'Argentina are still the favourites'

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14: South Africa’s AJ Venter insists his team will be the underdogs when they take on Argentina in their World Rugby Classic semi-final showdown tonight at the National Sports Centre.

Defending champions the Pumas handed down a chastening 26-12 defeat to France in the quarters on Saturday, while the Classic Springboks brushed aside USA 43-10 in a match overshadowed by the serious back injury to Leif Gibson and the subsequent arrest of South Africa’s Robbie Kempson for alleged assault.

Now the sides meet in Devonshire to battle it out for a place in Saturday’s final against the winners of the other last-four clash between the Classic Lions and Australia.

The pedigree of the Springboks’ international sides point strongly at victory but after watching Argentina dismantle the hotly-tipped French, forward Venter says his team will be up against it.

“I wouldn’t say we’re favourites.” Venter said. “I’d say Argentina are the favourites, being the victors last year.

“The first game they played was a proper game against the French, so I wouldn’t say we’re the favourites at all.

“But I think because we’re South Africa we’re up there with the first two or three.”

The excitement at the Classic is gathering pace after Monday night’s superb double-header that featured Canada’s heroic but ultimately unsuccessful comeback against the Lions and Australia’s free-running try-fest against Italy.

Although they eventually wilted, USA put in a spirited first-half display before South Africa’s extra know-how and skill pulled them through. Venter, who won 25 caps for the Springboks, believes his team’s line-up, which also features the country’s record points scorer Percy Montgomery and Bobby Skinstad, has extra nous when it comes to top-drawer international rugby.

Composure

The 39-year-old said: “It’s difficult at our ages to keep composure and keep playing at 30 or 60 minutes.

“The first few minutes against USA obviously everyone was fresh and we could stick to some kind of game plan but at the end probably a big of experience from the South African side as a whole pulled us through.”

On a personal note, Venter is basking in the atmosphere of his first World Rugby Classic after he had to turn down last year’s offer because of business commitments.

“What a wonderful occasion,” he said. “I’m just so happy to be out here, playing again, being with the boys and for sure we’ll crack a few beers like normal.

“It’s very exciting. I’ve been here for a few days now and it’s just wonderful. You drive around town and everyone asks about the games and when we’re playing so I’m just very happy to be here.”