Rugby World Cup 2015 bronze final Argentina vs South Africa: Preview, TV schedule, match time and latest odds

After failed attempts to bring down the top two teams in the world rugby rankings, Argentina and South Africa will have the chance for a third place finish as they battle it out in the 2015 Rugby World Cup bronze final on Friday (Saturday AEDT) at Olympic Stadium.

Despite putting up strong performances all throughout the Rugby World Cup, the Pumas failed to overcome a strong Australian team to reach the RWC final round for the first time in Argentina’s history. But Argentina is poised to bounce back from their 29-15 loss against Australia in the semifinal round of the quadrennial rugby tournament. Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade said his team has cast aside their disappointing defeat last week, adding that the Pumas are now focused in beating the Springboks.

"We can't worry too much about the semi-final anymore because we have a very big game to come, our goal is to finish in the top three, so we will be giving our all against a very good team," Hourcade said, reports the Fiji Times. "We want to finish third, which has always been our minimum requirement at this World Cup.”

Hourcade has made nine changes in the squad that loss to Australia in their semifinal RWC fixture, with Agustin Creevy (torn hamstring), inside centre Juan Martin Hernandez (ribs), winger Juan Imhoff (concussion), and fullback Joaquin Tuculet (shoulder) all suffering injuries. However, Hourcade is confident Argentina will fulfill their goal of finishing the tournament no lesser than third place and getting another victory from South Africa, whom they defeated in August at the Rugby Championship.

South Africa, on the other hand, won its only third-place match against New Zealand in 1999, but the Springboks are ready to give their retiring teammates a winning sendoff after losing to New Zealand in their semifinal clash 20-18. Victor Matfield will bid farewell to international rugby as he captains the Springboks for the first time in their battle-for-third match against Argentina.

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has decided to stick with only two changes to the team that lost against the All Blacks last week. Meyer said retaining most of the players would give Africa the best chance to finish their RWC campaign on a high note, but he also admitted that the Springboks would need mental toughness after suffering their most recent setback.

“It is the toughest week to go in, when your hopes and dreams are shattered and then you have to go out and put in a quality performance,” Meyer said, reports World Rugby. “You need that mental toughness.”

After their bronze final Rugby World Cup fixture, the focus will shift to the much-anticipated rivals Australia and New Zealand, which also kicks off on Saturday at Twickenham Stadium.

Team lineup

South Africa: Willie le Roux; JP Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana; Handre Pollard, Ruan Pienaar; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield (capt), Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen. Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Lood de Jager, Willem Alberts, Rudy Paige, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.

Argentina: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Santiago Cordero, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Horacio Agulla, Nicolas Sanchez (capt), Tomas Cubelli; Marcos Ayerza, Julian Montoya, Ramiro Herrera, Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lavanini, Javier Ortega Desio, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Manuel Leguizamon. Replacements: Lucas Noguera, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Juan Figallo, Guido Petti, Facundo Isa, Martin Landajo, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Juan Pablo Socino.

TV Schedule

The Rugby World Cup 2015 Argentina vs South Africa semifinal match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 2 HD on Foxtel, and Channel Nine’s GEM.

Match date and time

The match kicks off on Monday, Oct. 31 at 7:00 a.m. AEDT.

Latest odds (courtesy of Sky Bet)

Argentina win: 11/4

South Africa win: 1/3

Draw: 33/1

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