioning into a more free-flowing game plan.

While Pablo Matera and hooker Agustin Creevy give Argentina momentum through their ball carrying and offloading, it will be up to experienced flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez to make that momentum count. Despite departing for Stade Francais last year, Sanchez has been recalled and remains the senior playmaker for Argentina. The 30-year-old has scored 728 points in 77 appearances at Test level and was key in Argentina’s victory over the Springboks in Mendoza in 2018. If wings Emiliano Boffelli and Bautista Delguy are going to thrive, they will need Sanchez to make the correct call in the flyhalf channel.

Did you know: Coach Mario Ledesma played in four World Cups between 1999 and 2011.

– This is a snippet from October issue of SA Rugby Magazine that previews every team at the World Cup, now on sale!  

LISTEN: Former Bok James Dalton and Mark Keohane discuss the 2019 World Cup

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