Bongi Mbonambi: You miss the Springboks a lot if you're not there

Springbok veteran Bongi Mbonambi has warned that a week is a long time in rugby – and if the Boks underestimate Argentina, they could pay the price in Saturday’s Rugby Championship finale in London.

The 34-year-old hooker returns from the wilderness to provide cover from the bench, and he knows full well that the Pumas have the class to respond after last week’s 67-30 defeat in Durban.

Mbonambi last featured for the Springboks in the loss to the Wallabies in Johannesburg earlier this year – his 80th Test – and admits he is now playing for his future in the green and gold.

“We have seen in this Rugby Championship that you can quickly be humbled,” the hooker said. “The Pumas bounce back each time they have lost. You can never count them out, and we will never disrespect them.

“We know how well they train, we know how good their coach Felipe Contepomi is, and we can see they have a game plan that can beat the best if they are allowed to execute it.

“This weekend, we are expecting the Pumas to change a few things up to try and catch us out.”

Mbonambi was also asked about the pressure of competing with younger players for a place.

“It is always an honour and a privilege to be involved with the Springboks. You do miss it a lot when you are not there,” he said.

“I have an opportunity to be here again. It is a massive honour for me to represent South Africa.

“The hookers in the squad love the competition; we push each other. You have to be fit enough to play and hope the coaches pick you, and then you have to make sure you buy into the plan, train hard, and understand that you are picked to do a job for your country.

“There is a lot of competition in this team. Marnus van der Merwe and Jan Hendrik Wessels are coming through.

“The guys bring a lot of energy, we push each other, and we enjoy being here – but we are aligned in one plan, and that is for the Springboks to prosper.”