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CAPE TOWN – South Africa are eager to seize the moment and clinch the Rugby Championship title in Argentina on Sept 21, but are wary of a fired-up home side that are still in contention, said Springboks loose forward Kwagga Smith. The world champions lead the table by eight points from second-placed Argentina and victory in Santiago del Estero will ensure a fifth title for them and a first since 2019. But their hosts trounced Australia 67-27 in their last outing, which was well-noted by the Springboks. “It is a huge opportunity to win the Rugby Championship but we can’t look too far ahead,” Smith said on Sept 16. “They will be desperate to get five points to set up what would be a final in Nelspruit next week.” Argentina ran in nine tries in beating Australia and their total of 15 is the highest in the Rugby Championship this season. Smith believes his side cannot let the game get loose against the South Americans. “They have a lot of guys who come from Sevens and have X-factor in their backline,” he said. “They also have the experience in the forwards to get dominance. We need to rock up physically and do our jobs. “When there is a loose ball on the ground we need to clean it up and when they are attacking from loose ball, we need to stay together as a team. You can easily fall in to the trap of playing as an individual.” Smith added that South Africa will need to sharpen up around the breakdown, where they were dominated by New Zealand in their 18-12 victory in Cape Town on Sept 7. “New Zealand got a lot of turnovers and that broke momentum when we wanted to attack. Argentina have a few goods stealers and fetchers, so it will be a big battle at the breakdown,” he said. Argentina are the only team who can catch the Springboks in the Rugby Championship standings, but must win this match to keep up their hopes. They will be without prop forward Eduardo Bello, who tore his right anterior cruciate ligament during the win over Australia and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The South Americans’ coach Felipe Contepomi has added two props as cover with a call-up for Lucio Sordoni, 26, and the 28-year-old Ignacio Calles, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in preparation for the 2023 World Cup but has since returned to action for his French club Pau. Contepomi said: “Without a doubt, these are going to be two great matches and we will face them with a lot of responsibility.” Veteran winger Matias Moroni also returns from a hip injury that saw him miss the last two clashes against Australia while lock Pedro Rubiolo, who went off concussed in the opening minute of the 20-19 loss to the Wallabies in La Plata on Aug 31, is also back. REUTERS