Aphiwe Dyanti of South Africa during the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Argentina at Jonsson Kings Park in Durban, South Africa. Picture Leon Lestrade. African News Agency/ANA/RealTimeImages
Springboks faced the Pumas in front of a record low crowd at Kings Park Stadium
The Boks’ encouraging performances against England earlier in the year were not enough to draw a big crowd to Kings Park on Saturday.
Aphiwe Dyanti of South Africa during the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Argentina at Jonsson Kings Park in Durban, South Africa. Picture Leon Lestrade. African News Agency/ANA/RealTimeImages
The gate-takings for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash between the Springboks and Argentina in Durban were the lowest in the tournament’s history, Sport24 reports.
Rassie Erasmus’ men opened their 2018 campaign on a high, dotting down six times to register a convincing 34-21 win in front of a sparse Kings Park crowd. The bonus point they picked up on the day sees them level on points with world champions and pre-tournament favourites New Zealand, who kicked off proceedings with a vital 38-13 away win over Australia in Sydney earlier in the day.
It is all over. The Springboks have started their @CastleLagerSA rugby Championship campaign with a 34-21 win over @unionargentina. Well done to both teams. #Springboks #LoveRugby #Springbokgameday #LosPumas #CastleLagerRugbyChampionship @MTNza @FNBSA @asics pic.twitter.com/k9zLx4d4sN
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) August 18, 2018
The Boks scored six tries – the most against Argentina since their nine in 2013. Well done to Am, Dyantyi, Mapimpi and De Klerk for their five-pointers. #Springbokgameday pic.twitter.com/o5H8V1V6T8
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) August 18, 2018
How did Saturday’s attendance rank among the worst turnouts?
Only 26 836 people showed up in Saturday’s fixture – slightly above half the stadium’s capacity of 52 000 – which is the lowest attendance since the tournament’s inception in 2012, beating the previous low recorded at the 41 000-seater Mbombela Stadium when a crowd of 27 357 pitched when the Boks met the Pumas back in 2016.
It was also the same two nations who battled it out in front of a 27 447-strong crowd at Kings Park three years ago. On that occasion, Argentina made history by recording their first ever win over South Africa, stunning Heyneke Meyer’s men with a 37-25 victory.
Argentina vs Springboks in Mendoza
The two sides meet again next Saturday in the return fixture at Mendoza, where the Springboks will be eyeing another bonus-point win in order to keep their hopes of a maiden Rugby Championship trophy alive.
Erasmus has trimmed his travelling party to just 28 men ahead of Saturday night’s extremely crucial encounter.
Forwards (16): Thomas du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi (c), Francois Louw, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Beast Mtawarira, RG Snyman, Akker vd Merwe, Marco van Staden and Warren Whiteley. pic.twitter.com/ZpoJrXbAl3
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) August 20, 2018
Backs (12): Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Andre Esterhuizen, Elton Jantjies, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Lionel Mapoe, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Ivan van Zyl and Damian Willemse. #LoveRugby pic.twitter.com/9BDTrIDEaH
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) August 20, 2018
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