Garrin Lambley - Sport24 Editor
Cape Town - The Springboks will get their 2018 Rugby Championship campaign off to a winning start against Argentina, if bookmakers are to be believed...
READ: Rassie Erasmus expecting Jaguares-like performance from Pumas
Rassie Erasmus' side welcome the Pumas to Durban on Saturday for their opening skirmish in this year's tournament.
Kick-off is at 17:05.
The sides will face one another again the following weekend in Mendoza.
While the Springboks have welcomed back four stalwarts in Malcolm Marx, Warren Whiteley, Francois Louw and Eben Etzebeth - who between them boast 155 Test caps - the Pumas side is a glorified Super Rugby one.
And not a very good one at that.
Granted, the Jaguares were vastly improved this season, but still lost ALL five of their matches inSouth Africa, finishing with an overall record of played 16, won 9, lost 7.
And it bears remembering that 2018 was hardly a vintage year for South African Super Rugby sides.
The Jaguares lost 40-23 (in the quarter-finals) and 47-27 to the Lions at Ellis Park, 43-34 to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, 28-20 to the Stormers at Newlands and 20-10 to the Sharks at the same Kings Park venue for Saturday's clash.
So, take the "Super Rugby to Rugby Championship continuity" claims the Springbok management team are trying to hype up their opponents with, with a pinch of salt.
The Jaguares are an average Super Rugby side. The Springboks on their day are one of the best international sides in the world. It won't be close.
And leading SA bookmakers Sportingbet agree.
The website has installed the Boks as 15-point handicap favourites, and 1/10 for the outright victory.
Argentina can be backed at 11/2, while the draw is on offer at 33/1.